Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum
Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: chris gadsden on June 27, 2005, 10:57:09 PM
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This is not to start a BB thread but it should be made known to as many anglers as possible as some may not realize this.
The timing prediction for the Early Stuarts sockeye in the Fraser River were as of June 13th.
June 27 to July 19: Stevenson to Port Mann Bridge
June 28 (tomorrow) to July 21: Port Mann Bridge to Sawmill Creek
With this in mine there is to be no exploration rate on this first run of sockeye this year.
As FN as of this weekend are now closed for fishing for now. However FOC is presently leaving the Recreational sector open but are requesting for us to fish selectively. That means to refrain from bottom bouncing at this time.
They are asking us nicely that recreational anglers do not "floss" for chinook during this Early Stuart timing.
I for one hope all anglers comply as to me each of these Sockeye are needed on the spawning grounds and it is up to us to help if we are to preserve this run for the future. Lets do our part.
With the Fraser River now on the downward slide good bar fishing is just around the corner, let the bell ringing begin. ;D ;D
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I get the feeling there will not be much patience with anybody (anglers and nets alike) while there are early Stuarts in the water. Let's prove we can show restraint and be flexible with conservation concerns and use the bar rods and spoons at river mouths for optimum selective fishing. I'm worried if not, that angling will get even more of a black eye and perhaps limit future fishing opportunites and damage reputations.
Be sure that if FN are closed, they wont be pleased if they see non-selective angling (and for some, angling period?) in place. Why give ammo for complaint?
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I have fished(bb'ed) for springs for years and can count on 1 hand the ammount of early sockeye I have hooked while doing so...
fwiw
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so johnny, not to pic a fight with ya, just asking, does this mean you feel it's okay to keep on flossing right now? I hate the fact that i gotta hang up my bb'ing rod right now, as the spring fishing is getting good. However in hopes of seeing NO confrontations with FN and such i can wait till the early sox are through. there's always float fishing the vedder starting july 1st. Setting a prime example right now by not flossing during this early stuart run will show the government, the general public and the first nations fishers that sporties respect the resource. Shame on those that don't recognize this opportunity to do the right thing. Conservation has priority over the dinner plate.
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so johnny, not to pic a fight with ya, just asking, does this mean you feel it's okay to keep on flossing right now? I hate the fact that i gotta hang up my bb'ing rod right now, as the spring fishing is getting good. However in hopes of seeing NO confrontations with FN and such i can wait till the early sox are through. there's always float fishing the vedder starting july 1st. Setting a prime example right now by not flossing during this early stuart run will show the government, the general public and the first nations fishers that sporties respect the resource. Shame on those that don't recognize this opportunity to do the right thing. Conservation has priority over the dinner plate.
Very good points and remember if the compliance level is not satisfactory FOC could close the recreational sector for a while as they have done with the First Nation fishers.
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The FN will undoubtedly be on this as well to pressure closure if too many guys are flossing (which is just as selective as gill nets) during this time when they are supposed to be out of the river.
Good comments Allwaysfishin!
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Going to try and reconstruct a post I lost...
so johnny, not to pic a fight with ya, just asking, does this mean you feel it's okay to keep on flossing right now? I hate the fact that i gotta hang up my bb'ing rod right now, as the spring fishing is getting good. However in hopes of seeing NO confrontations with FN and such i can wait till the early sox are through. there's always float fishing the vedder starting july 1st. Setting a prime example right now by not flossing during this early stuart run will show the government, the general public and the first nations fishers that sporties respect the resource. Shame on those that don't recognize this opportunity to do the right thing. Conservation has priority over the dinner plate.
First off, I don't take this question as picking a fight, so no worries.
In regards to whether I would continue to BB, the answer is yes... Now, with that said.. I don't use obscenely long leaders. They have been getting longer and longer every year and in my experience it is unneeded especially when targeting springs. Do I BB the whole day? No. It is strictly to break up the monotony of bar fishing. We switch back and forth throughout the day.
In fishing the last 3 years with a boat(compared to the old days of being stuck on shore *grin*) we have put in a LOT of time on the river and did not hook 1 early sockeye from our boat! Even if we were to hook one with the water temps being cooler than later in the year and the water levels being higher, I would suspect the mortality rate to be very low of a released fish.
Not that one justifies the other BUT: What do you think will catch more early stewart sockeye.. the few sporties(the river isn't very busy this time of year,and out of them a lot are bar fishing) that might be BB'ing or the nets that are out? My guess is that a couple nets will take more fish than the total sum of sporties during this "sensitive" time. As a matter of fact I bet the albion test nets would have as much impact on the run as all sporties combined(only 1 sockeye for them so far this year.. yesterday).
If the river were to be shut down because of BB'ers I would say this:
A. It would be a political move to attempt to place blame on declining stocks on the sport fishermen. Make us look like the bad guys to the general public...
B. It would be the utmost hypocritical act unless there was a total moratorium on ANY fishing in the fraser including FN's along with full enforcement of the moratorium.
I don't see the validity of the arguments that the BB'ers have any affect on these fish, but if I felt I was contributing to their demise I most certainly would reconsider my stance.
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If the river were to be shut down because of BB'ers I would say this:
A. It would be a political move to attempt to place blame on declining stocks on the sport fishermen. Make us look like the bad guys to the general public...
I don't see the validity of the arguments that the BB'ers have any affect on these fish, but if I felt I was contributing to their demise I most certainly would reconsider my stance.
Why give any ammo to close the river? If they close the river and guys were just bar fishing, it would be much easier to argue the point.
