Fishing Responsibly

For the past 10 years our local Trout Unlimited chapter has been trying to establish a brown trout fishery in central Indiana. A tailwater called Brookville is a 2 mile stretch of water where the cold water release from Brookville dam has proven to be adequate to sustain trout. Many stockings and river clean-ups have been done in attempt to provide Central Indiana an opportunity to trout fish. After many years of
privately funded stockings organized by TU and supported by clubs, organizations and trout anglers, the state has assumed responsibility for the yearly stockings of both rainbows and browns.
The rainbows are regarded as a put and take fishery, and the browns currently have a regulation stating one fish may be kept over 18".
After observing the fishery for a few years it became evident that the trout were being depleted both by harvesting (legally and illegally) as well as high mortality rate caused by gut hooked fish from harmful fishing methods.
Trout swallow live bait and the hook often times is deeply lodged causing bleeding resulting in dead fish.
Brookville is the only trout fishing available in all of Central Indiana and therefore I believe deserve greater protection to ensure more people can enjoy such a rare resource.
For that reason alone, I strongly feel IDNR should mandate catch and release only using artificials only. Bait fishermen can still fish other sections of the tailwaters or choose from hundreds of other fishing locations that allow them the freedom to fish any method they choose.
Sometimes you have to restrict some freedoms to allow more anglers an opportunity to catch fish for a species that is not readily available.
Protecting our natural resources ( even when not so natural) is the responsible thing to do.
I hope some day we will be able to give more thought to future generations and be more willing and open to change which can potentially benefit others.