eric1978

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Yep, wet wading in March...on the Current. I couldn't believe it either. Water was a little shocking at first, but you acclimated pretty fast...as long as you kept the jewels dry.

How do you know when to pick them? Meaning, if you came back tomorrow would they be twice the size or starting to go bad? I've seen some monsters...how can you tell when it's time?

I've posted these pics a hundred times, but people keep asking... This is also a Guide 119.

What kind of canoe is your tandem, Al? Wondering what kind of system you use to store assembled fly rods with two guys and gear in the canoe...if you ever confront that scenario. I found no good solution last weekend.

55 pounds without water? Dang partner, you need to leave half your gear at home and upgrade the other half. That's too much weight unless you're heading off for an expedition in Antarctica. What trail did you hike? Oh, and California has trout, too...just drive in the opposite direction of the beach.

Again, the purpose of my childish protest isn't to stop "hoosiers" from abusing the resource nor even to make a point about it. I'm just doing it because I don't like enabling exploitation. As soon as I see regulations and license fees more geared toward conservation and stricter C&R of trout in Ribbon sections, I'll go back to throwing my money at the program. I personally dislike MDC's position of "sustainable harvest." I want regulations that promote fisheries' maximum potential for angling prospects first and foremost and all other considerations be secondary. That's my position. No one has to like it. I don't like how things are done now, and that's my problem. Angling means more to me than a pile of cooked fish...and I like eating fish. But if I want a fish dinner, I'll go to a grocery store or even better...a restaurant. There's lots of 'em around, and they'll even clean and cook them for you! No fish guts, no greasy pots and pans to wash. Win-win! And if I do decide to cook some up, trout and smallmouth are at the bottom of the tasty list anyway...crappie, catfish, walleye, white bass, bluegill, goggleye...they're all better to eat and there's lots of 'em. I'm not telling anyone else what to do. If people wanna keep every fish they legally can, that's their right. Go right ahead. But don't expect me to pay for it. Thank you, that is all.

Okay, so how 'bout I pay $7 to C&R and maybe mortally wound a fish or three in a year, and the guy who pounds the White Ribbons after stocking, day in and day out until they're gone, pays $70? That sounds about right. I could live with that.

I'm not talking about the general license...just the trout stamp. I've got no problem paying for my license...in fact I'd happily pay more if they'd spend some money on smallmouth. I take issue with the trout program because some people cost way more to keep happy than others, but we all pay the same. Yeah, it's only 7 bucks. Like I said, I'm boycotting on principle. I'll go spend that $7 on a decent six pack or a couple new leaders...something I'll enjoy with my money instead of something someone else will enjoy with my money. Yeah I mentioned that earlier. I might break down and get it just for that singular reason. But I'm not happy about it!

I really don't care about trophies. I just want more fish and more bigger fish...just average bigger. More fish over 18". I realize trout aren't native, and that's a good argument to get people into the mindset of exploitation rather than conservation of the resource. But we've paid for them, and now we have them, and they're pretty much universally accepted as one of our most prized sport fish. I reject the premise that the fish are stocked "to be taken." That's a matter of perspective. I think they are stocked to be enjoyed recreationally instead of gastro-intestinally. The parks are a different story...people pay an extra three bucks a day for the privelage to keep their four fish. That's fine with me. That makes sense. My problem with paying the trout stamp fee has to do with the regulations outside the parks, and the fact that we all pay the same no matter what each of us personally cost the program. Compare me with a guy who lives near a White Ribbon section. He goes fishing let's say three times a week. And let's say he keeps his limit twice out of those three times per week. That's 8 fish times 52 weeks...416 fish per year. That means MDC (we) would have to supply fish for this guy at less than two cents a piece. And we all know it costs far more than that. So basically I'm paying for this glutton's food. It's like fishing welfare, and I don't dig it. So like I said, I'm boycotting this year on principle. Chances are I'll end up with the dang stamp anyway because I'll find myself at a park one day next winter due to some unforeseen and unfortunate circumstances. But until then it makes me feel better to know that I'm not personally enabling the bucket brigade, free-for-all mentality. Bottom line is, I think those who use the resource the most should pay the most. Ronald Reagan said it was crazy that a millionaire pay lower taxes than a bus driver, and I say it's crazy that a strictly C&R angler pay the same as an exploitative meat hog.

