Big changes proposed for how we manage the Smith River fishery

[Al]

Big changes are being proposed for how we manage the Smith River fishery - Put Thursday, March 18th on your calendar to learn all about it.

 We slipped our regular SRTU meeting date a couple of weeks to accommodate conflicts in our guest speakers schedule. This should be an important meeting to all who have an interest in the Smith River.

Smith River Trout Unlimited will meet at Rania's Restaurant in uptown Martinsville, on Thursday, March 18, 2010, at 6:30pm. The program for the evening  will feature Virginia DGIF Fisheries Biologist Scott Smith who will present recommendations to improve the Smith River trout fishery.  We anticipate these recommendations will include proposals from DGIF for regulations changes on how trout are managed along the entire river. These regulation changes, if approved, would go into effect January 1, 2011. (This is a continuation of the December meeting where he presented findings based on recent sampling and studies)
 
You do not have to be a member of TU to attend our meetings.(You must be a member in order to vote on chapter business).   Anyone who has an interest in the Smith River Fishery is encouraged to attend.
 
Rania's provides us with a meeting space with the expectation that the majority of attendees will purchase a meal. (Good food, moderate prices).  Address is 147 E. Main St., Martinsville, VA  24112. It is in the historic district of Martinsville known as uptown as it sits on a hill.

 For information contact Chapter Pres Shane Pinkston shane@southprintinc.com   Secy Al Kittredge, (910) 868-6235 aakitt@earthlink.net or check our website for more details and directions.  www.smithrivertu.com 

 

[rjs123]

@#$@ another meeting Ill have to miss   big event that weekend and I need to be there on Wednesday.

By the way,  Al or Shane.... if someone video tapes this Id be happy to edit it down and put in on the the SRTU website it you like.

[Al]

Bumping this to the top

Be nice if we filled the back room at Rania's

[fly4u]

I am planning on coming and bringing a friend. I would like to meet you BRFFF guy's.
I recognized a few of you last time but just watched and learned.

[Al]

I wrote up the minutes to the meeting and have "cut and paste" the portion that has to do with proposed regulation change below:

Featured Program for evening:

Scott Smith, DGIF Fisheries Biologist returned to follow up on the presentation he made at our December meeting where he gave a brief history of the Smith River fishery and presented findings of recent DGIF creel surveys and "shock" samplings of the river. His follow-up presentation was proposals designed to improve the fishery.

 Everyone heard the same thing. Some may have interpreted it differently. Here are the highlights of what I heard.

The Issues:

•   Not enough food
•   Water too cold (fish and insects in constant "winter mode"
•   Daily temperature fluctuations stress aquatic life (daily floods)
•   Scouring of river bottom has cut upper river to bedrock
•   Sedimentation in lower river

The Big Money Solutions:  - (Only if you believe in the "tooth fairy")

•   New turbines - more constant flow
•   New Intake Valves - pull water from higher level for better discharge temp (48-55 deg)
•   Removal of Martinsville Dam - resolve sedimentation problem and connect downstream trout with those upstream (current sedimentation likely a hazmat site - requires expensive clean up)

What can we do while waiting for the tooth fairy:

•   Litter pick up - The Smith has a reputation for being a "trashy river". Have more clean up days.
•   Improve access - Access is good if you know your way around the river but it is intimidating to newcomers. More signs, parking areas and trails would help.
•   Stream restoration - Many of the tributaries running into the Smith "bleed" silt, animal waste and agricultural run off on a daily basis. Identify these problem spots, contact the landowners and organize programs of correction. (Funds are available to pay for these types of projects)
•   Political clout - The key to long term help for the river. Politicians  respond to "strength or power in numbers". The current trend of conservation and recreation groups centered around the river is great - we need to coordinate and increase our efforts.
•   Change the fishing regulations - Proposal is now on DGIF website (dgif.viginia.gov) - Details below.

