highlights
Active Member
Was up on the weekend but was tired after the renfrew gig. Didn't get a chance to put the boat in the water. Heard of a few fish being taken in the lake. Good size too. Wondering what you all are experiencing out there.
No. Your wrong there. Big time. No regulations for anywhere in the province reads that way. Stop saying stupid crap like that. Your basically saying that any big trout is a steelhead which are not. I have caught monster trout in BC that were not steelhead.quote:Originally posted by porcupine
One person that I talked to recently caught and kept a 7 1/2 lb "rainbow" from the lake. He wasn't aware that all large wild rainbows in the lake are deemed to be steelhead and have to be released, just like the cutthroats. The regulations should be clearer on that as I'm sure others make the same mistake.
quote:Originally posted by porcupine
If you read ALL of the freshwater regulations you will find that in Region 1 that all wild steelhead have to be released. No exceptions. If you look at the back of the regulations in the "Definitons you should know" you will find "steelhead.....a rainbow trout longer than 50 cm in waters where anadromous rainbow trout are found. Both hatchery and wild steelhead may be found in B.C. waters." It is well known that steelhead swim through Cowichan Lake into streams such as Shaw Creek, and several others. Therefore, any rainbow over 50 cm in Cowichan Lake is a "steelhead". I don't write the laws, but I can read. I agree that it could be more plainly written in the regs, but it still is true, any non fin clipped rainbow over 50 cm from Cowichan Lake has to be released.
quote:Originally posted by porcupine
From the current freshwater fishing regulations synopsis:
Page 14
REGIONAL DAILY CATCH QUOTAS
(See tables for exceptions)
Trout/char: 4, but not more than
• 1 over 50 cm
(2 hatchery steelhead over 50 cm
allowed)
• 2 from streams
And you must release:
All Dolly Varden
ALL WILD STEELHEAD
Cutthroat Trout from streams,
Oct. 1 to May 31
Page 96
steelhead … a rainbow trout longer than 50
cm in waters where anadromous rainbow
trout are found. Both hatchery and wild
steelhead may be found in B.C. waters.
If a rainbow trout is over 50 cm and caught where
where anadromous rainbow trout are found, according to the regulations it must be released.
The biologist in Nanaimo was in error. Their own past studies show that rainbows swim the lake and into tributary streams. It does happen that government employees often don't give out correct information, as many members of the forum may have experienced. By the way, I also have a degree in biology and have taken graduate courses at UVic in fish studies. It's how the CO in the field and the judge determine the regs that count.
quote:Originally posted by porcupine
It is my understanding that the definitions and region regulations supercede those for the individual bodies of water, unless it specifically states otherwise. It is not rediculous for any sportsman to read and understand both the provincial and regional regulations. I asked a CO once about this years ago and they agreed that the rainbows had to be released, just like strike indicators are not supposed to be used on the fly fishing only section (another can of worms).