There will be a public hearing about proposed catch and release regulations for trout in the Lower Saluda River this Thur. Feb. 1st at the West Columbia Community Center, 754 B Ave. at 6 pm. Anyone interested in the future of trout fishing in the Saluda is welcome to attend.
why are they wanting to induce catch and release?
Proline 201WA
Aloha 24ft pontoon (LooneyToon)
Old Town stern with 7.5 johnson
I don’t know. I found out about it on the TU website. I emailed them asking for details, but didn’t get a response. I haven’t found any info on DNR website. I’m going to the hearing to get info. It all seems very hush hush to me.
usually hush hush means they want to change something we’re not going to like. I’l try my best to be there as well. Thanks for the heads up
Proline 201WA
Aloha 24ft pontoon (LooneyToon)
Old Town stern with 7.5 johnson
A friend just forwarded the notice to me. DNR has found that the trout are actually reproducing naturally in a section of the river. A copy/paste of the text of the notice is below:
SCDNR to host trout catch and release public meeting
Local Angler John Gray displays a brown trout he caught near Saluda Shoals Park.
Columbia, S.C. – SCDNR is hosting a public meeting on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018, to seek input on a proposal to establish a special management zone on the lower Saluda River for coldwater trout.
Consideration is underway concerning the establishment of a catch-and-release-only zone between Interstate 26 and Stacey’s Ledge on the lower Saluda River. This reach of the river contains unique habitat from which SCDNR has documented evidence of trout reproduction. SCDNR welcomes public input on this proposal and will be presenting supporting information at the meeting.
The meeting will be hosted from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the West Columbia Community Center located at 754 B Ave. in West Columbia.
The public can also offer ■■■■■■■■ at an additional meeting to be hosted in late February.
I personally don’t get to fish the Saluda much but it’s pretty amazing to have reproducing trout right here in Columbia. Photo from the notice is below. Very nice!
There’s a reason I’m close to the top of the food chain.
‘97 HYDRASPORTS 22’ OCEAN DC
EVINRUDE 175
'17 F-250
This area between I-26 and Stacey’s Ledge also happens to be TU’s exclusive access point. Hmmm, that’s interesting. Maybe I’m over-reacting, but when you start establishing catch and release sanctuaries like this, where does it stop? I’ve read DNR studies that natural trout reproduction is extremely rare on the Saluda. Does that rare exception warrant an exclusive catch and release zone? I think not.
I have to agree with riverman. if there is a real chance of serious reproduction occurring, then i’m all for some adjustments in regulations. but the fact that this is trout unlimited’s access area, sounds a bit fishy to me…see what i did there 
Proline 201WA
Aloha 24ft pontoon (LooneyToon)
Old Town stern with 7.5 johnson
You can submit your comments on this proposal by going to DNR website and answering the survey.
Done. Thanks for the update
Proline 201WA
Aloha 24ft pontoon (LooneyToon)
Old Town stern with 7.5 johnson
Cool. I’m asking everyone I know who fishes the Saluda to complete the survey as well.
Nice trout. I might do some trout fishing when I visit the area in a couple months.
Just to play devil’s advocate to Riverman’s observation, if the proposed sanctuary is primarily accessed by only TU folks, who is the proposed change going to affect? It would seem to me that folks outside the sanctuary would benefit from proposal by being able to catch larger fish that move outside the protected area. Just an alternate view from someone that has never fished the Saluda and considers trout just good striper food.
I fish the proposed area and I access it by boat as do many others. It’s not that hard to get to by boat. I think that the opening of the Saluda Riverwalk on the opposite side of the river from TU’s access is factoring into this decision. There will likely be more walk-in anglers from the Riverwalk and TU wants to protect it’s turf, so to speak. Trout are good striper food, but I like em too.