Smith River Proposed Regulations

[troutrus]

"BTW the proposed slot for brown trout is 10-24" from Phillpot Dam downstream to the Mitchell Bridge (3 -4 miles past Martinsville Dam)- no guarantee that it will end up that way but that is the proposed slot and section as of right now. It will do away with what we now know as the Special Reg Section.

IMHO this will be a good thing and we should support it",

The above quote by Al K was cut from earlier Smith river thread. 

Questions for Al or whoever might know.

Martinsville dam to Mitchell Bridge is closer to 10 miles of river. Curious to know what designation will be given to that run. Wild trout, special regulation trout, or something other?
If the current spec reg section loses that designation, how will it be classified?
Does the 10-24" slot represent what can be harvested or what can't be harvested?
Will this proposed regulation change be open to public discussion?

[Larry]

It would be disaster if they opened the special reg section to bait fisherman.

[Fire-Fly]

It would be disaster if they opened the special reg section to bait fisherman.

It would actually help the fishing. The studies show there are too many fish for the available food, there needs to be more fish removed to make the total population healthier. Scott Smith the state biologist went over all this at the last Smith River TU meeting that everyone was invited to. He'll be back again the Mar 18 at 6:30 at Ranias.

[Al]

"BTW the proposed slot for brown trout is 10-24" from Phillpot Dam downstream to the Mitchell Bridge (3 -4 miles past Martinsville Dam)- no guarantee that it will end up that way but that is the proposed slot and section as of right now. It will do away with what we now know as the Special Reg Section.

IMHO this will be a good thing and we should support it",

The above quote by Al K was cut from earlier Smith river thread. 

Questions for Al or whoever might know.

Martinsville dam to Mitchell Bridge is closer to 10 miles of river. Curious to know what designation will be given to that run. Wild trout, special regulation trout, or something other?
If the current spec reg section loses that designation, how will it be classified?
Does the 10-24" slot represent what can be harvested or what can't be harvested?
Will this proposed regulation change be open to public discussion?

You are probably right on the distance to Mitchell Bridge - I am not that familiar with that area.

The entire river (section from dam to Mitchel Bridge) will be under a slot limit regulation. The slot will protect all browns from 10-24" - anything smaller or larger may be harvested.

Ref Larry's comment about it being a disaster to open Spec Reg to bait fishing: In my opinion not many will venture in there once the newness wears off because there are not many rainbows in that area.  Once they figure out that all those "lunker browns" they all believe reside in the Spec Reg are only 7-9 inches long they will not come back very often. The Spec Reg also requires a lot of walking which bait fishermen are not prone to do.

 It would be nice if we could "have our cake and eat it to", ie make the entire river fly fishing only but that is not going to happen. As BJ pointed out, many years of studies have shown that there are too many fish for the available forage, therefore removing a few would be a good thing.

Yes, the proposed reg change is open for discussion - That was the purpose of our last meeting and also the March 18th meeting. It will also eventually be posted on the DGIF website for public comment.

[5xTippett]

Trout, you are probably right about the distance.  From what I understand it is supposed to go far enough downstream from the Martinsville dam to take care of all of the trout water.  B.J., you are right about there being too many fish for the amount of food, and the special regs are no different from the rest of the river.  Larry, think of the river as a tract of land full of deer.  If you do not keep the herd thinned out they will expand their numbers until there is not enough food for them to reach optimum size, and you end up with a bunch of runty little suckers (no comments about my height from any of you boys).  A river is no different.  Al, I agree with you about people not wanting to walk a long distance to fish a place with no more or bigger fish than the easier to reach places.  I am almost 55 and if I can park at one of the bridges and hop in the water and catch as many fish as I could walking a mile to fish, I know what I am going to do. 

[22midge]

" runty little suckers" is that like one of those hog suckers or sandcutter or a darter.... please show us a pattern.Be safe

[Al]

I definitely agree with the idea of thinning the herd. Several years back on one of these forums I suggested that more folks should start killing some of the browns. My suggestion was met with some tremendously hateful responses by a number of posters, some of whom have posted on this thread. 

I was probably one of those who "smited" you. Just goes to show how far you are ahead of all the rest of us.

 I do recall you had suggested tossing the rainbows up on the bank and I had offered to introduce you to the Game Warden :police:  Offer still stands   

[22midge]

troutrus quit dancing it was me probably that said it would take a sorry ass to start throwing fish up on the shore to rot and I will repeat it so its not forgotten.I believe you said bucket full of fish to be dumped.....

[Al]

Hope to see y'all at the TU meeting.

I'll buy ya a beer Bob!

[Rod Champion]

The key is law enforecment of the regulation

[dossphoto]

The key is law enforecment of the regulation

+100!!!

And I can say this...until there are some changes in how the area is structured - aka: District Lines - it ain't gonna happen.

[22midge]

There has been no enforcement that I have seen for 9+ years on the Smith and I spend a few days a year up there. :police: :police: :police:

[dossphoto]

Here is one of the reason why the Smith River sees very little attention. 

http://leg1.state.va.us/000/cod/29.1-739.2.HTM

The other has to do with supervision in district 21.

[Al]

Virgina DGIF have formally posted the proposed Smith River regulation change for public comment - here is the link.

http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/regulations/issues2010/details.asp?id=2

[22midge]

damn is there anything.......................