Catch and release

Editor: I am a fifth generation resident of this town, and I
have vivid memories of fishing the local creeks and streams on our
family ranches every chance I could get.
Therefore I am entirely behind the stream restoration efforts
currently going on throughout the county. My family has, and will,
continue to cooperate in restoration efforts on streams within our
lands.
That is why today, I am somewhat upset.
I went to the Healdsburg Steelhead Festival. And, I came away
with a bad taste in my mouth from it.
A little boy around 4 years old was fishing in the trout pond
and caught a nice size fish. He said, “Daddy, I don’t want to kill
it, let’s take it over to the creek and let it loose.” They
proceeded to put some water in a bag until a big burly man (at
least to the little boy) with an official badge on his shoulder
came over and said, “Son, if you do that you’ll be arrested. It is
illegal to do that under Fish and Game regulations.” The poor
little guy had tears in his eyes thinking the beautiful creature in
his bag would soon be dead, or he might “be arrested” if he tried
to save it.
Is this what the festival is trying to teach the next
generation? I know in my heart that this is not the case. But
somewhere here there has to be a better way.
Might I suggest “catch and release” is much more appropriate for
the purpose the festival is trying to achieve.
Maybe the fish used in the pond are ones that can be released in
our local streams with Fish and Game supervision. After they are
caught, they could be placed in a holding tank. Later in the day
there could be a release event somewhere along a local stream
bank.
Then there would be no more little boys with tears in their
eyes
Gary N. Wilson
Healdsburg