Ditmo Report Card ... Any News ?

[2sheds]

So we're a few years down the road on the Rubber Soul ban (loved that LP) plus some heightened attention to rinsing waders & gear. Can anyone provide us a Report Card from MoDOC ?

Are anglers behaving ?

Proper technique ?

Reasonable regulations ?

Any data to support/refute ?

Seems like a reasonable off-season topic.

[jdmidwest]

Global warming cured it.

[fishinwrench]

I read an article awhile back, I think it was in American Angler, where they pretty much made the case that the whole didymo fiasco was filled with easy to sell assumptions and failed study.

Just a group of preaching biologists and a gaggle of followers trying to justify their phoney baloney jobs.

[SpoonDog]

I've been reading a bit, and it seems there's still a lot of unanswered questions about didymo and how to mitigate it (good synopsis here). Seems its native to much of the US, and only becomes an issue when phosphorous is low- adding P to streams seems to help eliminate it, at least in some instances. Whether it's had a negative impact on trout is a wash- in some instances it's had no effect, in others it's lowered growth rates.

It doesn't seem as big an issue as it was initially feared, and that's great. We didn't know what we didn't know, and I'm glad MDC took conservative, proactive measures to protect our fisheries. I'm pretty happy with my rubber-soled boots, and the one bad spill I've had since the felt ban was on the NFOW, wading in a place I shouldn't have been trying it anyway. I haven't seen many anglers having trouble with them, and I certainly haven't seen scores of them carted off the rivers in stretchers.

Perhaps both sides over-stated their case?

[ozark trout fisher]

Perhaps both sides over-stated their case?

No, of course not. That would never happen.........

[dennis boatman]

...so far, me wearing my foil helmet has kept it at bay...taking no chances, it remains in place...blame Bush...