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I'm sure we've all had our problems with fishermen and boaters so I was wondering what would it take to get the population educated about ethics and the unwritten rules of fishing. I got a few ideas but want to hear everybody elses and then maybe we can pass this on at one of the rack meetings.
We have hunters safety so why not make it a requirement for all water user to take a boating satety class or lisence. The fishermen should also be required to take a fishing class so they can learn how to properly release, clean, prepare and some disease info and include those unwritten rules. I've always thought the state should have classes like this for all the different types of hunting and fishing. Just my 2 cents.
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Check out the Oregon Boater's Course on line:
[url "http://www.boatus.org/onlinecourse/oregoncourse.htm"]http://www.boatus.org/onlinecourse/oregoncourse.htm[/url]
This went into effect this year and will have 5 years to get everyone on board. Different age brackets are in effect each year - with the youngest required to get the license first - then eventually getting to us old guys.
Check it out - remember knowledge is power and we have all seen the boat captain with only one oar in the water. Have a great day...
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Oh Man, just the thought of what you're suggesting is frightening. Do you really want the invasive nature of the government telling you, "You can't fish because you don't know how to release fish properly," etc? Holy cow! Also I believe a portion of the problem with bad boaters is with enforcement. Society isn't willing to pay for enforcement on the water to the extent that we have it on the highway. Just how expensive do you want outdoor enjoyment to be. I recall many on this site screeming about $9.00 just to get into Jordanelle to fish. Every extra fee I have to pay to fish, hunt ,boat, hike, camp, etc. reduces my enjoyment by degree. To be fair some fee's and regulations do improve enjoyment by reducing competition or improving aesthetics. Lets just be careful what we ask for.
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I agree with some extent with both of you. I feel that there needs to be a class in order to get a fishing license, alot like a blue card that you need for hunting. I also would love to see a boating drivers license go into effect in Utah. I know that alot of the problems out there are blamed on ignorance and to me that is not an excuse. To eliminate the "ignorance" response, law enforcment would be able to enforce the laws with more fines and tickets instead of warnings. Also, maybe some people just do not know the rules and with some education they would be one less problem we see out there.
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I feel that way to a point. YES- fishermen need to know how to properly release their fish, many fish that are caught and released die due to not being released properly. As far as requiring a class goes, I feel that's a bit much. The reason for hunter safety is HUNTER SAFETY. You don't hear of a lot of fisherman being hooked to death or accidental strangling by monofilament. Isn't there a boating safety/licence requirement? I'm not too familar with that one, but a friend of mine had to take a class to operate a jet ski, but that was when we were like 10.
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Hey the day I learned how to fly fish, I thought it would be my last!!! [  ] I thought on a couple of occations I would strangle myself in the line!!! j/k No, I agree on the boater class. I just sent away for the most recent copy of the boater rules and laws brochure, and was amazed the stuff that I didnt already know, highly suggested on getting a copy. As for hunter safety great class but how much information does a 12 yr old really retain??? I think that it should be required at 12-18- then another refresh class for 18 yrs old and up!!! I think more emphisis needs to be put into knowledge on fishing concervation, but the question is how can a class be made into that, more like a couple of hours seminar???? my $.02
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i agree that education would benefit almost everybody - but to drag government into it - another fee - more bureacracy - another 'license' . . yuk . .
what about rounding up 500 youth (17-21) to work summers with conservation people to go around and educate people, being helpful and educative, handing out booklets of how to release fish, why not to toss your dead mono in the lake, ect , not hard-ass - 'ill give you a big ticket...' . . . all of the utah conservation people ive met are very helpful, but the nitty gritty is they're enforcers . .
plus lakes need more new signs describing the rules and regs on each lake . . and maybe a little history, stocking, fish present in lake, and how-tos . . .
sm
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As soon as we write down the unwritten rules of fishing, then they are no longer the unwritten rules! A problem I do see with this is that there are going to have to be different rules for every stretch of water. Proclamations are already complicated enough with laws. We would then have to remember that while fishing the Provo we have to keep 10 ft. between us and the next fisherman, while on the Beaver Dam Wash you must keep out of the next fisherman's site.
