Pat, Todd, & Parker,

No bait and no barbs are standard parts of the selective fishery regulations, so I presume that's why they're included in this regulation proposal. Most of us are aware that bait and barbs are not much of an issue with adult steelhead.

I have a hard time understanding why this particular bait and barb restriction is so irritating to you. I like to fly fish for steelhead, and I do catch them, even doing quite well under good conditions. So the regulation isn't likely to reduce my catch. However, my reading of this BB suggests that you guys normally catch steelhead in circles around me, suggesting you're pretty good anglers. If so, is a bait and barb restriction really going to affect your fishing success much, if at all? I mean, isn't the proposed regulation more of a restriction of your preference for bait than a restriction of your prospective fishing success?

It's not like restricting you to a fishing method that you lack experience with, which strikes me as the more significant impact. Like if I was restricted to drift fishing and you were restricted to fly fishing, then (assuming you don't fly fish for steelhead) we'd all be at a relative disadvantage. Many drift fishermen have told me that artificial lures are just as effective as bait for steelhead most of the time. Are they wrong? Or is there something else about the proposed regulation that I'm not getting?

Sincerely,

Salmo g.