Why Fly-Fishing-Only and Special Regulations Matter for Native Fish

A local brook trout from the North Maine Woods. Photograph: Charles Hildick-Smith

A pair weeks in the past, we posted a story about some conventional anglers in Maine who’re suing to realize entry to waters which were off-limits to them. In an essay in The Piscataquis Observer, well-known Maine fly fisher Al Raychard argues that such rules are worthwhile instruments for shielding native fish, particularly brook trout:

One in every of [the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s] main obligations is to guard Maine’s fish and wildlife assets. That’s precisely what the division is doing with heritage trout waters whereas nonetheless permitting anglers to fish them.

The identical is true for fly-fishing-only waters, which look like on the coronary heart of this lawsuit. Research after examine has proven trout caught on flies and synthetic lures typically have greater survival charges than fish caught on bait. Synthetic lures are much less more likely to be swallowed deeply and trigger much less tissue harm.

Click here for the full article in The Piscataquis Observer