From Scott Branyan's newsletter:
New Trout Plan Aimed at Keeping Commissioners Happy
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Don't look for anything specific coming out of the new Trout Plan for a while. The more I hear, the more it is evident that the fisheries staff is stalling until the make up of the commission and the political climate of it changes.
Look for some initial activity, possibly on Beaver tailwater, as far as an implementation plan--possibly as early as next year. As for Bull Shoals and Norfork tailwaters, the staff will drag its heels and promise gathering of significant biological data on the fisheries. We'll see.
Scuttlebutt is that the version released for public consumption this summer is the 3rd revision of the draft plan. The staff has had problems finding a plan that all the commissioners could sign off on. This one promises commissioner approval because there is no implementation plan and no specifics. Only a plan to devise a plan. Fisheries Chief Mike Gibson has guaranteed that this is the "plan" that will be approved. So, it looks like a minimum of at least two years before we see anything specific for recommendations on Bull Shoals and Norfork tailwaters. More of the same politics. Meanwhile, I'm getting older and the fish are not getting any wiser.
James
White River
New Trout Plan Aimed at Keeping Commissioners Happy
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Don't look for anything specific coming out of the new Trout Plan for a while. The more I hear, the more it is evident that the fisheries staff is stalling until the make up of the commission and the political climate of it changes.
Look for some initial activity, possibly on Beaver tailwater, as far as an implementation plan--possibly as early as next year. As for Bull Shoals and Norfork tailwaters, the staff will drag its heels and promise gathering of significant biological data on the fisheries. We'll see.
Scuttlebutt is that the version released for public consumption this summer is the 3rd revision of the draft plan. The staff has had problems finding a plan that all the commissioners could sign off on. This one promises commissioner approval because there is no implementation plan and no specifics. Only a plan to devise a plan. Fisheries Chief Mike Gibson has guaranteed that this is the "plan" that will be approved. So, it looks like a minimum of at least two years before we see anything specific for recommendations on Bull Shoals and Norfork tailwaters. More of the same politics. Meanwhile, I'm getting older and the fish are not getting any wiser.
James
White River
