Comments on: Remaining Qualifiers for 2009 Team USA Nationals

By: TIM

TIM — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:40:35 +0000

OK, You drive a good point. But I know that Browns and some Rainbows don’t spawn until later in the fall. But we are beating a dead horse on this one aren’t we. NOW, how do you suppose you should go about it to get a rational point across? As for the competitors. I have met a few of them. I believe they care greatly about the sport and the resource. YOU need to contact the proper people, that are IN CHARGE of the venues. Voice your concerns and I repeat Tactfuly, Respectfuly and Rationaly debate the issues you have. And maybe you will be happy with the results.
CHEERS

By: Jason

Jason — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:44:24 +0000

There is a difference between lawfully recreating and organizing an event that targets trout when they are spawning. I will agree that pollution, development etc… pose a far greater danger to trout than does this tournament, but again the tournament DOES pose a danger as well! It may seem small to those who are competing, but it has the potential to be a HUGE problem for this years spawning class. Why in the world would you take that chance? I just don’t get it. I take it that most of the competitors are coming from out of the area and just don’t care about our streams or that they care too much about making the “team” then they do about the resource. Very, very selfish reasons, shame on you all. Most fly fisherman also practice minimal impact fishing by NOT fishing during the spawn!

I really wish you would stop using the fact that it is legal to fish then. If you guys truly are the “elite” (which I am starting to doubt) you know better than to fish during the spawn, legal or not…grow up and take some responsibility!

By: TIM

TIM — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 19:57:20 +0000

The worst thing for our sport to have happen is to have fighting amongst ourself. Its bad enough to be fighting over development, pollution and reduction of access to waterbodies. Granted timing may suck. But take into consideration that EVERYONE has a RIGHT To lawfully recreate. There is more to the BIG picture than “impacting” a waterbody. ALL of us do this EVERY time we walk in the water (aquatic life that lives under the rocks that we step on) as some animals do the same as well. I believe and I practice minimal impact flyfishing which means exiting where you entered the water to move to another area. And as for stepping on redds.
they are usually in areas one does not want to step. So lets support each other. Talk tactfully, respectfully, and rationaly before we all damage this sport. CHEERS.

By: Jason

Jason — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:27:47 +0000

I’m sorry, but if the members of “Team USA” don’t know that it is unethical to fish over spawning trout then I guess everything I have heard about these people is true. It is just sad that this is the impression of the sport that these “anglers” are putting out there.

Yes it is legal to fish these waters during the spawn, why…I truly don’t know. I do know that it is ILLEGAL to have ANY tournaments for bass during their spawning time! I guess they place these fish (bass) in higher regards then trout, I don’t know…but that should tell you something.

The average Joe that is fishing these streams during the spawn probably don’t even know when the trout spawn, he/she probably isn’t even aware that they can step on unseen reds or that the fish are stressed during the spawn and therefore do not need the added stress of being hooked…many of these average Joe’s probably don’t care either…just like team USA!!! The truly sad part is that members of team USA DO KNOW that these fish are spawning, they DO KNOW what the added stress can do and they STILL try to defend their position.

You can argue about how it HAD to be this weekend, or how it is legal to do so, or how these anglers need this weekend to qualify or whatever, but if you really want to represent fly fisherman, the trout as a resource, the hard work done by so many to make sure that these streams continue to support WILD REPRODUCING trout, please do not fish them while they are spawning. You are jeopardizing a resource for your own gains and that is selfish. Go find a warm water creek or river and have a carp tournament instead. They are harder to catch any way and you can test your skills on a resource that is not as fragile as trout.

For those of you who also upset by the choice of this date, I am going to be writing to all of the sponsors of TEAM USA just to let them know about the issue, I strongly suggest you do the same.

I found these sponsors so far…go to this page and they are on the left…http://www.flyfishingteamusa.com/Sponsors/sponsors.htm

By: Bill Anderson

Bill Anderson — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 12:23:18 +0000

Art, et al,
As you know I am on the “j” fishing, or at least observing, brown trout behavior almost daily, year round. I can tell you first hand that the vast amount of spawning behavior on the “j” does not occur until the 1st week in November.( I can not speak for Spring Creek, could be later or earlier). I can show you many redds on the “j” but not until around November 7th + or – a couple of days. Unfortunately catching and releasing large female trout pre-spawn is probably more damaging than walking through the redds. In central Pa. Pre-spawn behavior and egg production begins in early October….and yes natural reproduction not only occurs on the “j”, it is responsible for our excellent fishing. In fact,many of us, myself included, are convinced that the hatchery fingerlings are no more than expensive trout food. A PFBC study is finally underweigh to test this belief. All trout fingerlings beginning with 30,000 stocked May, 2009 are being marked for surviveability studies.
As for competitive fly fishing, for me, it is a disgusting activity that reduces our noble art to the level of ripping lips in Bass Tournements. Counting fish, inches and time is so contradictory to my enjoyment of our sport and all its traditions, I can barely stay civil when in the prescence of those who do it. However, there are those who are into legal but offensive barbarism of all sorts, I even know a couple of NASCAR fans and hockey players who are otherwise pretty good people. Meanwhile its up to you Spring Creekers to do something. Just don’t chase these “lip rippers” down to the “j”. We have a few guys here who may get violent.

