Fishhead5 -

Out of all the arguments presented here yours actually makes the most sense. Unfortunately it fails the hypocricy test too in a big way unless you have personally 'put your rod away'.

This post is meant to contribute to the ongoing conversation questioning the ethics behind fishing bait year round. As others have said the science on this subject appears to be slim to non-existent. All we are left with is our personal observations, frame of reference and conversations such as this to help us determine where our personal ethics lie. Looks like we've got a terrific cross section of opinions...

I don't think its hypocritical in the least to note that, when I fish bait in the summer I kill more smolt and then change fishing methods accordingly. In fact here is an analogy:

President Bush sent Americans to war knowing that a small number of Americans would die to protect a large number of Americans, probably a tougher decision than any of us have had to face today. Does this make him a hypocrite to say "I am protecting Americans" when Americans are getting killed as direct result of his actions? Of course not, at least not in my view. In fact doing nothing was the last thing Pres. Bush could afford to do.

I look at protecting Native fish in much the same way. Is it hypocritical to say "I will adopt personal measures to protect wild smolt", follow through by discontinuing to use bait in the summer and then accidentally hooking and killing a smolt?? Of course not, at least in my view. In fact doing nothing is the last thing I can afford to do.

Thanks for contributing to this thread everyone....