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So I went to the NSSA dinner tonight, was a lot fun, food was great and I won a prize. I had a chance to read the literature they provided and there was a particular article that really popped out as what i think is backwards thinking in terms of conservation. They argue that the steelhead numbers are down in Black Bay and truthfully i have no clue what their stock is actually like. Regardless, steelhead are a pacific salmon that were introduced and would have never naturally made it here with out our help. They argue that predatory fish such as walleye, pike and small mouth bass (native to superior) have bounced back and are killing all the young fish and therefore not returning for multiple spawns. Their solution is to have the 26.5" limit applied to rainbow trout in all the tributaries (i dont know if they also wanted to include superior). Now, in my opinion, this is backwards. Why are an introduced species recieving a special condition? Rainbow trout are delicious, i do not catch them often but if i did your damn right im taking it home. Even a 14 incher. If our native fish are thriving, why would we want another ferocious predator competing with them? Im not saying change the current 1 fish limit or anything, but how often do you really catch a steelhead greater than 26.5? Probably not very often. At least i do not. Essentially they are lobbying for a catch and release rainbow fishery. So, apparently to keep an "elite" style of fishing alive, we will no longer be able to enjoy their tasty flesh. BUT BUT BUT! All this money the NSSA puts in to rehabilition benefits the native fish too! And dont get me wrong, thats awesome. They do a great job, im not here to "bash" these guys, but at the end of the day BUTs are only good for one thing... Pooping Why arent people as enthusiastic about native fish. Nuts to rainbows, what about sturgeon? What about the "collapse" of the walleye in Black Sturgeon (no comment). Why arent we focusing on our native specs! NSSA holds the biggest fundraiser in Thunder Bay for a fish that shouldnt be here. Again... I know it helps.. Blah blah... Thats not the point. Because lord knows Lake Superior is NO where near its original form. Smelt alone drastically changed the food chain forever. My issue is a size restriction. Anyways, this article really popped out at me. Maybe im wrong and eventually an eagle would have crapped an immaculately conceived population of fertalized rainbow eggs. With the coming steelhead season maybe we should instead get pumped about another fish. I for one am pumped about the common shiner for the month of april. Thoughts?