The Don on the Browns
Don Morton has had it the killing of spawning German brown trout in Rush Creek.
“I can’t even fish in October and November on Rush Creek, because I have this little guy/big mouth problem,” he said. Too many encounters, not enough fishing.
Morton is the June Lake Commissioner for the Mono County Fish and Wildlife Commission, which is petitioning the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for a regulation change regarding German brown trout (browns) fishing on Rush Creek.
Changes would include a restriction on fishing between Silver and Grant lakes during spawning season (October 1-November 15), and going from a put-and-take to catch-and-release fishery. A put-and-take fishery stocks hatchery-raised fish and charges fishermen per catch. While a catch-and-release fishery might stock hatchery raised fish, all fish are released upon being caught.
Changes also include zero limits, barbless hooks, and artificial baits only. Power bait, a type of artificial bait, popular among anglers fishing for browns, would be illegal. Morton explained power bait. “It’s got a scent in it and an oil in it that is similar to the food that they [fish] are fed in a hatchery … it’s just an imitation fish hatchery food.”
