THE FISH IN THE RIVERS: A BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER
Editorial by Reid L. Rosenthal
It was a hot, still summer afternoon, more
than four decades ago. The chatter of grasshopper wings hung in the
heat. The creek cut cool and gurgling between tall green trees, bubbling
through a tiny clearing bisecting the brittle fescue and needle grasses.
A little boy of 5 or so, clutching a disproportionately enormous fly
rod, stood watching as a much older man kneeling beside him gestured
to a little eddy just downstream of a dark, glistening log hanging
precariously on the opposite bank. The little boy, clutching the great
rod with both hands, somehow got the oversize Goddard Caddis fly toward
the soaked limb a scant 15 feet away. Mysteriously, and without warning,
there was a splashy parting of sun dappled ripples. It was the surprise,
I suppose, that made the little boy jerk back, carrying the rod with
him and setting the hook. Excited, and oblivious to the old man's
yelled instructions, the youngster did the first thing that came to
mind. Clutching the fly line desperately against the handle cork with
both little hands, he turned, and with the rod over his shoulders,
ran as fast as he could across the field pulling the hapless cutthroat
out of its lair for some distance through the grass. The old man finally
caught him, and gave him the stern admonition that if he was to kill
it, he was to eat it. I was the little boy, and the older man was
my revered outdoorsman uncle, a well traveled relative who, it seemed,
had fished most of the planet. He often spoke with reverence of the
special places he had been. Those talks almost always began and ended
with the word "Montana."
Flash forward. It's 1971. I and my best friend, with meticulous
pre-planning, set out from college in Colorado, our simple goal being
to visit that mystical place called Montana, and acquaint ourselves
with the fish in its rivers. My first cast was slightly upstream of
a bridge on the Gallatin using a Colorado standard 8 foot fairy wand,
two pound spider web something or other leader material, and a Goddard
Caddis. The fly alighted on the downstream edge of a dark green pool
shadowed by a leaning spruce, the water boiled like a toilet flushing,
and I raised the rod tip and set. A huge rainbow erupted from the
river like a Polaris missile, snapping the leader in a nanosecond.
I stumbled backwards and then fell headlong in the current to the
great amusement of my buddy still rigging up on the bank. And so began
(presaged by my uncle's tales) my love affair with the northern
Rockies.
My love of fly fishing, the Big Sky State, Wyoming and my partiality to goddard caddis has never changed, but almost everything else has.
These changes are beginning to affect, as they have elsewhere, THE
FISH IN THE RIVERS.
The Rocky Mountain West has been "discovered." As the wild trout fisheries
in every other state have vanished, Montana has seen an exponential
increase in fishing pressure, on some rivers as much as 2000%
in the last ten years. Pressure and crowding on Class I waters has
begun to move crowds to the smaller, much more fragile and delicate
Class II streams. Wade fishing predominates on Class II waters. Increased
access results not only in greater stress to the fish but in degradation
of stream beds, aquatic life, and riparian bank cover. Resource unconscious,
selfish, egocentric development on the very banks of the finest streams
has degraded water quality, disturbed habitat, and unthinkingly blemished
natural aesthetics. And now a sword of Damocles known as whirling
disease hangs foreboding over the future of wild fisheries throughout
the American West and particularly in Montana, quite literally the
only state to have adopted (correctly) wild fisheries management strategies
decades ago. The end result of man's battle with this formidable parasite
and other fish killers now being discovered through enhanced science
is unknown. What is known, however, is that change is inevitable
in Montana, or anywhere else, with regards to fisheries or any other
matter. It cannot be ignored. Unless dealt with proactively, these
changes will not prove beneficial to THE FISH IN THE RIVERS. Unfortunately,
in Montana there still exists on many rivers decades old harvest "limits"
of five fish a day, one over 18 inches, antiquated licensing, virtually
non existent enforcement, and fines and penalties which are little
more than slaps on the wrist. Resting on its establishment of, and
maintaining to this point the greatest, finest (and last) collection
of wild trout fisheries in the lower 48 is no longer "O.K."
