troutfanatic
Member
- Joined
- Nov 17, 2014
- Messages
- 148
This is an awesome thread. Awesome in the aspect of how bad it is up there. When I look at military retirement in the coming year, I have contemplated (heavily) returning to PA. I try to keep on top of what's going on up there, that's why I joined this forum.
For those that did not see my first post, I am stationed at Fort Bragg, NC and have been... a long time. I am minimum 3 hours driving time from viable trout fishing and even that is in VA, not NC. 3.5 hours puts me west of I-77 and into NC trout. I have licenses in 4 states- NC, VA, TN and SC. I don't fish for warmwater that much either. That said, returning to PA for retirement cuts the driving curve due to more streams, if even it is only hatchery supported and DH waters.
Then we factor in that I prefer to not fish DH or stockers (aka PFMFs) and it raises again. But, then again we don't go deer hunting without going to the rifle range first.
I hate the idea that we put stockers in wild waters.
I think bait chunkers and rapala tossers have more than enough waters to pillage and giving them access to DH waters is bad business. Despite this, there is a DH stretch in Pittsburgh about 5 min from my mother-in-law's house that I occasionally hit. I almost always find worm containers on the banks and I have run off people for keeping fish when they can't as well as bait fishing.
Better enforcement would surely get the revenues they desire. In NC DH water- single hooks are the standard. That limits the implements of torture available to bubba, but they poach the hell out of the streams and we have many spanish-speaking, non-resident guests who like to use seine-type nets to drag a whole stream. Enforcement here is not too great either.
I noticed PA cut fall stockings this year too.
I wish I could tell you the trout management programs are better in VA and NC, but they really aren't. Governments tethered to finding revenues under every rock they turn are beholden to the all mighty PFMF aka the stocked trout.
PA one-upped the game by introducing that sexy pink button. I am not sure where their priorities are but I don't think this should have been one.
I don't know how well TU engages the commission up there and if they even have an impact. I am a member of Smith River TU in VA and a portion of our chapter is VERY active in dealing with the VADIGF, but mainly focused on that one river. That may be a problem in it's own right- focus on "my" waters and not the state as a whole.
I brings to bear that in order to protect the interests of fly fishermen, we must grow in numbers and have an active voice.
In NC, the NCWRC has a few "fishing education centers" scattered across the state. They host fly fishing clinics in the winter months. I have worked as a volunteer for them. This brings many noobs into the sport. I can't see PAFBC doing this, I may be wrong.
That puts it back on TU chapters to run clinics and possibly the individual to "hook up a friend". I usually have 3-5 rods in the vehicle when I fish. If someone asks or even seems interested and they don't act like a douchebag, I will give them some casting lessons.
Once you get them hooked, you need to get their voice active in protecting the interests.
just my 3.5 cents.
Brian
For those that did not see my first post, I am stationed at Fort Bragg, NC and have been... a long time. I am minimum 3 hours driving time from viable trout fishing and even that is in VA, not NC. 3.5 hours puts me west of I-77 and into NC trout. I have licenses in 4 states- NC, VA, TN and SC. I don't fish for warmwater that much either. That said, returning to PA for retirement cuts the driving curve due to more streams, if even it is only hatchery supported and DH waters.
Then we factor in that I prefer to not fish DH or stockers (aka PFMFs) and it raises again. But, then again we don't go deer hunting without going to the rifle range first.
I hate the idea that we put stockers in wild waters.
I think bait chunkers and rapala tossers have more than enough waters to pillage and giving them access to DH waters is bad business. Despite this, there is a DH stretch in Pittsburgh about 5 min from my mother-in-law's house that I occasionally hit. I almost always find worm containers on the banks and I have run off people for keeping fish when they can't as well as bait fishing.
Better enforcement would surely get the revenues they desire. In NC DH water- single hooks are the standard. That limits the implements of torture available to bubba, but they poach the hell out of the streams and we have many spanish-speaking, non-resident guests who like to use seine-type nets to drag a whole stream. Enforcement here is not too great either.
I noticed PA cut fall stockings this year too.
I wish I could tell you the trout management programs are better in VA and NC, but they really aren't. Governments tethered to finding revenues under every rock they turn are beholden to the all mighty PFMF aka the stocked trout.
PA one-upped the game by introducing that sexy pink button. I am not sure where their priorities are but I don't think this should have been one.
I don't know how well TU engages the commission up there and if they even have an impact. I am a member of Smith River TU in VA and a portion of our chapter is VERY active in dealing with the VADIGF, but mainly focused on that one river. That may be a problem in it's own right- focus on "my" waters and not the state as a whole.
I brings to bear that in order to protect the interests of fly fishermen, we must grow in numbers and have an active voice.
In NC, the NCWRC has a few "fishing education centers" scattered across the state. They host fly fishing clinics in the winter months. I have worked as a volunteer for them. This brings many noobs into the sport. I can't see PAFBC doing this, I may be wrong.
That puts it back on TU chapters to run clinics and possibly the individual to "hook up a friend". I usually have 3-5 rods in the vehicle when I fish. If someone asks or even seems interested and they don't act like a douchebag, I will give them some casting lessons.
Once you get them hooked, you need to get their voice active in protecting the interests.
just my 3.5 cents.
Brian
