Time will be true test for early trout season

Jim Bennett, Outdoor Trails & Tales

Wisconsin's early trout season is officially on the books. The 3-year experiment was put up for a vote in each county during the Conservation Congress Spring Hearings. The vote, although close, made the early trout season law. The catch and release season with barbless hooks will be back next March. It ends on the general fishing opener the first Saturday of May.

The first year of the great trout experiment caused the most tension in Pierce County, where many individuals and members of the Eau Galle-Rush River Sportsman's Club opposed it and private lands were posted "No Trespassing," causing tempers to flare.

But things have cooled down in the three years since. Those people who didn't vote for the early season didn't fish the early season. They stuck to their guns, feeling the early season would put too much pressure on the streams. They worried some fish would be injured and others killed. They also worried about the big fish. What would happen if someone caught a really big trout? Would they release it or be tempted to keep it illegally?

It was hard to find fault with the arguments. These people really cared about rivers, and volunteered to maintain their health. For that they need to be commended and thanked for everything they do.

On the other side of the coin were people who saw the early season as just another chance to go fishing. Their love of fishing drew them to open water. They were mostly fly fishermen who used tiny hooks that, in most cases, hooked only the lip or corner of the mouth. Those hooks come out easily when the barb is pinched.

These people believed there would be no damage to the resource. They handle trout with caring hands. Many proponents belonged to groups like Trout Unlimited, and also volunteer their time to work on area streams. For that, they too need to be commended and thanked.

According to the Department of Natural Resources, the early catch and release season has caused no damage to the rivers, or the trout that live in the streams. Spawning beds, called redds, were not damaged, nor were fingerlings trampled. Trout, unlike other fish that are beginning to spawn now, spawn in the fall when the season is closed and they are protected.

Cold spring weather will keep anglers off streams, as will spring flooding. But warm weather will bring more anglers out to fish. That has been evident since the first year and it is still evident today. But will the newness of the early season wear off? I've talked to some anglers who told me they haven't gone out as much this year as they did the first two.

There have been the usual complaints about too many cars with Minnesota license plates parked along area roads. I often wonder if Minnesotans say the same things at Mille Lacs or in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. Do Canadians feel the same way when we cross the border to fish their waters?

Only time will tell what effects the early season will have. There will still be ill feelings lingering, but for the time being the line drawn in the sand isn't as deep as it was three years ago. I only hope time will erode it away completely.

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You can expect there will be a few new rule changes regarding the early catch and release trout season. There will be some streams that will be protected and some spring holes made off limits. It would be nice to see a ban on all treble hooks during the early season as well. Delicate areas should also be made off limits and protected.

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Terry Rohm of Realtree Outdoors says turkey hunters need to think safety first.

"A gobbler and a man sound exactly alike when walking through the leaves," he noted. "In the old days we were advised to sit perfectly still when we heard a turkey coming up behind us. The idea was to let the turkey pass and take the shot."

Rohm says that is still good advice in today's crowded turkey woods. Sudden movement could draw fire and that alone is a good reason to always sit against a tree trunk large enough to cover your back. If another hunter intrudes into your area, don't move. Announce your presence with a clear voice and never wear the "gobbler head" colors of red, white and blue.

"Be careful of where you set up any decoys," Rohm added. "If a hunter takes a shot at it, would you be in the line of fire? Think about where you place that decoy for safety reasons too!"

Rohm says if you bag a gobbler, never carry him out of the woods over your shoulder with his wings flapping. Wrap him in a bag, or better yet, use a hunter's orange bag. And have some hunter's orange you can snap on your camouflaged clothing when you are walking through the woods to protect yourself.

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Have you got your boat ready for the fishing season? Remember to check the lower unit and grease the bearings on your boat trailer. Also check your fishing poles. Worn eyes, stress cracks and loose grips could cause trouble. And is your line in good shape? Losing a big fish because you were too cheap to replace old line is something you don't want to do. Clean those reels as well. A little lubrication and a few adjustments will make opening day more successful.

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WILDLIFE QUIZ-Why do dogs pant? Answer: To lower body temperature.

NEXT WEEK'S QUIZ-From where do dogs perspire? See next week's quiz for the answer.