Wednesday, August 26, 2009

You guys want to bonk.........

........Winter Native Umpqua Steelhead? It seems there are some in the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife that do. Read more in the Native Fish Societies Conservation Report.

There are few places anywhere in this world and very few in the lower 48 that have self-sustaining populations of steelhead. One of them is the Umpqua system, and despite the decline nationwide, there are still people who want to harvest them. Their thinking is that meeting native escapement goals is a credible reason why it should be permitted. It is important that we all try and preserve this native run of winter steelhead and make sure they will be around for generations to come. Please help Scott Howell, Matt Klara, Frank Moore and the rest of us steelheaders that want to keep this gem for generations to come.

Currently, the retention of native steelhead is prohibited on the Umpqua, but there are many locals that are fighting to overturn that law. Please sign the petition to support the current regulations that require the release of all native steelhead on the Umpqua system. I am proud to be 1083 on the petition.

I posted this last Fall and want to bring it up again for all of you that have not seen it. Please let your family and friends know and get as many of them to voice their opinion and sign the petition. Thanks you!