Last month a measure to allow New Mexico landowners to restrict angler access cleared the House by a 32-31 vote margin sending the bill to the Gov. to sign into law. Like HB 141 in Utah, SB226 restricts access to rivers and streams that cross private property! This is a trend that started in Montana with Huey Lewis and his friends posting access points on a few streams and finally made it to Montana Supreme Court where it was defeated but not without a lot of support from sportsman and a ton of money. If you think it can not happen here think again money talks and those of us who relay on our free access to streams could be in danger if someone sees fit to close it, a good example is Big Fishing Creek with no Sunday fishing (that's not bad) and the cabin occupied rule ( if the cabin is occupied you can not fish there- now how the hell do you know if someone is there!), our Fish Comm. did nothing! If you see a property owner and your fishing take the time to thank them and for heavens sake pick up any litter even if it is not yours, help us all keep our stream access.
Another disturbing trend from the PA Fish Comm., now they want to change the delayed harvest areas time when you can keep fish and lower the size to 7" and allow youth to fish bait, these guys will do anything to sell just one more license. With the decrease in anglers due in part to our younger people more interested in electronics than fishing our Fish Comm. needs to take a hard look at the facts, maybe it's time for them to shrink their size and maybe play up the wonderful trout fishing we still have in some of the Special Reg. waters to get more out of state anglers to come and support our business but no they will cuddle up to the neck snappers and change to reg's to make them a bit happier for the time being but our Fish Comm. has no balls to really make good choices for the resource it is all about money and their jobs!
No comments:
Post a Comment