Nope, just the trout stamp. I know it's petty, but I'm just sick and tired of catering to people who see sport fish as more valuable in their bellies than in the rivers. There are so many other abundant species to take for table fare...why not leave the few most prized species for those of us who constantly daydream about catching them? That's all. They don't give a shlip about my interests...why should I care about theirs? It certainly doesn't put me in the mood to pay for their groceries, that's for sure.

I'll tell you what, as soon as catch and eaters have to pay 20-25 bucks to keep all the fish they want in a given year, and C&R anglers have to pay 7 bucks to fish regardless if they keep or not, I'll gladly pay. Gladly. But as it stands, I pay for others to eat AND at the same time they take fish out of the rivers that I may have otherwise eventually caught. Seems a tad askew to me. So like I said, I'm boycotting until they come up with a system that rewards C&R anglers for letting fish go and saving them money. The only scenario in which I see myself wishing I had a license is if I mortally wound a fish and wanted to keep it in order to prevent waste...but how often does that happen? With flies, basically never. Other than that, I can think of no reason to buy a stamp. Why would I? I don't consume and deplete the resource. My presence on the river has essentially no impact. Yeah, that's a decent reason for someone else to buy one, but I don't care about records, and if I wanted to get a mount I'd just buy a reproduction.

If I get desperate enough to hit the parks this winter, I'll spring for the 7 bucks...hopefully I don't find myself that desperate. I figure I've bought myself at least a future decade's worth of C&R trout fishing with the licenses I've bought in the past and never needed or used. If the program is hurting for funds, the meat hunters should pay more as far as I'm concerned, since they're the ones costing the program the most money keeping the stream-side grocery stores stocked with daily fresh dog food-flavored fish meat.

I didn't buy one this year...I'm boycotting based on principle. I figure I've bought enough trout for other guys to kill and eat in the years past. When they start paying for some of my meals, I'll reconsider.

Or you can just C&R and not worry about it...like me.

The daily limit on the Blue Ribbon section of the Current is 1>18. By your rationale, the guy was illegal as soon as he put that fish on a stringer and made another cast. Not saying you're right or wrong, and I'd be happy to hear you're right, but that seems a little strange if it is indeed the case.

Can I trade you houses and careers, Justin? Got a gas station about 30 seconds from here...very convenient location. Lots of stores for the wife and kids. Hospital close by. Restaurants. A big muddy river you can get to in about 10 minutes, and a bigger, muddier one you can get to in 25. Ah forget it. You won't trade me...I can tell by that smirk on your face. Bastard! Love your place. Gotta get down there this summer.

We saw a guy at Baptist on the Current last weekend, first thing in the morning with a big brown on a stringer. That's his limit. He hadn't even shoved his canoe off to start his float. Does this mean he couldn't legally fish the rest of the day?

Then get out and fish it.

I'll play. An island a few miles above MD. Can't remember exactly.

You don't have to plan your campsites on JF...the whole river is beautiful from the Prongs down to Bay Creek. Any random gravel bar will do for a great campsite. Here's one of many:

I got no problem with them dang park fishermen...as long as they stay in the park.

We fished Baptist to Akers 3/16-17 and had "average" results. Most fish were caught nymphing. Took most of mine on hare's ears. No bigguns. Some idiot had a big beautiful brown on a stringer at Baptist when we put in.

That fish had my name on it dammit! LOL Nice fish, but that Current River beast...dang. Wonder what stretch.

LOL Exactly. Finish the letter...I'll sign it. You might wanna lose the word "eloquent," though. I haven't had a whole lot of captivating dialogue with trout. Elegant? Elusive? Exquisite?