First Ever Team SAA Meet and Greet

Preservation of our Steelhead Alley fishery regardless of Wild vs. Stocked fish

Preservation of our Steelhead Alley fishery regardless of Wild vs. Stocked fish

Steelhead Alley Angler has reached across the world and is becoming noticed.  What we say and what we do is being listened too and watched.  As anglers in steelhead alley, we skim the web for different bits of info to feed our passion for fishing, likewise anglers across the globe are doing the same and land upon steelhead alley websites.  On a recent outdoor sports talk radio episode that I was a part of the topic was related to “Wild Steelhead” and the handling laws they have in their part of the country. 

In the state of Washington I have come to understand that wild fish are not to be removed from the water.  Anglers have raised some concerns on the validity of such a law and realistic ability to enforce such a law.  While some anglers adhere to the law and never touch the fish upon landing, others will still lift a fish, leaving the tail in the water for a photo opportunity and be within the legal rules of their division of wildlife. 

Myself being an angler in a state that has no handling laws per say but rather common sense recommendations from our ODNR on how to handle steelhead, I found the discussion to be interesting and enlightening at the same time.  I had no dog in the fight when it came to their law, but rather I was looking at this topic from a different angle.  Washington State’s law I gather is for the preservation of the wild fishery they have, and I can respect that completely.  A few radio segments went along and I listened with interest of learning from anglers out west the challenges they face.

Soon it was my time to chime into the conversation and maybe point out a different view point.  I spoke about while the law may or may not be enforceable on the West coast, imagine a fishery that has no handling rules.  Yes I know that zipping of fish is illegal in Steelhead Alley, but rather it isn’t illegal to handle fish in other manners of which would be considered controversial in many anglers eyes across the country.  The first thing countered to my point by the co-host was “your fishery is stocked and ours is wild”. 

Yes I completely agree our fishery is stocked by our respective Division of Wildlife Offices.  The understanding is that while the fish will attempt to spawn, our tributary systems are not conducive to sustaining fry during the summer months.  While there is a reported small percentage of fish that appear to be wild in Steelhead Alley, without the stocking programs eventually our fishery would go away within 10 years in my estimation.  With the economic downturn, it wouldn’t surprise me a bit if stocking program funding is cut in the future.

Regardless of handling laws, is it not the duty of an angler to be a Steward of their fishery? Is it not the common goal of all anglers that when releasing fish back to the WILD, they are given the best chance of survival?  With our fishery in Ohio, anglers have the opportunity to harvest a certain amount per day, though this doesn’t mean that all anglers do that.  Of those landed and harvested, many more are released back to the WILD to give other anglers the opportunity to enjoy in the future.  Land 20 fish on a good day, keep 2 if you so desire and release 18 fish that day.  Stewards of the fishery will release 18 fish back in the best condition possible.  Yes I know we may be spoiled on numbers of fish and that may be a topic for another day.

Without handling laws in Ohio, we see a variety of techniques being used.  All of which in the eyes of the common sense angler, would be viewed as inappropriate and not in the best interest of the fish.  Would a handling law in Ohio prevent this?  Nobody really knows, but surely it wouldn’t hurt to release fish in a manner that gives the fish the best chance for survival.  Punting the fish like a football, throwing a fish in midair and everything in between doesn’t quite qualify in my eyes as an acceptable release.  Then we have brilliant minds that think it is funny to make YouTube videos on handling methods of which we all know is intended to get under the skin of anglers who actually care about the fishery and it’s preservation.  If the state ever cuts the funding for steelhead stocking due to an economic downturn, it won’t be so funny then nor is it funny now.

So while we may never be able to change the East Coast vs. West Coast, Stocked vs. Wild fish and Bait vs. Fly beliefs and misunderstandings, it is my opinion that we all should be stewards of our fishery for the simple fact that if we as anglers do not do so, nobody else will either, and in essence my son one day might not be able to have the same great opportunities and memorable fishing experiences that I have had.  Fisheries sustained by wild or man should be respected so that future generations can enjoy it.  Education of other anglers new into the sport is critical as without education it is certain anglers will be their own worst enemy.

Until Next Time…

Fish Hard…Fish Often…

Team SAA fly swap

Team SAA is holding their first ever Fly Swap. If interested, responses below by Friday, January 18th 2013 are requested. Deadline to get your patterns in is February 1st, 2013. Pattern for January 2013 is "STREAMER/INTRUDER PATTERNS" Details below:

Confirm your entry by: January 18th, 2013
Swapmeister receive flies by: February 1st, 2013
Pattern: Streamer/Intruder
Number of flies to tie: 10
Number of flies you will recieve back: 10 flies plus a Team SAA sticker for your participation.

Swapmeister- "Ben See"

Tiers- When you join the swap please adhere to the deadlines. Please use PM with the Swapmeister for communications about the swap.

Tiers- either post on this Facebook thread when you have mailed in your flies or PM the Swapmeister.

Tiers- When mailing your flies, please send them in a strong enough and big enough box to protect them and to hold all of the flies you will be receiving back. Mark the box with your name and address. Mail them at least 5 days before the end of the swap so they will get to the Swapmiester by the deadline date or earlier.

Tiers- include in with your flies a self addressed envelope that is strong enough for the fly box you send and will receive back. Include postage (please do not use metered mail strips on return envelopes) or money (I do not recommend sending cash) in the proper amount to send the flies back to you.

Tiers- if you want your flies sent back to you Priority Mail be sure to include enough postage to cover the increased cost over First Class Postage.

Tiers- include with your flies a toetag (small piece of paper) with the name of the fly and your email addy so the other tiers can email you for the fly tying instructions.

Swapmeister- when Ben See receives flies from the tiers, he will let them know on the Facebook post that he have received them.

Swapmeister- once Ben receive's all flies from all tiers sort them, get them all packaged up and deliver them to the post office in a timely manner. Notify all tiers on this Facebook post that he has mailed out the flies to the tiers.

Tiers- when you receive the swap flies back in the mail notify the Swapmeister on this Facebook post that you have received them.

Swapmeister- Ben See will message you his address for shipping of your tied flies once you have posted that you want to participate.

Swapmeister- will take high quality photos of your flies and feature them on Team SAA. Also, Ben See has a swim tank that will be put to use for video footage fun!

Above all else everyone have a lot of fun with the swap and be open to suggestions and comments, we can all learn from each other.

CRO End of Year Sale and tying demo

As the 2012 Steelhead Alley fishing season comes to a close, our friends at Chagrin River Outfitters are having an end of the year sale as well as fly tying demonstrations this Saturday. See you at CRO!

20-40% off shop clearance sale at Chagrin River Outfitters December 28th, 29th, 30th.

Fly Tying demo at Chagrin River Outfitters Saturday December 29th with Greg Senyo 12-4.

 

Do you want to learn how to tie these?

 And catch these?

Come to Chagrin River Outfitters and see Greg Senyo!

Lake Ontario Outdoors

The new issue of Lake Ontario Outdoors is fresh off the press. It's expanded, diverse and features two of our Pautzke Great Lakes pros: a feature article from Ben See and guide Frank Campbell with a Niagara River steelhead on the cover.

Team SAA Angler - Ben See shows how it's done in Steelhead Alley