Fortunately it is still not too late. Proactive teamwork can, and
will, shape change in a manner which insures, to the best of human
ability, the highest possible quality outcome. The problems hanging
like a heavy stone over America's last great concentration of wild
fish can be solved. For Montana, and those who pursue the fish in
her rivers, the free ride is over. Either we share, pay, and conserve,
or we will be arguing about sharing something that no longer exists.
Strict forward thinking fisheries regulations which take into account
changing conditions are the critical first step in protecting THE
FISH IN THE RIVERS.
The backbone of many Montanan's quality of life are THE FISH IN
THE RIVERS. Tourism/recreation is Montana's number two industry and
gaining. The engine of tourism/recreation is not the rivers, access
to the rivers, the scenery, or all those other wonderful but incidental
matters, it is THE FISH IN THE RIVERS that draw visitors toting rods
from all over the world. It is only in Montana, however, that accessible
wild fisheries are not fully and zealously protected by special regulations.
Although Montana's FWP Commission appears truly concerned, some
pronouncements and projections by certain state biologists are flatly
wrong. For instance, an overlay of management/use of reaches of Montana's
rivers, over the State's own biological studies clearly indicates,
with few exceptions, that the greatest overall populations and numbers
of big fish in virtually any river in Montana, are in those areas
in which current state regulation allowing harvest of either 5 or
3 fish/day have been replaced by more enlightened rest/rotation, fly
fishing, catch and release (or strict slot limit harvest limitation)
management methods. And this is true throughout North America,
not just here in Montana.
Whether population declines admittes by state biologists have been
caused by harvest, whirling desease, or other factors is irrelevant.
Increased pressure, coupled with continuance of Montana s current
state wide "kill fish by any methodology regulations," will
not rebuild now diminished populations.
Immediate implementation of concrete, future conscious solutions
is a must. For instance:
FUNDING: Montana
must have more enforcement, additional research, additional fishing
access sites to spread pressure, grass roots education programs, increased
biological monitoring, and far more restrictive fisheries regulations
state wide. The key to all of these goodies is, of course, money,
and willing money is out there in the form of increased fishing
license fees. Perhaps raise fees only $5 for in state, but substantially
more than that for all out of state license holders. Legislate the
percentage use of these funds by category and couple that with a check
off box (which may change from year to year) providing for a voluntary
additional $5 or $10 for special research projects. Considering
annual license sales numbering in the hundreds of thousands, this
is big bucks. Some would argue that this might reduce the number of
out of state anglers. Not so in other Canadian and American locales
where liscense fees have increased. This is a bargain which would
be strongly supported if the use of funds was mandated to be for THE
FISH IN THE RIVERS.
FISHERIES REGULATIONS PHILOSOPHY:
The fishing in Montana is still unrivaled in the lower 48. That is
not the point. The handwriting is on the wall. The issue here is the
future of these great fisheries. There are, literally, 48 other states
from whom we can learn much about what not to do, and two Canadian
Provinces (BC and Alberta) whom we might look to as examples. Those
minority of state biologists in Montana who maintain that catch and
release or similar restrictive fishery regulations don't work have
not even attempted to implement and monitor large scale special regulations
(even in the face of their own science demonstrating 50% population
declines absent such restrictions). However, there are legions of
highly qualified national and world renowned fisheries biologists
working in scores of other states, at the federal level, and for such
huge conservation organizations as the Nature Conservancy and Audubon
Society who maintain exactly the opposite, and who manage their fisheries
with tight restrictions which, indeed, seem to have paid off, in biomass,
population and size studies, and in increased angler opportunity.
What exactly is to be lost by erring on the side of conservatism?
FISHERMAN EDUCATION:
Every single purchaser of a license in Montana should be required
to watch an 11 to 13 minute video at the license agent's shop. The
video can touch all important aspects of Montana s fisheries, proper
on-stream etiquette, catch and release concepts, future fisheries
quality, fishery economics, hooking mortality prevention, private
and public rights under the Stream Access Law, etc. Full time education
officers, mandated to spend every school day in elementary schools
throughout the state, would get the word out to the next generation
of fishermen.
