Bait and Barbs......a bad idea.

I know you. Not only are you a good angler, you care about our wild steelhead. You wouldn't want to see them harmed, any more than I. Given that, you wouldn't like to see anyone dictate the way you fish, but because I am a flyfishing guide, you are certain that this, is what you are about to hear. Please read on.

Lets put our fishing methodologies down for a minute and simply look at conservation. Lets talk about fishery science and the philosophy of the angler behind the rod.

A WDFW biologist was once quoted as saying, "You show me an angler who wants to release a wild steelhead, and I will show you five who don't". I would like to add to that statement. "You show me the five anglers who want to kill their steelhead........and I will show you five who fish with bait."

Think about that statement for a minute. I am not saying all anglers who fish with bait.......want to kill their steelhead.....you are probably one of these anglers. I am saying.......that of those who want to be allowed the right to kill wild steelhead.......all use bait in some form or other.

What is my point? Simply put, eliminate the bait and barbs, and you will eliminate those who demand to kill wild steelhead.

A deadly game. You might be saying, Well I just don't feel right about taking away someone's fishing right, just so I can fish more." Or if you are a real cynic you might even go. "Well hell, of course you are going to push for that.......if you had your way, we would all be flyfishing." No, its not true......and lets not forget the point. This is about conservation of our wild steelhead. It is about two groups. Those who want to preserve the wild steelhead and those who want to kill them (and blame the Indians).

These so called "sports clubs" are not sitting idly by. They are armed and dangerous. They sit in your wildlife department, they control your wildlife commission, they are lobbying your legislators........and their goal is quite simple. Eliminate any group who appears to oppose their ability to kill wild steelhead. If you think we lost our north sound Catch and Release fishery, simply for lack of escapement......you are thinking in La La land. We had so many steelhead up through last year, we were killing them.......and all of a sudden, we don't have enough? How convenient is that? These groups know the game. They play the game. They know they are the dinosaur.......that the movement will be to stop killing steelhead, and they would rather have no fishing, than to not kill wild steelhead. Is anyone suggesting no one has the right to fish? Lets remember, it is THEY who would rather not fish......than be denied the ability to kill them. And that's their choice. You don't think its a philosophy to kill wild steelhead? Have you ever known ANY plunker on a lower river who wasn't there to kill the fish?........Please. If you think that by not addressing bait and barb issue, you will somehow win the kill group over to not wanting to kill wild steelhead, remember this........right now they are destroying your right to fish. Kiss your C&R fishery good bye.

So what is all this to you? Simple. For you, fishing bait is a "confidence lure". You do it, because you catch fish. You also found, that when you participated in selective fisheries, you caught them on; plugs, spinners, flies,......and ever other artificial. My point?

What may be a small sacrifice for you, in not fishing bait, would have huge implications in preserving our wild steelhead, and our fisheries that want to release them alive. Eliminate the bait, and you will eliminate those fighting so venomously to kill them......and your wild fish release fisheries. Kill the bait, you end the bait fisher. End the bait fishing and you eliminate any opposition in releasing wild steelhead. The steelhead wins and so does those who believe in nonconsumptive fisheries. What about the bait fisher? Like you, once he tries it and starts catching more fish, he may be your most ardent supporter!

A familiar ring: Remember a few years ago when all our lakes fishing was bait fishing put- and take? We came up with the new concept of "Quality Waters". Everyone howled, said it wasn't fair, to restrictive.......everybody wants to kill the fish.......nobody is going to buy into this management. Well, look at us now, baby! STEELHEAD CAN BE THE SAME THING. Hatchery brats for those who want to wack, wild fish go back in the waters.

The biology:

Many studies have been done, and I am sure there are those out there, which I have not read. The bottom line is; the results are inconclusive. There may be mortality differences in bait and barb than baitless and barbless.......but we are not sure. Now lets take it a step farther.

Regional biologist, Mr. Kraemer has conducted a study, where he and several others, catch a number of upstream steelhead, using both bait and artificial. Moralities differences were not significant. He also told me in personal conversation.......that the study results specifically reflected upstream steelhead. Downstream steelhead, the repeat spawner, was a different story. These fish are trying to get their body fat content back up, from spawning. These steelhead are looking for something to eat. Mortality rate in the downstream steelhead, which didn't change in the artifices, jumped to as high as 40% for the use of bait. Bait is killing our downstream fish.

Couple other notes: Mr. Kraemer is an expert with bait. I will also assume those who assisted him in the study are also. They were trying to get their hands on as many steelhead as possible...of course he would hand select, other experienced fishers. My point? Joe bait fisher isn't going to pull the trigger, as soon as a steelhead picks up the bait. Yes, some fish will expel the offering but others will continue to swallow it. Mr. Kraemers group may not represent the mortality rate of the average angler.

I recently started receiving mail from anglers and guides who fish with bait divers. Apparently many experts have stopped using the practice of bait divers because the upstream wild steelhead (as well as downstream fish) have the habit of swallowing the bait.

If the bait diver fish have a habit of swallowing the bait........what does that say for the plunker who is waiting for the steelhead to swim up, eat the bait, and ring the bell? I doubt seriously, if Mr. Kraemers' study group, included the bait diver or the plunker boys. Common denominator?.......Both use bait.

I love this statement. "If we have to error, we will error on the side of the fishery resource." Seems to me, its about time to really rethink this bait and barb philosophy if we are truly interested in preserving our steelhead.

What about the other species? So I get to thinking.......if downstream steelhead are eating bait, and mortally wounded in the process, what about the downstream Dolly Varden? What about the Searun Cutthroat? Do you want to know why the WDFW has an open season on the Skagit River for trout from December through February? Because the plunkers in the lower river are hammering these downstream fish, while trying to catch steelhead. I don't even want to think about this angler trying to release a gut hooked 4 pound Cutthroat........because he wants to kill another steelhead. It wouldn't be pretty.

Conclusion: Having a wild steelhead release without also imposing a selective fishery along with it, is dumb.. You are expecting an angler who has no intention of releasing a wild fish, to not only do so.......but to do it successfully....... while fishing with barbed and baited hooks. Good luck.

What do we need to do:

1) Agree that bait fishing over wild steelhead is poor conservation. We are willing to make the sacrifice of saving our wild steelhead, and our right to fish them, even if it means leaving the bait box at home. You may not have any intention on killing the wild steelhead but many who fish with bait, do. Stop bait fishing over wild steelhead and you will effectively eliminate the mentality to kill. You will save both our fish and our wild fish release fisheries.

2) We need designated hatchery streams, for those rivers with no sustainable wild steelhead stocks. "Plant the hell out of them," I say. All other streams are designated, Selective Fisheries, Wild Steelhead Release.

3) Become united in our stand that preserving our wild steelhead, is what our angling future is all about. Selective fisheries are hand and glove to wild steelhead management. We must demonstrate, to the WDFW, the commission, and the legislature, that we ARE the angler. If you honestly thought that fishing without bait, would save fish...........would you do it?

4) Get involved. The Wild Steelhead Coalition is a great group. What makes it great, is our gear boys are just as passionate, (if not more so) just as interested in preserving our steelhead, and our angling future, as us feather flingers. If you are interested in wild steelhead, you are interested in the WSC.

A wise man once said, "Sacrifice is giving up something good, for something better". Here is your chance.

Best of fishing,

Dennis

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