Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum
Fishing in British Columbia => Fishing-related Issues & News => Topic started by: swimmingwiththefishes on September 29, 2013, 04:45:09 PM
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Saw this on another site (See below). Seems pretty clear that they are not going to open it this year. Never fished this renowned flow before, but know (seen in previous boards) that it is contentious. Haven't they opened this fishery in the last few years? What makes this year any different? Seems like it may even be a better Steelie year than last, which isn't saying much.
Also noticed that a few steelhead (presumably Thompson fish) have come through the Albion test fishery recently. Presumably those fish would have been killed. That seems problematic for such an endangered but important run.
Know that there are tons of knowledgeable people on this site so wondering what your take is.
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Thompson Steelhead Angling Regulations for 2013
Dear Sir/Madam:
This letter is to inform you about the proposed changes to the management of the Thompson River steelhead catch & release sport fishery.
As you are well aware, adult Thompson River steelhead continue to return to the river in very low numbers although the trend data suggests numbers are stabilizing. While steelhead management is under the purview of the Province, some key factors believed to be influencing stock status are beyond our direct management control. We continue to work collaboratively with our federal partners to identify and address these factors.
With respect to the recreational steelhead fishery there will be no changes to current regulations this year. A proposal to modify the regulation of the fishery is being developed and is currently being reviewed by the Province, Department of Fisheries and Oceans and local First Nations, as part of the Steelhead science committee. We plan to provide opportunity for stakeholder review of proposed changes in the spring of 2014 prior to potential implementation for next year’s fishery season. This process is also being communicated to the Provincial Angling Advisory group. If you have any further questions regarding this process, please contact Michael Burwash, Section Head, Fish & Wildlife, Thompson Okanagan Region, at 250-371-6269.
We look forward to continuing to improve the management of this important local resource with your input.
Yours truly,
Michael Burwash,
Fish & Wildlife Section Head,
Thompson Okanagan Region
On behalf of Dan Petersen and Andrew Wilson
cc: Aaron Gillespie, Secwepemc Fisheries Commission
Andrew Wilson, Director of Fish and Wildlife
Dean Allan, DFO BCI
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The feeling I got in conversation at Spences Bridge a few days where the Regional director had conversation at the UBCM as few days ago with governmnet officals the feeling there could be an opening. I will be up there shortly and will seek an update. Also the word is a bait ban is coming into effect on the T. during steelhead timming.
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not sure where you are seeing that it seems clear they will not open it? I read that there will be no regulation changes this year, not that it will not open. Maybe they are referring to the bait ban Chris mentioned? Bait ban would be a great move imo, while keeping it open to both gear and fly.
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Thanks for the info Chris. Yes, a bait ban would make sense.
In response to Huenut I may be reading it wrong, but in the Freshwater Fishing Reg's wouldn't the section stating that the portion of the Thompson "below signs at the Kamloops lake outlet to the confluence with the Fraser River, October 1st to May 31 is closed to all fishing" have this portion closed from this Tuesday. There is the Thompson specific section where it also states further stuff but qualifies this with (when open).
So as per usual the regs are confusing and not clear, but I'm guessing it's closed until opened as of Tuesday, Oct. 1st.
But please anyone else chime in. It takes a lawyer to definitively figure out our fishing regulations.
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The Thompson River always closes on October 1st until an in-season opening is announced when the run is determined to be above the requirement for an opening.
The letter is referring to the postponing of the possible regulation change (bait ban).
The regulations for the Thompson River are indeed quite confusing as they almost seem written to assume those who read them are already very familiar with this fishery. I'll take a look at this a bit more closely and make some recommendations at our year-end meeting to see improvements can be made.
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I thought the proposed regulation change was to remove the "shotgun" opening?
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Did they not say last year when it opened that it will continue to open on the same date this year also ?
I agree with Dion that the shotgun opening is pretty stupid. Last year I didn't hear about the opening until the day before it opened >:(
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Just wondering but what do you guys find wrong with the "shot gun" opening?
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Just wondering but what do you guys find wrong with the "shot gun" opening?
I very rarely fish the river, and have no opinion one way or another regarding the "shotgun" opening. I was simply bringing it up because I didn't think the bait ban "proposal" was that close to getting approved.
Last year I didn't hear about the opening until the day before it opened >:(
I believe they only give 24 or 48 hours notice when they decide to open it.
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I thought the proposed regulation change was to remove the "shotgun" opening?
Hasn't been addressed this year.
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Last I heard there were a number of changes proposed for the T:
-Bait ban
-Open til closed Oct 01 until a determination is made that there are insufficient numbers of fish (end of Oct?)
