07-02-2013, 05:07 PM
So far everyone has had sound arguments. I have to admit that the IDFG has done a great job overall with the management of the wildlife in Idaho. Compared to other states they are doing fantastic, perhaps why the state attracts so many out of staters to it's fisheries. It will never be perfect the job they must do, but give them some credit. They can't please everyone. A large (perhaps most of the) responsibility rest on us, the fishermen. Only take what you will use, don't be wasteful. That not only applies to fishing but to life in general.
When I was a child I wanted to keep everything I caught, it was my prize, my reward. As I got older I realized how wasteful I was because half the fish I kept would end up getting thrown away after spending too long in the freezer. I now am an active C&R guy because of my youthful negligence. I strictly C&R unless I know I will eat that fish that day, soon there after, or I know the fish is not to survive the hook up. I greatly prefer fishing for native fish on natural fisheries, but I am fine with the stocking of warm water fish on irrigation water bodies in as much as they don't interfere with native spawning. I get that the Snake River has become a world class fishery for some bass, but that has really screwed up the native trout in a lot of the areas on the snake. 40-60 years ago I don't think the F&G realized the adverse affects that planting fish would have on the native species in the rivers and streams. Hence the attempts to save those fisheries now. Hindsight is always 20/20. But instead of rant and rave about the problems we think we face, let us take action and do our part to help out. Unfortunately we cannot control what other people do, thats why we have enforcers of the law that can impose consequences for those who violate the law. If everyone were a little more considerate of the impact their harvest (good or bad) is having on the water they are fishing maybe we could all help each other out a little more and make sure there is enough fish for everyone and for the ecosystem. It's tough to single any one thing out, there are many contributing factors. Let's just focus on what we do and can control. Do our part, and hope the rest will get taken care of. I'll get off my soap box now.....
[signature]
When I was a child I wanted to keep everything I caught, it was my prize, my reward. As I got older I realized how wasteful I was because half the fish I kept would end up getting thrown away after spending too long in the freezer. I now am an active C&R guy because of my youthful negligence. I strictly C&R unless I know I will eat that fish that day, soon there after, or I know the fish is not to survive the hook up. I greatly prefer fishing for native fish on natural fisheries, but I am fine with the stocking of warm water fish on irrigation water bodies in as much as they don't interfere with native spawning. I get that the Snake River has become a world class fishery for some bass, but that has really screwed up the native trout in a lot of the areas on the snake. 40-60 years ago I don't think the F&G realized the adverse affects that planting fish would have on the native species in the rivers and streams. Hence the attempts to save those fisheries now. Hindsight is always 20/20. But instead of rant and rave about the problems we think we face, let us take action and do our part to help out. Unfortunately we cannot control what other people do, thats why we have enforcers of the law that can impose consequences for those who violate the law. If everyone were a little more considerate of the impact their harvest (good or bad) is having on the water they are fishing maybe we could all help each other out a little more and make sure there is enough fish for everyone and for the ecosystem. It's tough to single any one thing out, there are many contributing factors. Let's just focus on what we do and can control. Do our part, and hope the rest will get taken care of. I'll get off my soap box now.....
[signature]