MM,

I'm not sure I'm buying it. I remember your pro-net leanings and I'm wondering if maybe you're just trying to give C&R fishing a black eye. Either that or you are a slow learner. Free drifting eggs as a C&R method? You can't be serious.

I've landed a fair number of nates this year, but I put the bait away a while ago. A jig in the snout usually leaves but a stick and the fish swims away. I can say with confidence that not one native I've landed this year suffered any significant harm.

I'd be for restrictions on the use of bait at a certain time during the season so lunkheads aren't out there free-drifting eggs or using bait divers, but C&R CAN be done with insignificant impact. The key is educating people (you, for instance) on how to fish when natives are in the system.

So you harmed 4 out of 6 fish, huh? Well, that puts you at about 7 times the average C&R angler. I'd say you need to take another look at the WAY you're fishing, and quit blaming C&R fisheries for the demise of the runs.


Fish on.......



[This message has been edited by Dan S. (edited 03-06-2001).]