-lower albion threshold from current 850 stlhd to 600
The last point has caused some dissension (edit: as has the first point). ;D
I would expect the river to open shortly based upon the numbers of fish through Albion. (The typical peak of Thompson fish thru Albion is October 05th.) However this likely depends on whether the trend continues. Chilcotin fish are thought to be the first in the run timing thru Albion and this will likely have some bearing on the number crunching this year.
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All the fish get beat on pretty hard on a opening like that
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All the fish get beat on pretty hard on a opening like that
Are you referring to my question earlier in this thread? They get beat on with any opening period...
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Are you referring to my question earlier in this thread? They get beat on with any opening period...
The way I see it, a shotgun opening encourages a large group of anglers to go and hammer a bunch of fish that haven't seen any gear yet in the season. Therefore, most fish will be caught by those anglers who know what they are doing on opening day, some more than once.
If it is open until closed, it will just be another flow that anglers are free to explore whenever they want. There may or may not be fish when they go, but the idea is that it wont be as fresh in the angler's mind than would be when all the tackle shops, forums, and angling community is talking about the Thompson opening soon.
I subscribe to this belief, as I know personally I don't think about fishing the Thompson much until I hear of an opening.
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The way I see it, a shotgun opening encourages a large group of anglers to go and hammer a bunch of fish that haven't seen any gear yet in the season. Therefore, most fish will be caught by those anglers who know what they are doing on opening day, some more than once.
If it is open until closed, it will just be another flow that anglers are free to explore whenever they want. There may or may not be fish when they go, but the idea is that it wont be as fresh in the angler's mind than would be when all the tackle shops, forums, and angling community is talking about the Thompson opening soon.
I subscribe to this belief, as I know personally I don't think about fishing the Thompson much until I hear of an opening.
exactly
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Those that fish the Thompson will either way. A shot gun opening or not is not going to change the pressure. If anything the shot gun opening stops the pressure and allows the fish to settle for a bit before the bombardment of anglers.
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Yes, agree with Johnny C.
If people get a chance to fish a legendary flow they will as much as possible even though chances of getting might be slim.
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Stopped at Spences Bridge yesterday and the indication while talking to Steve looks like an opening coming shortly.
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I'll sound the gong and say to expect an opening for November 1st
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Saturday.
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Saturday.
Most likely, for the long weekend.
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what was the point of closing it for 11 days then ?
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Those that fish the Thompson will either way. A shot gun opening or not is not going to change the pressure. If anything the shot gun opening stops the pressure and allows the fish to settle for a bit before the bombardment of anglers.
Yet again you have no idea what you are talking about!!!
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Yet again you have no idea what you are talking about!!!
Totally agree
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Yet again you have no idea what you are talking about!!!
X2
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So how many guys/gals on this site headed out for opening day ?
I feel sort of sorry for the T fish because of their aggressive nature they become pin cushions in short order and yet it still doesn't put them off taking a crack at stuff :o
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Yet again you have no idea what you are talking about!!!
Totally agree
X2
How so? A shot gun opening only gives 24 - 36 hours notice, not all people can get the time off to make it for the opening day. If the date is set in stone, lets say November 5 hypothetically, well then every person can plan ahead and book that day off. The shotgun opening eases the fish into the pressure that anglers create on the system. If anything you guys don't understand what I am saying, I am sorry I can not dumb it down anymore.
Angling pressure was very light on the river today compared to seasons passed. I am assuming it is due to many guides still guiding and unable to make it out (themselves) as well as many people who have family events planned for this long weekend already.
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If I were you,I wouldn't be talking about this... ;)
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You have no idea about what shotgun opening in November is like. I don't even wanna Begin to explain why cause u obviously haven't a clue. This conversation is over.
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Johnny - don't whine if your going to participate in the fishery. I know several guides that also piss and moan about this river and then themselves race to fish it the day it opens. I would gladly call them on their sh*t and have before. I would bet the reason the river wasn't cramped with anglers is because the more experienced rods know to wait a little longer for more fish numbers to up the success rate.
shotgun opening or not people always find out earlier when its opening so getting the day or a few days off never seems to be an problem, especially for those in the Steelhead Society
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shotgun opening or not people always find out earlier when its opening so getting the day or a few days off never seems to be an problem, especially for those in the Steelhead Society
ouch ;D
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ouch ;D
Are you for real ? You think if your on the board of ssbc directors you get privelaged info?
I think you need to join the ssbc and see for yourself james.
Sorry dave, I meant to quote james not you.
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I would join if I had the time to attend meetings which I don't :'(
I wasn't trying to call out the SSBC members. I apologize if I offended some or all of you
I have though always wondered how all these people find out about these openings weeks in advance. Most of them being members so I assumed which I apologize for here publicly. I don't mind being wrong, I would however really like to know how people find out this info before everyone else.
