Some good points there by Phishphreak and HBP, but I stick to my guns on all I said really.
Powerbait is a "no brainer" and if that insults some, too bad. I've been known to enjoy fishing for
days without thinking much about what I am doing FOR or TO the sport in past years too.
MY point was the more you learn about your quarry and it's habits and envoronment, the less
likely you are to be a fishhog or a litterbug. Most people will agree with that goal ie. to reduce fishhogs and litterbugs. If I upset some....good!!! I use that methodology beacuse I've learned that saying nice stuff like "well maybe it's OK for you, but I don't like it" gets no results at all in terms of changing opinions. It would please me greatly to make it socially unacceptable to powerbait for all but children.

Back to the Sport issue, calling those who powerbait Not Sportsmen was perhaps a little harsh for the same reason. I'd like to change the frequency with which newcomers learn the sport by chucking powerbait and never give it up. Many of these folks fish a lot and that's great,but It means that unless they are breaking the law and catch and release powerbaiting they are killing large numbers of fish in order to enjoy the sport. And I know my comments about giving them to the neighbors and freezer burn are correct. These people are Not the same thinking Sportsmen I meet on the C&R lakes, who know the value of a large healthy trout for SPORT and protect that value.

As to our F&G they do a good job at throwing fish around everywhere,actually it amazes me how good. What they fail to do is read the demand of their constituency accurately vs. listening to the loudest.
I maintain my stance that about 1/2 of our best (richest in foodchain) lakes should be managed
on a 1 fish per day limit or C&R. The F&G Department should make it their job to hold teaching seminars for anglers who wish to learn to fly fish C&R in order to pracitce conservation.

I would have no qualms about powerbait use on the remaining catch and kill lakes. I just trashed it
because it is too prevalent and promotes lack of thoiught about what our sport could be and should be.
With too many anglers satisfied with jerking out a few small trout every year our F&G Department will continue to play to the whim of the vocal majority. I'd like to change that majority and the way most of our lakes are managed. That's all.