I hope you do reconsider and bar fish as much as possible during this time, not so much from an impact point of view, but from a "we anglers are doing our part in conservation concerns on the early stuart sockeye run" which looks good to the public, FOC, FN and all other stake holders.
Remember, flossing is and is viewed by most as a non-selective angling method. It looks good if anglers will choose when they decide to employ this method.
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the "over the counter" response to the "no flossing" request/suggestion has been really good at our shop and we, as well as other shops I've spoke with today, support this "non flossery", at this time. Seems most folks can wait till the early stuarts are through. Conservation has hope and I believe that we should all jump on the opportunity to look "golden" in the eyes of those who are watching the fishery play out. Believe me, there are big eyes and ears following this in the higher levels of our government. Now more than ever we need to show renewed faith in our fisheries policies. If it appears that we give a damn and are willing to make the little sacrifices, government will and is (finally!) listening and acting.
well that's my ramble for today LOL 8)
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always fishing
you live in a dream world if you think government is watching and listening
we live in canadon't and fraser salmon have nothing to do with same sex marriage ;D ;D
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i don't think the current stepped up enforcement ( leading to arrests of FN fishers) and the heavy discussions between delta mp cummins and federal fisheries , and the current involvement of the RCMP are me living in a dream world. We are finally seeing action on the fraser, have you been following these issues at all? i'll ignore your comments,your dream world or mine, it's all about keeping the peace.
;D
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As FN as of this weekend are now closed for fishing for now. However FOC is presently leaving the Recreational sector open but are requesting for us to fish selectively. That means to refrain from bottom bouncing at this time.
They are asking us nicely that recreational anglers do not "floss" for chinook during this Early Stuart timing.
Why would the FOC not be more specific with their language about Flossing? I interpret their language to mean ..."go ahead and floss away... but please consider using a shorter leader to selectively target springs."
The anti flossing gang runs with "That means to refrain from bottom bouncing at this time."
IF FOC WANTS "That means to refrain from bottom bouncing at this time." THEY MUST STATE THIS IN THE REGS.
They have the means and opportunity to use any language they want they have chosen
" requesting for us to fish selectively"
instead of
"That means to refrain from bottom bouncing at this time."
Lets face it they are not shy from making the tough calls when needed on recreation fishers.( single barbless hooks,shorter seasons...etc.)
They chose not to.
CJ.
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actually
i have been following events very closely
and one thing i do know for fact is that delta mp john cummins has absolutly zero influence in ottawa
i will still vote for him though
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??????
we been reading and watching different versions of recent events i guess. anyhow, not gonna get into a debate on this rerigger, i have no taste for it.
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Since late April, DFO has advised the recreational anglers to avoid any by-catches of sockeyes by fishing selectively. The recreational sector should consult and work with DFO cooperatively to achieve conservation of threatened salmon stocks. Regional managers do not wish to dictate how people fish, instead they wish to create a closer relationship by advising anglers so both parties will see what we all wish for in the future - More fish. Despite the fact that there are numerous other factors that may threaten these early sockeye stocks, such as habitat degradation, pollution, high water temperature, netting, we should not add one more obstacle even though the impact of angling pressure is insignificant compared to the above mentioned factors.
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No one should be blaming recreational fishers for a majority of the damage.. Only 4% of all salmon caught have been from recreational fishers.
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i don't think this about blaming sporties. this is simply about conservation.
putting the fish before our own personal desire. like i said before, "my belief" is conservation before the dinner plate. We are at the point where government will be making long lasting decisions on access to fraser salmon stocks.
If there is a run in danger i simply don't believe that as ethical sportsmen, we should fish "unselectively"
if you are one of the folks that think ... well i've never accidentally hooked sox when bouncing for springs, i'm gonna keep bouncing, then shame on you. conservation is obviously coming after the dinner plate for you.
I am one of the " bottom bouncing " crowd and i'm suggesting others refrain from using this method for the couple weeks it's gonna take to get those early stuart sox through our waters. What's the big deal..... feeling you won't "get your share?"
then there is the constant vocal comment about , well if the natives are netting, i'm bouncing. that is such ridiculous bullsh*t. if joe schmoe runs in front of a train are you going to as well? If the natives fish through this closure they will be charged. Authorities are not closing us down because they realize that "sporties are not the problem". We all no this but there are those who will make us look bad with this me first, fill my freezer attitude.
Bahhh , i'm done with this post.
just let the bloody early stuart sox get through, or not, we can always just go fish em to death i guess then there would be no more flossery debates ;D
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ur right,, but are commercial fisheries netting right now?? if they are shouldnt they be restricted in some way?!? my bad tho,, but a fact to think about anyways. -88
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al in river gill net fisheries are now closed in the fraser native and non native alike. research fisheries are also closed. the ONLY folks open to fish right now are us sporties.
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Good posts allwaysfish, I congratulate on your thoughfulness on this very touchy subject.
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Too bad there are always some who take the "me first attitude" instead of "what can we do for the fish" attitude. Kinda reminds me of the smoker who insists on smoking even when everyone else around him is gagging for breath.
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I appreciate the Department not playing hardball and allowing us to make a good decision on our own accord.
Good stuff Allwaysfishin. ;D
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I heard from a Fisherman today that he heard from the owner of one of the tackle shops that Sockeye are to open anywhere from July 15th -27th.....don't know if its true or not....just thought I'd pop it in for some input...
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Not true. The early stuart run is predicted to be going through the system until late July. During this time, anglers should not expect a sockeye opening but the chinook opening will remain open. The earliest sockeye opening, which has not been determined yet, will be early August.
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yer right on the money rod. there has been NO word from FOC/DFO about any possible openings in july for sox. the faxes come to me as soon as they make the dates. i have seen no faxes from the department yet.