B-Run blues affect steelhead fishing derby - The Spokesman Review

The Clearwater Snake Steelhead Derby will be held Nov. 23-30 despite the closure of a large section of the Clearwater River to harvest of steelhead more than 28 inches long.
Officials with the steelhead derby committee at the Lewis Clark Valley Chamber of Commerce are working with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game to ensure the annual fishing contest doesn’t unduly target fish that an emergency rule change is designed to protect.
When the catch-and-keep steelhead season opened Tuesday, the Clearwater River below Orofino and its North Fork were closed to harvest of hatchery steelhead longer than 28 …

Idaho fish managers are asking anglers to go beyond the restrictive emergency regulations set to protect the dismal run of salmon to the Clearwater River.
Release the protected fish longer than 28 inches as quickly as possible to increase their odds of survival, says Joe DuPont, Idaho Fish and Game Department regional fisheries manager.
Some anglers place marks on their boats so they can measure fish without taking them out of the water.
“This helps prevent people from dropping a struggling fish in the bottom of their boat, which increases the likelihood of handling mortality,” he said.
The Clearwater Snake Steelhead Derby will be held Nov. 23-30 despite the closure of a large section of the Clearwater River to harvest of steelhead more than 28 inches long.
Officials with the steelhead derby committee at the Lewis Clark Valley Chamber of Commerce are working with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game to ensure the annual fishing contest doesn’t unduly target fish that an emergency rule change is designed to protect.
When the catch-and-keep steelhead season opened Tuesday, the Clearwater River below Orofino and its North Fork were closed to harvest of hatchery steelhead longer than 28 inches. The rule is designed to protect the 2,000 large B-run steelhead predicted to return to Dworshak National Fish Hatchery.
Virtually every one of the fish will be needed to meet spawning goals.
The Clearwater is a destination for derby anglers and other fishermen trying to catch B-run fish renowned for their size and strength. But while this year’s run of fall chinook is setting records, B-run steelhead numbers are dismally low.
Joe DuPont, Idaho Fish and Game regional fisheries manager in Lewiston, said derby officials have agreed to make surederby participants know of the rule change and aren’t tempted to cheat.
“When you have a derby with a fairly large award for the largest fish, there is going to be a tendency for somebody to want to keep a big fish somebody would catch on the Clearwater even though it is illegal,” he said.
Derby officials will cover the rule change at the opening ceremony and also have it printed in registration packets.
As always, they plan to announce the biggest fish caught each day. This year, they will include where the fish was caught to help derby participants police each other.
Fisheries monitors and conservation officers from the department will have a presence on the Clearwater during the derby.
“I was fairly confident with all of those things in place that illegal harvest should be minimal,” DuPont said.
“I feel I was able to assure (DuPont) there will be a lot of self policing and we will be reminding (anglers) of the rules and be very clear with the restrictions,” said Chamber President Kristin Kemak.
According to the latest forecast, a total of 9,440 hatchery steelhead from Clearwater River hatcheries will return past Lower Granite Dam this fall. But only 7,888 will be adipose fin-clipped fish that have spent two or three years in the ocean and just about 2,000 of them will be bound for Dworshak, where nearly all hatchery fish are collected for spawning.
The hatchery has a goal of collecting 2,000 fish each year, leaving none available for harvest this year.
“The only way we feel confident that we can get the necessary fish to Dworshak Hatchery is to restrict all harvest of these two- and three-ocean fish,” DuPont said.
The regulations are likely to reduce the number of anglers fishing the Clearwater this fall and will hit steelhead outfitters in the pocket book. Toby Wyatt, owner of Reel Time Fishing, said the restrictions will be painful but he understands the reason they were adopted.
“It’s going to hurt a lot of us, that is for sure, but you have to do what you have to do. You have to make sure you have enough fish to make the next crop.”
Despite the poor run, both he and DuPont predicted there will still be quality fishing on the river, even if anglers have to release most of their catch. Steve Pettit, a retired Idaho Fish and Game fisheries biologist who lives at Cherrylane, is worried about the B-run, particularly the federally protected wild fish. He said years of hatchery practices combined with the increasing popularity of the fishery in the Clearwater River has taken its toll on the fish.
Runs over the past 13 years have been mostly robust due largely to positive ocean conditions in the North Pacific Ocean. However, conditions in the ocean typically run in decade-long streaks between good and bad known as the Pacific decadal oscillation. He fears the fishery has entered a period of poor ocean productivity and both the wild and hatchery runs are on a dangerous slide.
“We are probably going to have another decade where the North Pacific productivity ebbs and goes downhill,” Pettit said.
“If there is any issue at all with juvenile migration and you have a poor ocean on top of it, you are going to see much poorer returns back to the Snake River.”

