Friends of the Cowichan want you off their river

[IronNoggin]

... To say that it is the recreational fisherman that are decimating this river is flatly untrue. It is the poachers, polluters and over harvest by the FN that have caused this.

True. Combine all of that with the logging practices that created a flood situation on every sky-water event, followed by extremely low water levels nearly immediately thereafter, and current water "management" practices that further this undesirable situation, and you have a recipe for disaster.

Dunno what it will take to bring it back, but will be surprised if I am still kicking if it ever does...

Nog

[High Five]

Well guys you are up against a lot of credible expertise and profile in this group.

But I have two questions.

1) Is the Cowichan fishery in serious decline, as this groups says?

If the answer to 1) is the affirmative, then my second question is,

2) What would you folks do about it?

Yes it is on the decline...... That is mainly because DFO has completely abandoned caring or assuming responsibility for the river. Cowichan Tribes has to do that on its own. I asked this at a meeting last year. DFO reply was we dont have jurisdiction on the matter.....balh blah.... They also pointed the finger at CVRD saying it was possible water problems/irrigation.

You can blame FN and spearing etc. but it doesn't help when federally the government gives out only small amount of cash goes into counting for the fish in fall, and a small hatchery program ( I dont know if this still exists). The natives cant do it by themselves. I live up here, and can tell you there should be no fishing for any salmon in the river period until the fish count goes way up that means fly fishing, spear or gear..... That doesn't mean you can't fish the river for trout etc.

You know it just sucks this river habitat has been decimated by the logging industry, and others. All the flows are completely screwed up now because of it. Flash flood when it rains, and dry and low in summer.And once again the federal government walks away and lets the community pick up the pieces.....Anyone that fished Cowichan Bay back in the days knows how good this area used to be... I wish some of you could have fished it as I did back in the day. So what is the solution I really don't know? I do like that a group has interest in protecting the fish in there.......The river still is an awesome steel-head river...For salmon...In my opinion will be non existent in 5-10 years.We had a blip last year but I think we were lucky. Lets hope I am wrong.....

High Five

[searun]

I can certainly say this with absolute certainty. There is no scientific evidence that credibly links the Cowichan decline to recreational sportfishing - and in particular angling methods other than fly fishing. I have to muse a bit at the arrogance suggesting gear anglers created the "lining" method. If Joe knew anything about angling, he would know that "lining" originated on the Fraser for Sockeye because fly fishermen were having amazing success with the method. Now I see and hear the same method is widely in use by some fly anglers, not just gear anglers. A case of the pot calling the kettle black. Time for this group to get a reality pill and wake up to the fact that the answers do not lie in hucking stones at gear types. Watch these guys, their agenda and thinking processes on this issue are dangerous and divisive.

[Poppa Swiss]

total BS - the guys harassing Steelhead on the reds are the fly fishermen in the upper river. And as searun implied, Fly Fishing is PERFECT for flossing. I've seen a lot of those clowns in goofy hats throwing around 14' leaders on sinking lines with big heavy flies - give me a break.

[OldBlackDog]

By the way Jim Teeny a really well known fly fisherman made his living via lining. He really developed heavy head
lines for dragging the bottom.
Was even charged for doing it over springs in the U.S.
Lining was around long before the Fraser the Stamp is a prime example of it being used.
Lining has nothing to do with killing off a run in any river that I am aware of.

I can certainly say this with absolute certainty. There is no scientific evidence that credibly links the Cowichan decline to recreational sportfishing - and in particular angling methods other than fly fishing. I have to muse a bit at the arrogance suggesting gear anglers created the "lining" method. If Joe knew anything about angling, he would know that "lining" originated on the Fraser for Sockeye because fly fishermen were having amazing success with the method. Now I see and hear the same method is widely in use by some fly anglers, not just gear anglers. A case of the pot calling the kettle black. Time for this group to get a reality pill and wake up to the fact that the answers do not lie in hucking stones at gear types. Watch these guys, their agenda and thinking processes on this issue are dangerous and divisive.

[High Five]

I would agree to closing it all to fishing for salmon. But fly fishing is the same thing. You can't tell gear fisherman to stop and leave fly fishing open. Both impact the same way. Seems like a may not read the article close enough first time around...

Oh...and what about the drunk tubers smashing around the grounds in summer? They probably do more impact?

[winephart]

The last decade has seen an increase in Steelhead ( anecdotal info as DFO and MOE can not be bothered in doing accurate swim counts) and as it appears an increase in coho ( anecdotal info again as they pull the counting fence a month before the coho run
hit their peak).

Springs are in trouble. DFO has seen the numbers but has done nothing except close the river to gear fishermen until midnight of November 15th each year. They have not looked at a species at risk designation for Cowichan chinook as that would shut down the whole commercial fishery. Because there are only fly fishermen angling above skutz falls there is no need to utilize enforcement resources prior to the November 15th date. ( As we all know, fly fishermen would never floss fish, fish over redds or retain or harass fish).

DFO has an obligation to provide oversight and technical training to the native hatchery in their attempts to raise chinook. However, they appear to have abandoned the natives. The result is a group of well intentioned people trying to raise fish with an antiquated hatchery, no training and no access to best practices approaches. The hatchery staff take the flack that should be going DFO's way.

Yes, there are habitat problems on the river. But the major problem seems to be DFO and MOE not living up to their mandate. But why would we expect them to. DFO has a great history of mismanaging our ocean fish stocks into oblivion. MOE doesn't get any financial return out of a freshwater Salmon /steelhead fishery so why invest the $$$

Please don't think that this is a rant against fly fishermen. I fish the Cowichan on a regular basis and chase Steelhead and coho Salmon with both Drift gear and Fly Gear. That doesn't mean that I am more ethically responsible when I am using a fly rod. My fellow fly fishermen are not without a lot of fault. I routinely encounter morons fly flossing above skutz falls ( Fly gear is way more effective for people who want to floss) and I know several guides who specialize in anchoring just above redds so that their clients will be guaranteed to hook a steelhead.

Once again, these practices can be stopped by consistant enforcement practices and the responsibility for enforcement lies with DFO and MOE.

The problem with the Cowichan isn't gear fishing in the middle and lower river. It is our Federal and Provincial Governments abdicating their responsibilities.

[searun]

Please don't think that this is a rant against fly fishermen. I fish the Cowichan on a regular basis and chase Steelhead and coho Salmon with both Drift gear and Fly Gear. That doesn't mean that I am more ethically responsible when I am using a fly rod. My fellow fly fishermen are not without a lot of fault. I routinely encounter morons fly flossing above skutz falls ( Fly gear is way more effective for people who want to floss) and I know several guides who specialize in anchoring just above redds so that their clients will be guaranteed to hook a steelhead.

Once again, these practices can be stopped by consistant enforcement practices and the responsibility for enforcement lies with DFO and MOE.

The problem with the Cowichan isn't gear fishing in the middle and lower river. It is our Federal and Provincial Governments abdicating their responsibilities.

Well stated. Time for folks to have an honest look in the mirror. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. Too bad the same trashy "Gear Wars" logic that did in the SSBC still clings to life. Hopefully we can all ignore them and they will go away.

[falcon1]

When I last checked there was only a small section where baites/lures were allowed.

[Big Green Machine]

When I last checked there was only a small section where baites/lures were allowed.

Lures yes, bait no.