[bitterrootfly]

Today I came across something very concerning... I heard at the u of c some students talking about a recent rainbow trout population survey on the bow that showed a 50% decline in stocks over the last decade and a half or so (can exactly remember the start date). Either way I followed up and found two very recent articles in the herald and on the CBC website that stated that the study which was run by some grad students at u of c discussed the floods, whirling disease and catch rates as the reason. Wierd, the bow is catch and release in the sections surveyed... it attributed the 3%-9% catch and release mortalities as the reasons for stock declines? The head hauncho of the study said specifically that perhaps introducing a lottery system (I would assume similar to our hunting draws or walleye draws) is a possible solution that should be considered. This sent me over the edge, especially when the governments ineptitude over whirling disease as well as the constant fluctuations of water levels caused by the various dams likely has the largest impact on the population, that and the poaching... I don’t want this thread to go sideways about who is to blame for the poaching, I’m sure anyone who spends time in the river knows very well what the situation is, I just wanted to inform fellow anglers about the discussions that are going on with very little consultation from the fishing and guiding communities on the bow. I would expect some more news in the new year about what will be done about the declines, but in the meantime spread the word and let people know that you don’t support a draw/ lottery system on what is a fantastic and one of a kind catch and release fishery.