I question whether recreational fishers need to predetermine what they are going to catch before they go out on the river. I also believe that fishing without bait, fishers should be able to catch and release most all fish year round unless it deters with spawning or threatens a listed species under the ESA . This would include Methow steelhead on both counts.
That being said, I made 6 hour round trip to my friend's property on the Methow to fish whitefish. I sought consultations from several old timers on how to fish them and what to look for. I also contacted the local biologist of that region for access areas. I was told in the low, clear water of winter to look for congregated fish. "If you don't see fish, keep moving". Had I not trudged a quarter mile through 18 inches of snow, I probably would have turned around without fishing at all. As it turns out, I did briefly fish one hole because of the wildlife and the fact that I needed to catch my breath. I stayed within the laws the entire time without hooking any fish. I saw no signs of fish but I did see lots of deer, eagles, waterfowl and even a few dark winter stones which had crawled 500 yards away from the river, up a snow bank. I stopped at 4 other holes looking for schooled whitefish. Not finding anything, I headed home. I really went fishing with the intention of catching whitefish but would be lying to say I did not hope for something bigger. WDFW placed fishing regulations to prevent the accidental hooking of steelhead by imposing a hook size restriction. Would anyone be ticketed for hooking, catching, and releasing a steelhead on a size 14 hook? From a legal standpoint this situation is within the law. Would the same person be ticketed after releasing 7 steelhead and no whitefish in the same hole? This could be perceived as harassment and a ticket might be appropriate. If they closed the area below Gold Creek because people were using streamer patterns then I hope a bunch of tickets were issued. But how do you "target" steelhead while following the regulations? I'm afraid this becomes a question of angler ethics. I appreciate the efforts of those who helped get the Methow open for trout fishing. I've had some very enjoyable days on this beautiful river and some of her tributaries. If I thought for a second that fishing in winter jeopardized the summer trout fishing, I'd support a winter whitefish closure in a heartbeat. At the same time, there have been many instances where I set out on a fishing trip thinking of a certain species in mind only to catch 2, 3, or 4 different species. I would hate to think that because I caught a fish that I had not anticipated or predetermined that I had failed to meet the fishing regulations. I don't believe that recreational fisheries should be managed by the same token as say, a commercial gillnet fishery where there is a certain quota with an allowable bycatch.Unfortunately, this is the feeling I get on some of our recreational fisheries and the direction in which they are heading.
