[Dr Hook]

It's only a matter of time before some do gooder puts in a proposal to ban electric reels for halibut fishing in WA. Walter Pasternak has already proposed the rule for OR. :shock:

Given the gross lack of opposition that most of the proposals initiated by the average Joe Blow receives, I wouldn't be surprised to see this rule slide right through the rule proposal process.

Keep your eye out on Ebay for some electric reels for sale. conf:

 

[Chuck S]

Why would they do that? Seems stupid.

 

[Dr Hook]

Why would they do that? Seems stupid.

Since when did not being stupid matter? Just take a looks at some of the rules we have on the books now!

 

[Chuck S]

Yea I know ....

Next they will outlaw fish finders claiming they hurt the damn ozone layer or something crazy conf:

 

[Dr Hook]

I think PETA has figured out how to use our public rule proposal process! sick:

 

[J.D.]

Wonder if the idea behind banning them is to extend the available poundage quota. Kinda like a way to reduce an anglers ability to cull fish, releasing all the smaller/mediums to find a large one. Halibut quotas are based off of pounds, not fish.

So say hypothetically, WA was to ban electric reels (except for those anglers holding a disability license). And it resulted in a 20% smaller average sized halibut landed into port. Might that extend a quota in a area 20% as well?

I don't know, but it seems to me like OR quota's are seldom met. It sounds like they're fishing halibut well into late summer while we're struggling to fish 5 days a year off of our north coast.

 

[Guppy trainer]

I think PETA has figured out how to use our public rule proposal process! sick:

I love "PEOPLE for EATING TASTY ANIMALS" That group is Smokin' and Grillin' and Qin' and CHEWIN IT UP!

JD speaks of wise idea? Limiting haul to extend season....... Might we find more handicapped fisherman on the water?

 

[spanish fly]

With that logic they should ban Electric Downriggers,then extend the salmon season.... :roll:

 

[J.D.]

With that logic they should ban Electric Downriggers,then extend the salmon season.... :roll:

The were illegal in parts of Canada for a time. Actually, I think they still are in a few certain places up there. And again IPHC-set Halibut quota's are met in pounds, not by individual fish.

Instead of banning electric sport reels in OR, why don't they ban commercial draggers instead?

 

[Fish Boy]

With that logic they should ban Electric Downriggers,then extend the salmon season.... :roll:

The were illegal in parts of Canada for a time. Actually, I think they still are in a few certain places up there. And again IPHC-set Halibut quota's are met in pounds, not by individual fish.

Instead of banning electric sport reels in OR, why don't they ban commercial draggers instead?

they shouldnt because draggers need to make a living to.

 

[J.D.]

they shouldnt because draggers need to make a living to.

Here's something your may want to look at Fish Boy.

http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/mar2006/2006-03-10-03.asp

NOAA disagrees with you.

 

[SeaRanger21]

With that logic they should ban Electric Downriggers,then extend the salmon season.... :roll:

The were illegal in parts of Canada for a time. Actually, I think they still are in a few certain places up there. And again IPHC-set Halibut quota's are met in pounds, not by individual fish.

Instead of banning electric sport reels in OR, why don't they ban commercial draggers instead?

they shouldnt because draggers need to make a living to.

unbelievable

 

[MYSTICAL LEGENDS]

Shouldn't ban the reels.

Now I'm going to get the popcorn.

 

[Fishnut]

If you do a search for this Walter guy. He is a commercial fisherman that has tried to pull stuff before, like trying to take more commercial fish than other commercials. And tried to sue for a bigger take.

I thought about opposing it, but he is in Alaska. I would oppose it if it were down here. I figured someone up there would.

 

[salar]

Whats the fun in electric reels for haibut? You have to earn that fish 550 ft down, 3 lb lead, and waves trying to throw you out of the boat. Sure does suck though if you miss a bite on bait and have to reel up to check.