FISHING REGULATIONS:
Bag limits, possession limits, and harvest methodology must be revised
state wide in moving water (and left alone in stocked lakes), with
even more stringent restrictions on a case by case basis if Montana
is to manage for the future. In an historic first in Montana, there
has been some reduction of daily bag limits on certain waters and
some rivers are now closed from December 1 to May except for fly fishing,
catch and release, and some west slope cutthroat and rainbow fisheries
have been made catch and release. These steps in the right direction
should be enthusiastically applauded, however, additional special
regs proposed on many rivers and streams were not passed. Montana
no longer has the luxury of selling a license dirt cheap to someone
from somewhere else to harvest food which, in 9 cases out of 10, is
thrown out with the spring freezer cleaning. Varying bag limits on
rivers and streams ranging from a few fish for residents to no, or
very limited harvest for out of state visitors must be implemented
and enforced. On whirling disease infected waters, serious consideration
must be given to blanket catch and release, or slot limits to protect
spawning age/class fish, as the Commission's own science commission
is inclined to recommend.
It is true that the majority of fishermen are now practicing catch
and release, or highly limited harvest (although recent private creel
census data indicates an astounding approximate 35%± of anglers
still keeping fish). Even the most careful barbless catch and release
fly fishermen will lose 2.5% - 5% of the fish he lands. Mortality
rates for single and triple barbed hook lure fishing range upwards
from 11% in studies, and catch and release bait fisherman lose
upwards of 30% and as much as 50% of their released fish.
[See North American Journal of Fisheries Management, 1992, 12(3) and
12(4)].
PENALTIES: Fines
for rules, trespass, fisheries restrictions violations, littering,
destroying or defacing private property, should be increased ten fold
(resulting in additional revenue available for law enforcement funding).
Mandatory equipment forfeiture for violators should be introduced.
At $100 per inch, or $200 per fish over limit, dinner will
not be so appetizing. A $2,000 beer can is highly likely to stay
in the truck. Sportsmen as a whole need to become more self policing.
Responsible anglers can no longer turn the other cheek when they witness
a violation. The rogues must be brought to heel if the future of the
sport, maintaining THE FISH IN THE RIVERS, and landowner good will
resulting in increased access are to be reality in the future.
MORE ENFORCEMENT:
All the laws, regulations and penalties in the world do no good because,
it seems, there is a small minority, probably 5% or less, who take
it as their God given right to fill their coolers, and not obey rules.
No law has teeth unless it is enforced. Enforcement is a function
of manpower and common sense. California, one year after it began
requiring visible display of fishing licenses, saw its license sales
mysteriously increase by over 30%. My bet is one would see a similar
increase in Montana. Montana's diminutive sheriff's departments are
generally excellent and do all they can. As it currently sits, there
is approximately one overworked, beleaguered game warden per county.
Why not double full time wardens and add seasonal, part time wardens
for the three most active months during the fishing season, and the
six most active weeks of hunting season?
PRIVATE/PUBLIC COOPERATIVE PLANS:
Common sense needs to be applied. Each viewpoint needs to put themselves
in the other's shoes. For every action there is a reaction. Cooperative
plans will eliminate emotional diversion from the practical issue
of fisheries regulations. Public/Private cooperation coupled with
the overhaul of Montana's fisheries regulations could result in cost
savings to the state, dramatically benefit THE FISH IN THE RIVERS,
and create more access for the public at large.
FWP'S MISSION:FWP
needs to be reminded constantly that their mission is to do whatever
it takes to proactively protect the fish and wildlife resources of
this state for this and future generations. Sustanible resources create
angler opportunity, not vice versa.
Communications from concerned anglers everywhere to (a) the Governor's
office, and (b) Pat Graham, Chairman of the FWP Commission, are key.
Ten minutes to write a letter or send a fax might just help ensure
scores of magical streamside days in the future, or perhaps secure
your job, livelihood or income, or allow you to admire the unique
deep hues of a wild fish years from now. Productive days afield for
fishermen world wide who love wild trout, and economic well being
for all Montanans, depend on THE FISH IN THE RIVERS.
Reid
Rosenthal is manager and president respectively, of Sheridan, Montana, based Country Roads,
LLC,
and Ranches of the West, Inc., two of the Rocky Mountains most active ranch and recreation consulting/management firms, collectively
having managed or managing client ranches on more than 140 streambank
miles of superb fishing in the western US and British Columbia.
