Great news for an emerging fishery

Considerations for Freshwater Sportfish Regulation Changes For 2012-2014

The Department is currently considering the following items for the next round of freshwater regulation changes. ; Proposals will actually be finalized and made available for public comment during the late summer and early fall of 2011, and would become effective on October 1, 2012.

Description: Define use of flylines and supplemental weight for the Salmon River special regulations fly areas. This essentially removes the use of supplemental weight, weighted flies and sinking flylines during the summer and assigns a weight limit for supplemental weight and sinking fly to eliminate the “weight of the line must propel the cast” regulation. A “no weight” restriction (i.e., only floating line and unweighted leaders and flies allowed) will be implemented from May 1 – 15 for the Lower Fly Area and from May 1 – August 31 for the Upper Fly Area.

Rationale: To reduce the foul hooking of fish. Input from summer fly fishing anglers indicates that these fish will actively chase artificial flies in the flows that occur during the summer and aggressively take wet flies fished just under the surface or in the surface film, as well as dry flies fished on the water’s surface. Atlantic salmon and summer steelhead are the most aggressive takers of flies in the Salmon River. These fish should not be disturbed when they choose to be inactive due to elevated temperatures. Adding weights significantly increases the probability of anglers intentionally or unintentionally foul hooking all salmonids in summer flows. There is currently some level of abuse occurring.