For the first time since 1997, Oregon anglers will have the
opportunity to keep trout caught in north coast rivers and streams.
That and other 2009 sport fishing regulations were adopted by the
Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission on Friday.
The new regulations, effective Jan. 1, 2009, lift the
catch-and-release only restriction for cutthroat trout in the
Northwest Zone and will allow anglers to harvest up to two trout a day
from May 25 to Oct. 31. Lower Columbia River tributaries will remain
closed to trout harvest.
ODFW biologists briefed commissioners that there was no biological
basis for continuing the harvest restrictions and recommended proposal
150P be adopted. The proposal reestablished the modest harvest of
trout in all rivers and streams in the Northwest Zone, north of the
Salmon River.
"Cutthroat populations on the north coast are widespread and stable,"
said Robert Bradley, ODFW fish biologist from Tillamook.
Bradley described the daily bag limit of two fish with a minimum
length of eight inches as "a conservative proposal modeled on the
successful cutthroat fishery that has existed on the mid and south
coast for the past eight years."
Proponents of proposal 132P, which would have eliminated wild trout
harvest in both the Northwest and Southwest Zones, testified that it
would help protect native cutthroat trout populations. Others,
however, argued that it would deny young and novice anglers the
opportunity to take a fish home.
The Commission voted unanimously to accept the staff recommendations
on both 150P and 132P.
On other proposals the commission:
- declined to authorize fishing from a floating devise on the
Applegate River
- kept in place a catch-and-release only restriction
for wild steelhead on the mainstem Umpqua River and North Umpqua
rivers
- rejected proposals to limit the use of bait on the McKenzie
River
- declined to set statewide harvest limits for bass, crappie and
channel catfish
- rejected proposals to increase daily bag limits for
bull trout on Lake Billy Chinook
- approved the harvest of wild
steelhead on the Illinois River with a bag limit of one per day and
five per year
A complete list of the 2009 sport fishing regulation proposals adopted
by the Commission will be posted at www.dfw.state.or.us
The commission approved amendments to the Wildlife Integrity rules
(OCR 635-056) that would classify tilapia, giant river prawns and
whileleg shrimp as controlled species. The rule change would allow for
commercial production (under specified conditions) of these species.
The commission appointed Lynden Brown of Lebanon to the Fish Screening
Task Force to represent fishing or fish conservation interests. Brown
is a retired high school science teacher, a member of the Oregon
Fishing Club and Caribbean Conservation Corporation, and has been
active in the Oregon Trout Salmon Watch program.
The ODFW Fish Screening Program helps water users install and maintain
fish screens to prevent fish from entering ditch and pump water
diversions. The Task Force advises ODFW on program development,
implementation, monitoring, technology, funding and reporting.
