Putting back now will pay off later

I am reading a good book written by famed Pennsylvania fly fisherman George W. Harvey.

The book includes Harvey's trout fishing and fly-tying secrets as well as his theories on conservation.

In his book, he explained that fishermen go through three stages of metamorphosis during their lifetimes.

In the first stage, anglers equate success with catching their limits. Trout regulations in Pennsylvania seem to be stuck in the stage one quagmire. The idea is that anyone who catches his limit will remain loyal to the sport year after year. Any time special regulations or catch-and-release are mentioned, many cry out in opposition.

During the second stage, anglers learn to release fish in hopes of discovering how many they can actually catch, testing their skill against the fish. But the second stage can never be successful if not for the final stage.

This last stage comes once the number of fish caught is no longer important and conservation becomes the fisherman's top priority. Here, anglers are concerned about water quality, pollution and sustainable habitat for their prey.

Harvey explained that he is in the final stage.

I think all anglers should start out here, not wait entire lifetimes to reach this milestone.

And, yes, it is a milestone, because so many anglers are so concerned with size and number of fish caught, rather than the condition and potential of fish populations, that we all too often forget what is most important - fishery quality.

Monday is the last day for public comment on the new native trout regulations, if any, that the fish commission could adopt.

Two nights ago, the commission held a public comment session at its headquarters in Harrisburg and, sadly, only five people showed up to comment. Even worse, only one of nine fish commissioners attended this session.

Currently, there are two proposals designed to enhance wild trout populations. One allows anglers to keep native trout seven inches in length and smaller. The other would make those waters catch-and-release only. Both proposals allow any type of tackle.

Rick Hoopes, director of the commission's bureau of fisheries said he will recommend the board adopt the catch-and-release option. He would also like to see the regulation placed on 12 streams statewide, including Camp Run in Westmoreland County.

Each proposal had the right intentions, but to have a seven-inch maximum size rule on native fish is absurd.

I hope fishermen aren't considered to be so hard-up that they have to fill their stringers with fish that are so small. If so, no law will protect enough trout to let them survive to older age classes.

The fact that it was even on the bargaining table shows that too many trout anglers remain in the first stage: "Can I catch my limit today?"

Once fishermen realize they are after something more poetic and mysterious than can be described in words - not just fish in rivers or lakes - we will begin to reach the third stage of angling evolution: conservation.

It is time to take those first steps toward the last stage and send your comments to the fish commission to consider.

Dennis Guise, the agency's deputy executive director, said the agency received 35 comments on the brook trout proposals, only five of which favored the seven-inch maximum size over the catch-and-release option.

There are nearly a million trout anglers in our state. For the commission to receive only 35 comments on the future of native trout is sad.

Find a computer to send an email somewhere, anywhere, or pay someone, anyone to send an email on your behalf with your opinions. They do count for a lot, especially when so few have responded.

The deadline for written comments for native trout regulations via email ends Monday. Comments should be sent to ra-pfbcregs@state.pa.us. All comments must be contained in the text of the e-mail, and not sent as an attachment. Include a return name and address.

Written comments can be mailed to Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, P.O. Box 67000, Harrisburg, PA, 17106-7000.

Let your voice be heard and show the commission that you care, not about your limit, but about the future of native trout fishing.

Don't forget to let them know you have reached that third stage as an angler.