Proposed Regulation Change:

•   Affected area - Philpott Dam  to Mitchell Bridge (Approx 10 miles downstream of Martinsville Dam)
•   Rainbow Trout - 7 inch minimum 
•   Brown Trout - 10-24 inch protected slot. (Fish the size must be released) - Brown Trout smaller than 10 inches may be harvested. Only one brown trout larger than 24 inches may be harvested.
•   Creel limit - 6 trout (both species combined) with only one brown trout over 24 inches
•   Current Special Reg Section of the river will "go away" and bait fishermen will be allowed to fish and harvest both rainbows and browns under the above rules. However this section will continue to be considered "non-stocked waters" therefore you can continue to fish it without a special trout license. (This rule makes it easier for the CPO's to enforce the same size limits throughout the fishery)
•   This is a DRAFT only. It can be modified or "killed" at several steps along the way. If it or a modified version is approved the earliest it could go into effect is January 1, 2011.

What we think proposed change in regulation will do:

•   Satisfy bait fishermen who primarly target rainbow trout for their stringer. They will also be able to harvest brown trout less than 10 inches.
•   Thin the overpopulation of brown trout which may increase growth of those that survive because  there will be fewer fish competing for a limited food source.
•   More 12-14 inch brown trout below Philpott Dam
•   More  14-20 inch brown trout below Martinsville Dam
•   Likely to see this effect within 2 years
•   Win-win for those that harvest their catch and those that practice catch and release - Plenty of fish still eligible for harvest while at same time protects and increases size of some brown trout.

What will happen if we do nothing and maintain the status quo:

•   At best the fishery will remain as is but will more likely continue it's slow but steady decline.
•   Lots of fish but very few larger then 9-12 inches
•   Reputation as a "trashy" fishery where locals do not care will be counterproductive to recent tourism efforts.

Enforcement of current or new regulations:

We had a very spirited and vocal debate about enforcement of the current rules and what we might expect with any new rules. Many feel there is very little visible enforcement  at present. Just about everyone had a "poaching story". Sightings of CPO's (Game Wardens) is very rare. Scott Smith and Al Kittredge promised to relay these sentiments to their enforcement contacts at DGIF. In the meantime we should all add 1-800-237-5712 to our cell phones and not hesitate to report fish and game violations. You can also call 911 and the Henry County Sheriff's dispatch center will either contact the nearest CPO or send a sheriff's deputy.

[troutrus]

•   Rainbow Trout - 7 inch minimum 
•   Brown Trout - 10-24 inch protected slot. (Fish the size must be released) - Brown Trout smaller than 10 inches may be harvested. Only one brown trout larger than 24 inches may be harvested.
•   Creel limit - 6 trout (both species combined) with only one brown trout over 24 inches
•   Current Special Reg Section of the river will "go away" and bait fishermen will be allowed to fish and harvest both rainbows and browns under the above rules. However this section will continue to be considered "non-stocked waters" therefore you can continue to fish it without a special trout license. (This rule makes it easier for the CPO's to enforce the same size limits throughout the fishery)
 along the way. If it or a modified version is approved the earliest it could go into effect is January 1, 2011.

[b

Thanks for the information Al. Appreciate all your work toward improving that fishery.
One question, will there be a minimum size limit for Brown Trout?

[Al]

•   Rainbow Trout - 7 inch minimum 
•   Brown Trout - 10-24 inch protected slot. (Fish the size must be released) - Brown Trout smaller than 10 inches may be harvested. Only one brown trout larger than 24 inches may be harvested.
•   Creel limit - 6 trout (both species combined) with only one brown trout over 24 inches
•   Current Special Reg Section of the river will "go away" and bait fishermen will be allowed to fish and harvest both rainbows and browns under the above rules. However this section will continue to be considered "non-stocked waters" therefore you can continue to fish it without a special trout license. (This rule makes it easier for the CPO's to enforce the same size limits throughout the fishery)
 along the way. If it or a modified version is approved the earliest it could go into effect is January 1, 2011.

[b

Thanks for the information Al. Appreciate all your work toward improving that fishery.
One question, will there be a minimum size limit for Brown Trout?

Nope, I specifically asked that question and was told if you like to eat french fry size brown trout to have at it as long as you limit your take to 6 per day.

[rjs123]

Thanks for the info Al!

I dont think we will see any thinning of small fish due to people taking them though.  Who would want to clean and eat 9 inch trout?  I wonder though if the small browns will provide food for the larger browns that I hope will grow in size and numbers if the slot limit does go through.