Help me legalize some collecting out of trout streams

Here in North Carolina we have a classification of stream called 'hatchery supported trout stream'.

These streams are marginal trout habitat but are stocked roughly Mar-June. Some streams are stocked more than others.

Roughly July-February there is little stocking and most trout have been creeled out.

Right now one cannot collect non game fish from these streams w/o a special collection permit.

The stream near my house is a trout stream and has a number of non game species but they can only be collected hook and line.

I am trying to make it legal to dip net non game fish from HATCHERY SUPPORTED trout streams.

Not delayed harvest, catch and release, wild or other trout streams.

It would be nice for other folks to send a note to the NCWRC to legalize dip netting of non game fish from hatchery supported streams.

Thanks

Contact:

NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Division of Inland Fisheries
1721 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1721

I know he's part of the Marine Division, but you may want to talk to Fritz and see how doable this is. He may also be able to give you a good contact to work with in the Inland Fisheries Division.

Good luck. I know a few non-game regional biologists but I'm not sure how much assistance they can be. Really it is legal, you even explained how it is, you need a permit.

The no dipnets and seines in trout streams is pretty univseral anyways. Plain and simple fact is that people pay extra for trout stamps, you can eat them, and trout fishing generates revenue while non-gamefish collecting provides neither. Which interestingly was something I thought of could be a solution...

I trout fish and enjoy catching stocked trout actually.

I talked with Mallory Martin of the NCWRC about allowing dip netting for bait.

He said to send it to the NCWRC and see what happens.

Even if you do not live in NC send a note.

Every letter helps.

I would probably limit collecting to the period from June-February.

Mar, May and Apr are the prime stocking months and trout streams are closed in March anyway

A lot of the bigger streams in Buncombe Co where I live are classified as trout streams but also have non game populations.

Edited by Gambusia, 13 March 2008 - 06:19 PM.

You can send a note to Kent Nelson.

I did.

Kent.Nelson@ncwildlife.org



He is in charge of inland fisheries

UPDATE:

Thanks; I’ll get them on the list. Yes, the Frabill trap is too big to meet the current regulations. Don’t think this will present much of a problem to change, but I can’t make any promises. Collecting bait fish from trout streams may be a bit trickier – and will just have to wait and see what biologists and Enforcement Officers have to say.

Regards,

Kent L. Nelson, Fisheries Program Manager

Division of Inland Fisheries

NC Wildlife Resources Commission

1721 Mail Service Center

Raleigh, NC 27699-1721

Phone: 919-707-0223

kent.nelson@ncwildlife.org