On a post below about fishing gear Bob mentioned the potential of a proposing rule for the mandatory use of a certain type of net in catch and release fisheries. That got me to thinking. What are some rules we'd like to see in place in the future? I am not sure there is anythng as important as WSR but we all saw how much energy there was for that issue even on very short notice. We have 10 months to propose and organize public testimony for whatever proposals we wanna see happen.
I am just wondering is anyone has anything they'd like to see in terms of new fishing regs.. Is there anything that we should all get behind and push for?

Thoughts?

Actually, you've got about two years. The years alternate between "major" and "minor" cycles when it comes to sportfishing regulations.

The "major" year is what we just finished, and that's where significant changes take place. During the "minor" cycle, all that really happens are little tweaks here and there to fix or adjust existing rules.

That said...I like the CnR net idea. Not requiring you to use one, but requiring you to use one if you are going to use a net at all.

How about a minimum line test for fishing during CnR seasons to prevent people from cnr'g dead fish after an epic 45 minute battle on a damn noodle rod?

I'm still thinking about it, but I think I'd support upping limits on hatchery fish so as to get them out of the river before they spawn...salmon for sure, probably steelhead, too.

More?

Fish on...

Todd.

Todd are there no public proposales accepted during the minor cycle?

Yeah, that's what we need....the government telling us what kind of net we have to use.

RA3,

I don't recall exactly what they will or will not receive during a minor cycle, but I'm guessing that they would receive proposals to fix wording in a rule, or close a loophole that showed up during the last season, or a minor change in an open area or season.

I guess that's no reason not to submit a proposal for something else, at the very least it would give them a heads up that it's coming next year if this year won't work.

Thump, what's the problem with requiring a CnR net for CnR areas? It seems that the biggest beef that opponents of such fisheries have is that the associated mortality is too high. Wouldn't this help?

Fish on...

Todd.