YOUR INPUT IS NEEDED ON TROUT REGULATIONS
As you no doubt know by now, the PA Fish & Boat Commission is proposing a Simplification of Trout Regulations, to take effect in 2006 if approved at a Commission meeting later this year. Commission staff has proposed two alternative “focuses,” one which would concentrate on limited harvesting of Trophy Trout, the other centered on strictly Catch & Release angling.
At state council’s March 5 meeting, the Trout & Salmon Management Committee presented its recommendations for comments on these proposed regulations as follows.
Overall, the Catch & Release alternative is preferred as the appropriate fisheries management tool to protect and enhance wild trout populations. The Trophy Trout focus, while limiting harvest to one trout per day 16” or larger, would eliminate protection of the more mature breeding stock, particularly since harvesting of Trophy Trout would be allowed after Labor Day during the fall spawning season.
Combining the current Heritage Trout Angling and Delayed Harvest Fly Fishing Only regulations into a single Catch & Release FFO regulation is viewed as a positive step forward to enhance angling opportunities on DHFFO streams throughout the year. Contrary to what has been stated by PFBC fisheries personnel, a great many of these stream sections do support holdover trout populations during the summer months.
As stated above, eliminating the current Catch & Release regulations in favor of a new Trophy Trout ALO designation is considered a step backward in trout management policy. Catch and Release Artificial Lures Only has been shown throughout the country to be one of the most effective measures for protecting and enhancing wild trout populations, both in total biomass and in trout population structure.
Changing the current Catch & Release regulations on privately-owned stream sections could adversely impact angling access to some of these waters. Many landowners have provided access on the basis that no harvesting would be allowed, and a change to Trophy Trout harvesting might very well result in posting of land.
The elimination of wading restrictions, currently imposed on several streams, is not viewed as a problem except for that period in the fall when trout are known to be creating spawning redds. Likewise, the elimination of nighttime fishing restrictions is seen as a positive step, except that some private landowners might object to allowing access after dark.
While hooking mortality with barbed hooks is unquestionably greatest when fishing with bait, using lures with multiple barbed hooks undoubtedly causes its share of mortality also. Since barbless hooks (or hooks with pinched-down barbs) are preferred by a majority of fly fisherman, perhaps the PFBC should consider retaining the barbless hook requirement at least on the proposed Catch & Release FFO streams.
While state council applauds the PFBC’s move to simplify trout regulations, we trust that Fisheries Management will see the wisdom in recommending the Catch & Release alternative when the Commission meets on March 16. We also commend that part of the overall plan which retains the Wild Brook Trout Enhancement and Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only regulations as currently constituted.
It is critical to our mission to encourage as many of our members as possible to write to the PFBC to express their comments on the proposed Simplification of Trout Regulations. If enough letters are received prior to March 16 when the Commission has scheduled a special meeting to review this proposal, there is a good chance that Fisheries Management might change their recommendation from a Trophy Trout alternative to a Catch & Release approach. There will also be an official public comment period after the proposals have been acted on at the March 16 meeting. Remember, the previous proposals to eliminate Delayed Harvest FFO, and to change Delayed Harvest ALO regulations to allow bait fishing, were defeated by the large number of letters received opposing these changes.
Your letters should be addressed to:
Dr. Douglas Austen
Executive Director
PA Fish & Boat Commission