Jim - I made an assumption under the basis that it seemed a lot of guys I know are members or at least pay a membership fee seem to find this stuff out early. I also know several don't do any kind of volunteer work with habitat restoration or what have you. You know in the past I have put my name in to help you with some river volunteer work only to have to pull out near the date. FB me about upcoming ones and I will do my best to be there to help, I would enjoy giving back and when they are old enough have my sons do the same (if they are into fishing of course)
again I apologize for being a dumbass :-[
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Region 3 regularly emails out status updates re Thompson and Chilcotin steelhead to a long list of people. (You might have seen them, sometimes Rod posts them here, sometimes on other boards.) Oftentimes, within these reports, the regional biologist states that the river is expected to open on a certain date but that official confirmation should be obtained from the Fish and Wildlife website. Frequently there is a time lag between when the Regional status report is released and the government website is updated--hence the appearance that some people know of the openings in advance.
You can always ask the Regional Biologist to be added to his status reports list.
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No one knew in advance as when was in SB last week I was told a meeting was being held last Wedneday to decide.
Of course anglers that checks the test fishery results saw above numbers being taken so then one would fiqure an opening was coming as it did.
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Thanks Quill. I will look into having my name added to the list. The would like to get myself more involved. Young kids and a wife that works evenings does make it difficult however
Chris - guess I need to start paying attention to the test netting more. I normally don't bother to look because I know the approximate run timings for the places I frequent and species I want to catch :)
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Some people can tell when a fishery is going to open just by doing your research, there tends to be a pattern.....
So this goes with experience, 50% of my fishing time is not fishing, I learned the way long before the internet.
Im old school and dont like to give things up easly,put in your time and earn your stripes.
I missed many family ,fishing outings just to do a project to help the fish, heck some of the rivers I work on I don't even fish any more , just do it to give back and enjoy doing it.
When it comes to hunting or fishing i'm ready at the drop of a hat.......trust me its not easy with a business and famiy.
BTW, I have not fished the Thompson since 2009 , tired of the greed and lack of respect up there , just wanna remember it the way it was .
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tired of the greed and lack of respect up there , just wanna remember it the way it was .
Very sad indeed, I too will only want to remember the way it was ( haven't fished the T since the late 90's ) in hopes of one day the runs will bounce back & stabilize instead of this mismanagement.........
http://ariverneversleeps.com/lethal-gear/
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Hey Jim I want to get involved in some volunteer work for the Thompson. I am in Kamloops so either the Thompson itself or the North and South even. Do you know who I can get a hold of in my area? I have been doing some research but can't find anything in regards to the interior. Doesn't even have to be the Thompson I guess. Any sort of river volunteer situation in the interior I'm interested in. I have run a lot of heavy equipment in my working career, not sure if that helps. Sorry not trying to derail the thread. You or anyone with info can email me at derekerlandson@live.com.
Thanks for any help
Derek
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Hi Derek,
I realize you're asking Jim but he lives in New West and may not have a handle on local initiatives. Like you, I live in Kamloops and have been involved in fisheries issues here for decades, off and on.
Given our current political climate, there's not a lot of money for habitat restoration. You might consider contacting the Shuswap Fisheries Commission, the Steelhead Society of BC, Ducks Unlimited, and/or Ministry of Environment et al and offer your talents.
There's always great events like the great Canadian shoreline clean up, rivers day, and a host of others that beg for involvement.
It's always nice to see people like you willing to get involved.
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Very sad indeed, I too will only want to remember the way it was ( haven't fished the T since the late 90's ) in hopes of one day the runs will bounce back & stabilize instead of this mismanagement.........
http://ariverneversleeps.com/lethal-gear/
Brutal article. The only reasonable part is the part where he says open it right from the start and make a decision part way through the season.
The whole "gear fisherman bleed whatever they catch" is just plain nonsense. There are just as many fly guys that mistreat fish as gear guys that mistreat fish. The whole point of the article saying that gear fisherman have a higher catch and release impact on steelhead than fly guys is just plain nonsense too. Fly guys for the most part baby the heck out of their fish, therefore they take twice as long to land fish and this means a more exhausted fish likely to die. I realize not all fly guys do this (I don't), but you cannot argue the fact that it does take longer to land a fish on the fly than on gear, period.
I'd also like to point out in the past 5 years of fishing, I have never had a bleeder on roe/bait. I have only ever had 2 fish swallow roe/bait (both were chinook, never a steelhead). I have had many fish (steelhead included) swallow flies - especially those with stinger hooks, and have had a large handful of bleeders on both flies and spoons. I even had a steelhead bleeder on a dry fly this summer that was hooked deep. The other evil is those fly fisherman fishing classic patterns up there with 1/0 streamer hooks or larger, which cause considerable damage to fish (much like a large spoon hook which I have gone away from now).
Leave it open to everything, or close the whole river down. End of story.