Roland D. Martin, Commissioner

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

41 State House Station

Augusta, ME 04333

Dear Commissioner Martin,

I was disappointed to read the comments attributed to Deputy Commissioner Jacques in a letter from Jeff Reardon of TU in regard to the regulations being proposed for the middle Kennebec River. While Mr. Jacques apparently referred to the proposed regulations as “Trout Unlimited catch-and-release regulations”, the regulations in question were in fact driven from within the DIF&W and not by any “Special Interest” group. This shows a real disconnect between DIF&W senior management and those in the field and is exactly what the recent independent studies sited as a serious deficiency within the department (i.e., communications). In addition, to have a senior member of the DIF&W management team question publicly a proposal made by a DIF&W staff member sets a dangerous precedent that left unchecked stands to undermine the efforts of those in the field.

As Mr. Reardon stated, TU (primarily a locally anchored chapter) acted solely in an advisory capacity in regard to the proposed regulations and only after being approached by the DIF&W. In addition, the position taken by local TU members was to recommend the less restrictive of two proposals presented by the DIF&W. In the proposal supported by Somerset Chapter of Trout Unlimited (SCTU), various sections of river (between dams) would be separated into “Tailwater” and “Impoundment” categories and managed as ALO/1-Fish and General Law/2-Fish respectively. Nowhere does the proposal currently (or for that matter ever) call for “Catch-and-Release” and having a senior DIF&W spokesman state this publicly plays right into the hands of those whom refuse to meet in the middle for the benefit of the resource, angling community, and state and local economies.

Having already conducted several public meetings within the valley, while not without resistance, there is significant support for the regulations being proposed. To have this positive momentum negatively impacted from within the DIF&W would be most unfortunate and totally unfair to those of us whom have worked hard to support the DIF&W in their efforts. Additionally, if Mr. Jacques doubts the level of support for stricter regulations in the state, he need look no further than the recent Maine Sportsman poll that shows that of the anglers whom participated, 56% are in favor of more restrictive size and bag limits and 62% are in fact in favor of more C&R waters. It is important to note that the Maine Sportsman readership is clearly representative of traditional sportsmen and not necessarily the fly fishing community which if polled would in fact show an even higher level of support for such regulations. .

In closing let me state that with fishing license sales at an all-time low and angler dissatisfaction at an unacceptably high level, it is critical that DIF&W senior management not only embrace, but throw their full support behind initiatives designed to improve Maine’s coldwater fisheries that will in turn help increase license sales and improve angler satisfaction and state and local economic conditions. Failure to fully embrace these necessary, fair and long overdue regulations on the middle Kennebec River however will not only undermine the hard work of numerous local grassroots organizations and businesses, but the efforts of regional DIF&W staff as well.

Sincerely,

Bob Mallard – Owner / Kennebec River Outfitters, Madison ME

CC: (via email)

· Forrest Bonney – Regional Biologist / Maine DIF&W

· George Smith – Executive Director / SAM

· Jeff Levesque - SAM Fisheries Initiative Committee/Somerset Chapter TU

· Jeff Reardon – National TU

· Greg Pont – President / Maine State TU

· Jack Gibson – President / Somerset Chapter TU

· Sean McCormick – President / Kennebec Valley TU