08-20-2006, 11:45 PM
[cool][#0000ff]Anybody who has had responsibility for running a family or a business is used to the need for making decisions and coming up with answers to questions. That's why a lot of us are frustrated by the seeming silence from DWR when we have questions and want decisions. In fairness to DWR, though, there are no individuals who have the power or authority to just pop off an answer or to change policy. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Tom Pettingill recently retired from DWR. He was one of the few allies we had for the warm water fisheries. He did not have the power to wave a magic wand and make all the changes, but he listened and did what he could to try to get obvious changes made...or at least get them into the system.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Things are in a state of flux within DWR these days, as new people assume new positions. Everybody is still trying to get a handle on their own little world, and most of them are not focused on keeping radical anglers happy. The best/worst we can do right now, by making a lot of noise, is alienating folks who might someday be able to listen and help.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I mentioned in another post that there is a proposal within DWR to divide management of Utah fisheries into two parts...basically trout and non-trout. The non-trout division would be responsible for collecting input and information on several select waters and on the non-trout species within them. As a clear picture emerges, and potential positive changes are suggested, then those things would be reviewed and processed. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]It is a different matter to make DWR aware of violations and/or potentially detrimental fisheries practices (snagging)...than it is to set up a lobby to get existing regulations changed. Once something is a matter of law and is written into the proclamation (no live bait), it takes a lot more than continuous sniping to get the whole DWR behind changing everything.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Don't overlook any opportunity to show up at meetings and to state your case, but don't keep using BFT as a place to post polls and throw rocks at DWR. It does nothing to further your cause and only gets you the rep as being a rabble rouser.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]In the meantime, we are catching plenty of fish on lures and dead minnows. That's all we got, so make the best of it.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Tom Pettingill recently retired from DWR. He was one of the few allies we had for the warm water fisheries. He did not have the power to wave a magic wand and make all the changes, but he listened and did what he could to try to get obvious changes made...or at least get them into the system.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Things are in a state of flux within DWR these days, as new people assume new positions. Everybody is still trying to get a handle on their own little world, and most of them are not focused on keeping radical anglers happy. The best/worst we can do right now, by making a lot of noise, is alienating folks who might someday be able to listen and help.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I mentioned in another post that there is a proposal within DWR to divide management of Utah fisheries into two parts...basically trout and non-trout. The non-trout division would be responsible for collecting input and information on several select waters and on the non-trout species within them. As a clear picture emerges, and potential positive changes are suggested, then those things would be reviewed and processed. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]It is a different matter to make DWR aware of violations and/or potentially detrimental fisheries practices (snagging)...than it is to set up a lobby to get existing regulations changed. Once something is a matter of law and is written into the proclamation (no live bait), it takes a lot more than continuous sniping to get the whole DWR behind changing everything.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Don't overlook any opportunity to show up at meetings and to state your case, but don't keep using BFT as a place to post polls and throw rocks at DWR. It does nothing to further your cause and only gets you the rep as being a rabble rouser.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]In the meantime, we are catching plenty of fish on lures and dead minnows. That's all we got, so make the best of it.[/#0000ff]
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