Blackleech
Member
Don't know if you guys have seen this, but I was searching the web for April 1 closures when I came across this very interesting document:
http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/vir/fsh/R1_Regulations_Proposals_2007.pdf
Looks like the upper Cow will be closed after all in 08/09 from the weir to the 70.2 trestle from Dec 1 to April 15. I personally think this is a great idea. Apparently there are more boats and guide operations fishing this area than ever before because the lower river has been so unproductive the last few years.
Another area that has been pounded relentlessly by drift boats in the last few years, according to the document, is the upper Gold between the Much confluence and the townsite - apparently this area used to be less accessible for boats? Without this closure winter steelhead in the Gold have no refuge and are pounded for the duration of their stay in fresh water. Again, a good idea IMO.
In fact, the general theme of this document seems to be that boats are bad for steelhead - something many of us have been saying for years and years. The difference in modern steelheading is that everyone owns a pontoon or drift boat or sled and by most accounts it has gotten out of control.
http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/vir/fsh/R1_Regulations_Proposals_2007.pdf
Looks like the upper Cow will be closed after all in 08/09 from the weir to the 70.2 trestle from Dec 1 to April 15. I personally think this is a great idea. Apparently there are more boats and guide operations fishing this area than ever before because the lower river has been so unproductive the last few years.
Another area that has been pounded relentlessly by drift boats in the last few years, according to the document, is the upper Gold between the Much confluence and the townsite - apparently this area used to be less accessible for boats? Without this closure winter steelhead in the Gold have no refuge and are pounded for the duration of their stay in fresh water. Again, a good idea IMO.
In fact, the general theme of this document seems to be that boats are bad for steelhead - something many of us have been saying for years and years. The difference in modern steelheading is that everyone owns a pontoon or drift boat or sled and by most accounts it has gotten out of control.