Hey OFF peeps.
I have never started a post before but I had a few things I wanted to throw out there, see where they land. This is the first year I am salmon fishing the East Tribs since I was a kid. I am usually guiding up north until October, when I come home and start fishing steelhead!!!
I've been reading the forum discussions on snagging and salmon fishing, and have already had my share of experiences being bummed out watching hosers lining and flossing. I think we all have the same view of that stuff. I now opt to fish the lake and cast spoons to fish that actually chase and bite the baits.
But my point is this: The thing I see that disturbs me most right now is the ROE PILLAGE that seems to be taking place every year. I am a steelheader at heart. I know in general the creeks are a more peaceful, clean and respected place in (let's say) November than they are right now. I also know there are a lot of great steelhead anglers that go out of their way to clean up after others, respect the fishery, teach good ethics, etc.
But I feel like it is also many a fellow steelhead that goes down to the creek, catches a huge king salmon, slits it belly for iroe, and leaves the carcass to rot. Many of the pools I walked by the other day had 5-10 slit bellied salmon rotting in them. It is some post apocalyptic sh*t.
We all need roe. But this disturbs me, I don't know about you but I think it's wrong. Even if you think it is only good for dog food, I think it's better (and more ethical) to take the carcass and use the meat, even if you just slab it on the spot… at least dispose of it better and don't throw it in the creek.
I don't know what "the right way to get roe" is. The last 4 years I get my roe by milking freshly dead salmon I come across while steelhead fishing. Although it is gross (although not much different than handling a zombie boot that's "alive"), I found that the roe is loose, the eggs are good, and I leave feeling better than I would have if I killed the fish.
Long post! but I wanted to put it out there. Tell me what you think!
JKW