I do agree, fisherment need to be educated. So do boaters. Ethics are going to be different for everyfisherman. The unwritten rules haven't ever been written, because noone really knows what they are. Just like the unwritten rules of baseball. Don't steal 2nd after the 7th inning if you are up by 5 runs? How about not crossing the river above or below a fellow fisherman until he has made 15 casts in both directions, you must be 35' above or below the fisherman, and you must cross the river in no less than 35 second? This is a pretty rediculous example, and I hope you don't think I am trying to upset you. I agree that there are many, many fishermen (I am sure I have done some things to upset other fishermen) that don't have any clue as to how to act when around others in the outdoors. Ethics are something that everyone needs to learn. I just hope that the people that are teaching the ethics, have some decent ethics to teach!
Southernman, as soon as you take a group of youth out to hand out booklets (pamplets, etc.) you will need to take another group of youth out the next day to clean the litter left behind (pamplets, booklets, etc.).
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How about a simple page or 2 flyer with some of the most over looked rules and ethics when launching at any Utah state marina. Same could be done for releasing fish at waters with high probability that a fisherperson would need to do so. If it was kept short and sweet and varied the info throughout the season I think most people would take the time to read it. I'm still debating with myself wether some boaters are mean or just ignorant. I hate the thoughts of more rules and licenses but the information needs to get out to the all the people who particpate in these activities.
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I think GOTS2FISH has got the most workable idea. Another plan would be hand a flyer out with each license.
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I'm sure most of you are aware of the OHV course. I was thinking more of a 1-3 hour class that is required to fish but given a couple years to complete it before it's actually required to buy a license. I don't think the ethics part would be like river crossing is 25 ft above or below it would be more like if other people are fishing give them the same respect that you would like. Show a video of both examples and make it funny and informative. Use the video to show newbies how to fish, rig, releasing fish and cover a few basic laws. I'm sure Doug Miller would love to do this. I know he's done it for the dedicated hunters program.
The boating class should be a one day class for safety and cover the laws. I don't think it needs to be like a drivers lisence but more like a certification. If the problems increase or the class doesn't make a change in the way people behave it would be easy to change to a license type with points and all that junk.
The flyer wouldn't work, look at how many people don't even read the proclamation.
The utah proclamation is simple and easy to read. If you've seen the Washington proclamation you'ld know what I mean.
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Your most likely right hedgesd but if the flyers were simple and graphic I think people would take at least a quick look. I think it would be an inexpensive first approach that may work. If we did have to be certified your idea of having funny video is intriging, image some poor fisherman in a 14 aluminum trying to hang on to all his gear and the boat as a 24ft. cuddy cruises by.
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Or like a guy fishing the provo and snagging somebody swimming thru the hole their fishing. Even if it's not a class why not have it over the internet. You have to take a class to hunt the extended archery unit. It wouldn't take much to throw a informative online class together. Use some simple video feeds and lots of good pictures with some guy/lady taking about what ever. At the end have a quick test that any idiot would understand and pass if they listened or new anything about fishing and ethics.
Could just include it into the hunters safety class with a quick informative video. Heck most kids would freak out on there dad/mom if they new better.
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Do you really want more government al control? BTW, whose fault will it be next time someone pulls a bonehead move on the water? The DWR's for not providing "enough" education??
At what point do we take responsibility for our actions? Including our own enjoyment on the water? Our waters are a shared resource. So are we not just as guilty for wanting dominion over the resource.
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Have been a Fisherman for over 50 years,the Day I have to take a class to get a fishing license,will be the Day I leave Utah!! The gov. is already in my face to much as it is.Right-lets let them regulate us some more.[mad]
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Control what? Control, do any of us really have control. Sure we all get to pick what we have for breakfast and what color of socks to put on. I don't mean to sound like a ass but wake up everything in Utah or the USA is controled by the government.
Okay I see how you can feel about 50 years of this and that but times change. Just look around and see how many people have moved into Utah from Nevada and California in the past 10 to 20 years. Look at how long it takes for anything to be changed for the better and I'm not just taking about fishing it's everything. Look at this way, everything from driving to work to what used to be your favorite fishing hole to that place you used to go for fries and burgers with the girlfriends or the kids. Nothing will ever be the same so either roll with the punches or get out of the ring. Now I know most of you are like he's up in the night and yes if you heard the snoring from Ricks girlfriend you'ld be to but that's not the point. Take 5 minutes and think about the last five years and you'll see nothing is exactly the same. So either we can all start working to fix the problems with today and make a better tomorrow or sit down shut up and quit complaining.
If you think I'm wrong I delete this but I'll never appologize for my opinion only for my mistakes.
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