Jack Legg Jr. and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife are working toward a compromise proposal for Foster Lake to protect juvenile winter steelhead from accidental harvest.
The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will make a decision on new rules next month after hearing two proposals Friday during a meeting held in Portland.
During the same meeting, the commission raised the daily limit from two to three on the South Santiam below Foster Dam for summer steelhead. The temporary rule goes into effect on Sept. 1 and will last through the end of the year on selected rivers, including the South Santiam.
The commission considered a number of other proposed rule changes, on which it likely will act in September.
One of the proposals would open Quartzville and the Middle Santiam at the end of April instead of the end of May, Legg said. Most things open in April, and an ODF&W biologist agrees that those streams should be opened.
“There’s no reason to have it opening in May,” Legg siad. “We talked to the biologist, and he agreed. We’re pretty sure it will pass.”
On Quartzville, another proposal would remove size and bag limits on brook trout in addition to the standard rainbow limit.
At the request of the National Marine Fisheries Service, the commission is also considering rescinding the 1&4 hook rule, which requires a size one or larger hook, Legg said. Originally, it was intended to protect juvenile fish, but it increased the mortality rate.
Throughout the state, the commission also is considering changing salmon fishing to fin-clipped only.
On Foster Lake, current rules allow anglers to keep trout that are eight to 20 inches and one adult steelhead, more than 20 inches, each year. ODF&W staff have proposed a rule allowing anglers to keep only fin-clipped trout.
Legg has proposed increasing the minimum size to 10 inches with a 20-inch maximum. Under the proposal, 10-inch fish would be stocked instead of 8-inch fish.
“It would protect any adult steelhead that come back into the reservoir,” Legg said. It would also protect steelhead smolts, which are typically under 10 inches long, but still allowing anglers to keep wild fish.
The proposals would meet NMFS request to protect the smolts.
Legg said he is working with ODF&W officials to create a compromise blending the two proposals. Both ODF&W and Legg think that ODF&W can stock larger fish in Foster Lake.
“The sticking point we have is whether they’re going to require to keep only marked fish or not,” Legg said.
Public input is key to helping the commission make a decision, Legg siad. “Public input is crucial in trying to get all of the things we talked about approved.”
Legg plans to prepare forms that persons can sign and indicate whether they agree or disagree with a proposed rule change. Likely, he will keep those at his business, Dan Dee Sales, although he may plan some type of forum. Legg would also like to see local agencies, boards and groups take a stand on the proposals.
For more information, persons may contact Legg at 367-5544.