View the original article here

<b>Fishing</b> Derby Will Open Season at Cass Pond Saturday

‹ Back to Article Embed | Share      No derby is complete without the help of 90 year old retired city worker " Sudsy " Southerland.

The 2012 Woonsocket Fishing Derby will kick off this year's trout and general freshwater fishing season at 6 a.m. on Saturday, drawing young anglers from across the area.

About 80,000 hatchery-raised brook, brown, and rainbow trout with an average individual weight of one and a half pounds are being stocked by Division staff in more than 100 ponds and streams for opening day.

Sponsored by Woonsocket Lodge of Elks #850 and the Woonsocket Parks and Recreation Department, the derby is open to boys and girls 12 and under. Last year, about 175 people showed up to kick off the season during the derby.

“Getting out at the crack of dawn on opening day is a time-honored tradition in Rhode Island,” noted DEM Director Janet Coit.  “This is a great opportunity for anglers of all ages to grab their fishing poles and experience the delight of catching the first trout of the season.”

The DEM warns that anglers should make an extra effort to take personal safety precautions, such as not standing too close to the shoreline and being aware of their surroundings, so that they can enjoy a safe 'opening day' fishing experience. Boaters are also being urged to take appropriate safety precautions, particularly those who fish from canoes on lakes, ponds and rivers with dams. Even though the air temperatures are rising, water temperatures are still low and situations can quickly turn dangerous.

Cass Pond will be open for children-only during the first two days of the fishing season - Saturday and Sunday.

A 2012 fishing license is required for anglers 15 years of age and older wishing to catch fish. A Trout Conservation Stamp is also required of anyone wishing to keep or possess a trout or to fish in a catch-and-release or 'fly-fishing only' area. 

Fishing licenses and the Trout Conservation Stamp ($5.50) can be obtained at any city or town clerk's office or authorized agent such as bait and tackle shops and Benny’s.  A current list of license vendors is available on the DEM website, www.dem.ri.gov, by clicking on “Hunting, Fishing, Boating Licenses” from the top left of the homepage, and scrolling down to “Hunting/Fishing Agents.”

View the original article here

Captain Quinton Dieterle And Team Get Lit Win Silver Sailfish Derby

COLUMBIA, S.C. - One of the most storied and prestigious sailfish tournaments concluded this past weekend with Get Lit, owned by Miami angler Kit Toomey and Captained by Quinton Dieterle, bringing home the victory. Get Lit was able to fish their way to a first place finish at the West Palm Beach Fishing Club's 75th Annual Silver Sailfish Derby in West Palm Beach, Fla.

This marks the second year in a row that Get Lit has captured the title, releasing 58 sailfish. Get Lit also set a new one-day boat record, releasing 36 sailfish. The team was using 20-pound Berkley® ProSpec™ premium monofilament spooled on Penn® 16VS Custom International reels.

"This is by far one of my favorite events to fish," said Toomey. "The turnout to watch this event is off the charts, and the fishing this time of year is unbelievable. Get Lit was able to catch and release 58 sailfish for this win, and I attribute the success to the entire team along with great sponsors. Get Lit is proud to fish the toughest gear on the market, and that is the only stuff we use. PENN gets the job done."

The Silver Sailfish Derby is the oldest Sailfish Tournament on the East Coast of the United States and is regarded as one of the most prestigious among the anglers. There were 46 boats in the field and a combined 1,000 plus sails were caught and released.

Braided line ready, the Penn International series gives the saltwater angler Dura-Drag washer that virtually eliminate hesitation, even under the strain that braided lines put on a reel. Equipped with a patented Quick Shift two-speed system, the Penn International V easily shifts into high or low gear. Four ball bearings give the angler the smoothest performance in saltwater. Penn International Reels are available in five sizes - 16VS, 30VSW, 50VSW, 70 VS and 80 VSW - to accommodate any saltwater fish.

Berkley ProSpec is a premium co-polymer monofilament built on performance. Saltwater anglers are tough on their line and ProSpec delivers the toughness and strength that serious anglers need. With excellent know and impact strength, the supple ProSpec is available in Ocean Blue and Fluorescent Yellow. The line comes in 12-, 16-, 20-, 25-, 30-, 40-, 50-, 60-, 80-, 100- and 130-pound test. This is the line captains and guides depend upon to get the job done.

Media Contact
Kevin Jarnagin, Blue Heron Communications, (800) 654-3766 or Kevin@blueheroncomm.com

View the original article here