Interesting, I haven't read this type of regulations or fished the waters. (I did stick my head in the North Umpqua once because I was pretty drunk and there was no one else around responsible enough to do it for me). Amazing they're able to define a 'fly', tricky business. I looked through the regulations for policy reasons or justification, but didn't find any unfortunately. I know you can't speak for Oregon, but why do you desire this? What do these type of regulations offer in practice? How do you feel about the old traditional upstream dryfly to spotted fish only type restrictions still in place at some parts of the world? (They were certainly created in interest of fly anglers rather than protection of the fishery as many share a must-take policy). Do you feel that other methods allow the take of too many fish or too high a mortality (even in catch-and-release waters)?
I'm open to your comments, not just peppering you with tough questions. I'd just like to hear your reasons behind the clearly passionate opinion.
For others reference, here's a sample of this type of regulation currently in place on the North Umpqua.
Artificial Fly: A fly is a hook, dressed with conventional fly tying materials. The affixed materials may be natural or synthetic. Tied in conjunction with other materials, the following items may be part of the fly: wire (lead or other metal) used for weighting the fly, dumbbell eyes or beads (metal, glass or plastic). A fly is not a hook to which sinkers, molded weights, spinners, spoons or similar attractors are attached.
Fly Angling: Angling with a fly rod, fly reel, (no spinning or fixed spool reel(s)), floating or sinking fly line, leader, any type of backing line, and an artificial fly. In waters restricted to “Fly Angling Only” no additional weights or attractors shall be attached to the hook, leader, or line, and no metal core lines may be used.
North Umpqua River from fly area boundary above Rock Creek, upstream to Soda Springs Dam (31
miles)
- Catch and release for trout.
- Open for adipose fin-clipped steelhead entire year.
- Open for adipose fin-clipped coho salmon Aug. 1-Dec. 31.
Special Gear Restrictions and Closures
- July 1-Sept. 30 all angling restricted to use of single barbless unweighted artificial fly. For the purposes of this rule, an unweighted artificial fly is defined as: “a conventional hook that is dressed with natural or artificial materials, and to which no molded weight (such as split shot, jig heads or dumbbell eyes), metal wire, metal beads, bead chain eyes, or plastic body are affixed, and to which no added weight, spinning or attractor device, or natural bait is attached.”
- Jan. 1-June 30 and Oct. 1-Dec. 31 restricted to fly angling only with single barbless hook (see fly angling definition on page 6).
- Any type rod or reel permitted, but no metal core lines and no added weights or attachments to line, leader or fly (including, but not limited to, strike indicators) except non-fly monofilament lines may have a casting bubble or similar floating device.
- No angling from a floating device.
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