Anyway, as I was doing this, I stumbled upon several people voicing their displeasure about some potential changes to the PA Fish & Boat Commission's Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only (DHALO) regulations for 2016.
Currently, you can fish DHALO waters year-round with flies or artificial lures, with a window of time in the summer that allows you to harvest fish. Otherwise, the water is catch & release only, and as the name indicates, no bait is permitted. The long and short of the changes is would:
- Extend the delayed harvest period by three weeks (earlier)
- Reduce the size requirement to harvest from 9" to 7"
- Allow use of bait during the period, with children under 16 being allowed to use bait year round
The best recap of this whole situation can be found on paflyfish.com.
As you might imagine, there could be a lot of people who probably will not like this change. Especially fly fishers that don't want mouth breathing bait fishers stealing all of the fish from the stream early, ruining the potential for extended season of trout fishing. (I joke of course, I have nothing against fishing with bait).
Personally, I don't know how I feel. I think I can see the issue from both sides, even the PFBC's who clearly want to open up more fishing opportunities to its paying customers licensed anglers, especially kids. The waters I fish are largely unaffected by the proposed change, so I'm trying to put my feet in the waders of both parties.
I suppose unless there is some sort of gigantic last minute grassroots campaign (and I'm not advocating one), these changes will be passed mid-this year.
Whatever happens, let's hope if it doesn't work out as expected for all involved, that the PFBC is willing to reverse course for future seasons, restoring what I've always thought were a successful (& generally well received) set of regulations.
Do you fish for trout in Pennsylvania?
If so, what are your thoughts on the proposed changes?
I'm just happy to read a T! post. I'm just getting acquainted with this notion of delayed harvest here in Georgia.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny. Coming from PA, it's incredibly interesting to the the various regulations (or lack thereof) that other states have as it relates to trout waters.
DeleteWe could use some changes like those out here to put the "fish to extinction" crowd out of business. Yes Mike, I could get by on flies and lures.
ReplyDelete