[Members] Rush Creek Fishing Proposal

RESPONSE REQUESTED – (please read and reply with your comments):

Dear Chamber Members:

Over the last century, one of the June Lake Loop's chief attractions has been the high quality fishing experience offered by our local waters. Although mountain enthusiasts are increasingly pursuing other activities, attraction of visitors who enjoy fishing continues to be a prime industry for our community.

This has of course resulted in our dependence upon State and private programs to rear and plant fish in sufficient numbers for our guests to catch and keep. These stocked fish are largely sterile specimens, unable to naturally reproduce, leading to a decreasing diversity in types of fish, and raising concerns about the sustainability of the fisheries themselves.

At the recent Directors' meeting of the Chamber of Commerce a presentation was made by a member of the Mono County Fisheries Commission, asking our support for a proposal to help maintain the German Brown trout population residing in Grant Lake and Silver Lake. As you know, these Brown Trout often grow to a large size, and create some great publicity for the Loop when they are caught. German Brown Trout have not been stocked in our lakes for many years. They must continue to breed naturally if they are to survive.

The Browns are particularly vulnerable during the Fall spawning season, because they use the streams to place their eggs. Some fishermen actually target these vulnerable trout for trophies or food during this time of year, a practice which could be considered unsportsmanlike: if a limited restriction on Rush Creek requiring the use of barbless hooks and a catch-and-release policy (perhaps only for the last few weeks of the season each year) was imposed, it would arguably help to allow these trout to hatch their young and maintain a healthy population.

Nonetheless, there seem to be some concerns, and potential opposition to this proposal: therefore, the Chamber's Board of Directors chose not to officially endorse such a plan without first seeking feedback from the General Membership.

We would appreciate it very much if you would take a moment to reply to this email with your positive or negative inclination regarding this matter, and please feel free to include whatever comments you may have.

I have attached a document for your review, which is a sample draft of the Request for Rule Change to be submitted to the California Division of Fish and Wildlife.

Thank you very much for your time and attention.

Dan Roberts

JLCoC president

(end of message)
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June Lake Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 2
June Lake, CA  93529