[quote author=Nymphmeister link=topic=2023.msg14125#msg14125 date=1220833901]
Eddie/SloNDeep-

I find your viewpoint on this somewhat self-centered. The upper 5% of "expert" fishermen like yourself will be successful in many tougher fisheries where average anglers fail or do poorly. However, remember that the average guy accounts for probably 95% of the fishing pressure on the Housy, and if the fishing sucks for him he probably won't come back, or at least not often- he will go elsewhere to better managed fisheries. So we should manage a fishery to please 5% of the anglers, or should we manage it for everyone? They have just as much right to have a successful angling experience as you, the expert does. There is a word to add to your vocabulary- COMPROMISE.

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It's still trout welfare to me.

Say what you want; my reality is that I fished the Housy many times and took a skunking. I went back many tmes because of its promise of large holdovers and when I caught fish, they were 9-12 inches and looked like crap in the spring but looked better in the Fall. Phil used to tell me about all the 20+ leviathans in the river and I thought he was full of crap.

Most of my early trips up to the Hous were to collect insects, it is amazingly prolific. The river is special in many ways, and has a unique ability to grow big beautiful specimens. That is why I like fishing there.

By watching and listening to others who I saw catch big fish, I eventually learned to fish the river well. That opportunity exists for ALL LICENSED ANGLERS.

Stop referring to others who dont see things your way as myopic, and try on some new glasses yourself

Hugs and kisses,
Ed

PS In my attempt at honest self-appraisal, I would say that I am probably in the top 10-20% slot; saying I'm in the top 5% is grossly overestimating my ability level.