Rob,

We agree on lots of things, but I think you're wrong on your last statement regarding fly-only waters.

Write me up a quick list of rivers or parts of rivers where a flyfisher is not allowed to flyfish, at any time during the year.

Now write me up a quick list of rivers or parts of rivers where only flyfishers can fish, at any time during the year.

Seems to me, without seeing your lists, that flyfishers are never restricted from fishing anywhere during any open season, for any fish.

Others are restricted in gear types, however.

Stating that the only fly-only waters that exist are poor producers or poor fly waters, which I definitely do not agree with, just brings it back to your original point regarding selective fisheries...if someone chooses just to flyfish, then that's their choice. It's the same as you pointing out that selective gear rules don't kick anyone off the rivers, unless they choose to not participate.

That being said, I do agree that a lot of fish runs would benefit from more selective gear seasons. Though I'm mainly a bait fisherman myself, I choose to fish selective gear areas/seasons quite a bit, too.

As far as adult fish go, studies show that bait has little or no effect on release survival, while barbs do have a significant effect.

Juvenile fish, however, have pretty high mortality from both.

As long as we have some fish runs in depressed states, we need to protect their juvenile populations, too, with selective gear regs where appropriate and necessary.

Fish on...

Todd.