 

[babooze]

This is a tough call.. I, for one, wouldn't use an electric reel just because I'd rather have fun fighting a fish than catching it by flipping a switch. I go out to "fish" not to "catch" and I think that electric reels reduce the fun. I also don't fish locally in 500 feet of water just because I'd be running 3# of weight and 500 feet of line. I'd tend to agree that banning electric reels would likely reduce the amount of halibut caught both by reducing the fishable areas and by reducing the willingness to check baits and the release small fish. I did fish once on an Alaska charter at 500 + feet and it was actually fun harassing my friends about how slow people reel up the line. Electric reels would have reduced the fun factor there too. I don't pass judgment because my opinion is just that, an opinion.

Moreover I can't see spending that kind of money on a reel I'd use once a year. But I know a lot of people got more money than I do. Banning electric reels? Maybe, but what about electric downriggers? I'd bet fewer people would troll at 200+ feet if that were the case... There would likely be fewer chinook caught and longer seasons in areas with a quota.... Opens a whole can of worms...

 

[fishinfoolz]

It doesn't surprise me one bit. This State and all States governed under the same mentality will attempt to restrict or tax every activity until we have nothing left. Rather, nothing right...I don't use them but would if I had one. Doesn't give the fisherman an unfair advantage. And that's what it's all about right...Being fair.

 

[20miler]

Well, seems like we have more laws every year. One wonders how primitive man got along without legislation.

 

[Elkrun]

I wonder how long until they ban hooks in an effort to lengthen our seasons.

Face it, they are throwing us crumbs and trying to make us think if we eat them long enough, we'll like them, and we'll get full.

While you (and I) personally may not use electric reels, there are people that do, and it creates a different niche for them to fish (mainly deeper water). If they're not fishing those deep holes most of us cant/wont get to, then they'll be right on the shallower banks with the rest of us. Its not like they wont fish and catch halibut. Maybe slightly smaller, but really will it make a difference? We'll all still be eating crumbs, pretending to like them, hoping to get full.

 

[Fishnut]

I don't want to see electric reels banned as they have their purpose.

I could understand not using electric reels. I didn't use them for about 15 years. The average guy that is going to go out to 500-600' of water and take the first halibut and go in, thats great. (Because he is to tired to do it again) But when it comes down to going out to search out new areas, it is important to be able to get the gear up and go find another new area. Over the years, I get emails on our halibut fishery from WDFW wanting to know what I think about changing to a new area when they are doing new planning. I usually have to plot out the areas and talk with friends to see if there is yelloweye there or not. This is the big driving factor in our fisheries is the Yelloweye/Canary. This keeps us from bottom fishing deep water during the summer to keep their mortality down. But try to pull a 50 pound halibut up from 850 feet of water or deeper, and I can tell you its not fun. After this a few times, I bought the electric reels. All that the electric reels do is expand your fishery.

If the water is not rough, I will head out to different grounds to find untouched areas. Untouched areas put out big lings too. We have a lot of lings and they are considered recovered. They have found out that lings are not as old as they used to think they were. An old ling is 25-30 years old, unlike a 90 year old Yelloweye.

One thing I will add is that most people that have not tried electric reels, have no idea what they are like. You don't just put it in the rod holder and turn it on. Its not at all like a winch on a truck. You still have to fight and pump that fish up. Halibut fishing is a lot of fun, but the most fun for me is to study charts and try to figure out where they are, then go test it. I used use manual reels and pump three to five pounds. After a while it gets old. I am not knocking anyone as I used to think the same, its not sporty. But what is sporty about pulling a big piece of plywood off of the bottom? Its real work. Electric reels are a big investment for something that you don't get to use much.

I used to go to Canada all of the time halibut fishing, but came back to the US mostly. Especially since we got the straits fishery opened up when the fish are in. I can take out friends that are up in the years, that could not fish this fishery without the electric reels. It sure makes them happy to be able to be part of a fishery that they would otherwise not be able to do. We really target deep water with our electric reels. Last year we were halibut fishing up to 1200' deep.

I had JD spool up two of my reels with 1500 yards each. I have my eye on some 1500-2100' deep water a couple of plateaus beyond the normal 32 mile out spot out of Lapush. The real question is, "Is there anything there?" Can't wait for halibut to open!!!!!!!!!!!!