New regulations or growing trends?

I understand the closure of sturgeon retention below Bonneville Dam. I understand moving towards barbless hooks. I understand that we as sportsman need to work towards  preservation of our runs and safe handling when practicing catch and release. But... Is it just me thinking that the updates, not the 2014 regs, are getting insanely tough just to have fun fishing?! I mean spots I used to love to fish are now shutdown period, or shutdown to just boats.

Just last week on a whims notice I ran down during the sandy river smelt run on a Saturday morning opening. We decided to quit after a few lbs. (10lbs was the limit, and I don't need that much). Went to a bank sturgeon spot upriver in the gorge and immediately was hassled by fish and game! I always follow the rules but it is troubling when they do not know the regs themselves.  Long story short after politely showing them both the regs and updates, I had to correct them multiple times that we were allowed to catch and release (Not that we were getting bites anyways). Needless to say we left after the ordeal.

Sorry I'm just rambling, and a little concerned about this year. When I check the updates I constantly see closures. Yes I know I could go to the channel like everyone else, but sometimes I want to stay away from the powerboats and crowds.

To end a long post on a good note, I am still new to kayak fishing and would love to see anglers here that may want to help teach the ropes by posting trips to meet locally; maybe in events? Cheers.

MrEgg

Frustrating and surprising that they don't even know the regs. Definitely a sign that the regs are beyond normal human comprehension. It's like deciphering the tax code. Not alot of fun in that.

I think they should be updated every day with a memo/email so they have a cheat sheet but I'm not in government so what do I know

While the "experience" with ODFW people may vary, oftentimes the people you interface with on the water are seasonal employees hired for a 4-6 month period, may likely be from out of the area and have never fished for a particular species.  Certainly no excuses for an inability to know and communicate the current regulations for any area they are responsible for monitoring.  But the likelyhood you encounter a "seasoned" employee is probably small.   But that's just my opinion and impression of what I have seen.  Do agree with the increasing complexity of the regulations and whether they truly need to be that complicated.  Given the trends in government, this method of management is likely to be around for awhile.

Frustrating and surprising that they don't even know the regs. Definitely a sign that the regs are beyond normal human comprehension. It's like deciphering the tax code. Not alot of fun in that.

We're after power and we mean it. You fellows were pikers, but we know the real trick, and you'd better get wise to it. There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one makes them...you create a nation of lawbreakers – and then you cash in on guilt. Now that's the system, Mr. Rearden.

How did I miss that there was a smelt opening on the Sandy? I totally would have harvested some if I'd known. Bummer.

Hurray for the barbless hooks. LOL. Meanwhile gill nets are in the river. Follow the money..

Hurray for the barbless hooks. LOL. Meanwhile gill nets are in the river. Follow the money..

+1