Bill Anderson
President
Little Juniata River Association

By: DejonHamann

DejonHamann — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 03:30:49 +0000

I guess that’s the real question here, eh? There is no doubt it’s legal. No one seems to be disputing that fact. But Ethical? Is the State of PA and thus the majority of the residents there in saying that it is also Ethical to fish these waters since they have made it legal? Why would they make something so theoretically unethical legal? On the same line if it is obviously so damaging and unethical to fish these waters at that time why hasn’t the state or a majority of the people there-in made it illegal? What are we really talking about here? State Law? Ethics?

By: HenryDavid

HenryDavid — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 02:13:05 +0000

“even the State of PA itself says it’s legal and ethical for fisherman to fish at that time.”

Where can we read that it is “Ethical” to fish at this time, legal yes, but Ethical? Read the posts,…….

By: Art Kempf

Art Kempf — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:57:32 +0000

Mark, and all other Sponsors/Competitors..
I’ve never been accused of not seeing the big picture, and certainly this is no exception. The “big picture” is quite simple, a special interest group is selfishly chosing to ignore the negative impact of their activity on the Spring Creek trout fishery for their own personal gain. It’s not about having a weekend competition on Spring Creek; its about having the weekend competitive activity during the trout spawning cycle. It’s that simple… You can try to justify this poor sportmanship/questionable ethics activity any way that you like, but it’s wrong.(and you know it’s wrong)… Trying to justify it using examples like “it’s already being fished by others or it’s environmentally challenged by pollution from a football game doesn’t convince me (and I doubt anyone else) that it’s OK to add to the problem.

I won’t even comment on showcasing Spring Creek. Joe Boston captured that pretty good.. We don’t need your help with increasing fishing pressure on Spring Creek. What we do need is help with protecting the resource. Having a tournament during spawing time doesn’t fall in that category.

Poor planning and a complete lack of concern for the Spring Creek resource have created this mess. Spring Creek is fishable for 12 months of the year and only two of those months are the most critical in the trouts life cycle. Why on earth, would any professional group who supposedly should be protecting our challenged trout resource and setting a good example for ethical behavior, chose to have a competition during that time frame… I know the answer and you do too.

I’ll spell it out for all of you one more time.. Spring Creek is a Class A wild trout stream. That means, that it is never stocked and therefore the resident trout population is totally dependent on spawning success for their numbers. Catching those trout for acquiring competitive “points” or interfering with their spawning activity does nothing to improve their chances of success.. That’s the big picture Mark and all you other…

Unfortunately, I’ll be away for a couple weeks and won’t be able to continue this debate, but I promise that a significant number of us who belive that this is wrong will continue this discussion until the proper decision is made.

By: Joe Boston

Joe Boston — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 12:48:28 +0000

Mark Spring Creek does not need anymore “show casing”!! The stream is currently popular enough. Travelers to central PA spend millions yearly to fish this high quality “native brown trout fishery. Finding a parking spot and elbow room to cast during the prime times is already tough enough.
No doubt the organizers selected Spring Creek for it’s quality. Why not reschedule for the third week in May and phone ahead for reserved parking.
How about we do this. The contestants and you and the spectators all put in two days of habitat work in order to earn the privilege of holding the “contest”.
I for one find the notion of a flyfishing contest disgusting. The sport is more noble than making it a Nascar like event. But then that is one man’s opinion.
I believe that Spring Creek should be closed to hishing 10-1 to 12-15 every year. But then again that is my opinion.
Joe

By: Mark Hanes "FlyfisherPA"

Mark Hanes "FlyfisherPA" — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 01:58:10 +0000

I really don’t think you should be jumping to conclusions about this. I commend you work and I have seen the results first hand. Did you ever stop to think minus the spawning issue that this a great way to showcase your work. Really it will have minimal impact. I mean come on do you really thing the sewage plants can handle all the influx that comes with a football game? It is no different than what you would normally see on the stream there would be 20 guys or more fishing the stream anyway that causes the same damage. The Central PA streams will be showcased during the event.

Do you understand how much guys like Dejon have to put into this to get to the national comp? It is a major commitment for these guys to get to this level of competition they work there butts off! Yes the timing sucks but don’t site here and preach to a competitor like he is a mortal sinner.

Really this undermines your effort? I don’t think that is the case. Like I said it is more of a showcase of your work that company reps and reputable guides from across the country will see. If you look at this right it can bring more people to the table to protect the watershed. One weekend will not destroy a stream that has been through numerous fish kills over the years.

I commend your passion but try looking at the bigger picture and the positives that can come out of it if you approach it the right way.