This was a fun poll. One of our frequent Grey Reef anglers (you know who you are Jay) said he was going to name his boat the "Rogue Outfitter" and offer anglers at the Outhouse Hole a service of rowing them around the now closed river right side.
The results were actually in favor of legit outfitters...but just barely. 46% of you think it is right that outfitters must pay to use Grey Reef's BLM land which includes the "new" access at the Cable Hole all the way to the bottom of the Outhouse Hole. It also includes the Fence Hole, the Bolton Creek accesses, Government Bridge and most of the land around Bates Creek, Big Muddy and much more.
43% got your licks in by expressing your distain for outfitters while making sure the outfitters pay to use Grey Reef or any section of the North Platte River system in question. I am an outfitter, but I do understand the frustration pointed at us. In total 89% were clear that outfitters must pay to play...read that again...outfitters must pay to play.
7% didn't really care, I guess they just want to fish and avoid the drama.
2% or one of you likes Wyoming's lawlessness and want to preserve it.
I think that we need to be paying to use Grey Reef and am happy that the BLM intends to enforce this.
Erik
Wyoming fly fishing focused on the North Platte River. Grey Reef, Fremont Canyon and Miracle Mile fly fishing tips, pics and politics.
pic of the week
2 comments:
Erik, I hope you know I was just kidding about naming the boat rogue outfitter. (You know I can't afford to buy that much lettering.)
As far as paying all these fees you outfitters pay, like the BLM access, private land access, and insurance costs, how much would that reduce what outfitters have to charge for a trip? I would love to float with a guide as it is money well spent, but unfortunately it is not in my budget. Just curious.
When you mentioned closed river right at outhouse, it brought up visions of combat fishing that I have already witnessed. Can't wait to see it when the crowds, more than likely greenies like me, start showing up. Especially after BLM did the 'build it and they will come' campground. It is a good thing for fishers with a boat though, as less pressure and a clear lane to drift through or to do the circle thing...not that I saw any of those as a problem before. I'm still unclear why the lease with fish and game was lost. It seemed always clean of debris, except a few shotgun shells here and there (once I saw a turd on the island), and the 'trails' made by fishermen are far less intrusive than the ones made by the resident cows. Was the Landowner mad at us?
I do want to say that I have met a lot of guides on the river in the 15 plus years I've been coming to the reef, and all but one (or two now that I think about it) have been extremely courteous and very helpful if asked. I do like having you/them on the river. Also, I would not mind if there was a reasonable fee for everyone who is using the facilities to help pay. We have numerous places here in Colorado (all the fun areas) that charge $5 to $7 a day per car or sometimes per person.
And for the record, I have never accepted any type of gratuity from anyone, except for maybe once in a blue moon somebody else paid for a shuttle. One nice local guy did give me a very nice cigar but we were wade fishing and he basically was showing me how it was done.
An advocate for Montana style river access/use rules in WY and CO, and 'save the spawn' from the Bureau of Reclamation's negligence.
Jay
Jay
My comments were made in fun...I knew you were kidding.
Certainly these fees add to the cost of doing business. They are not our largest cost, but do add up. There are actually a lot of costs that go into our trips. Wages and taxes, advertising, insurance, lease fees, shuttles, food and drinks, equipment, flies, leaders, building and land etc. We have the most expensive trips on the river. But, if you take away private access we are the least expensive. Trent and I insist on providing a high quality experience. That is why we don't do the discount trips and take away shuttles, lunches, access and shorten the day. The discount trips are an attempt to do business during the slow part of the season and I respect that. We won't devalue our service by eliminating much of what makes us what we are.
I agree with day use fees. Not only on Grey Reef but other places that provide services. BUT, they must provide a service that really is useful. Like trash collection and frequent road repair, camping, a potable water source and privies. There are some "improvements" happening in the Grey Reef area that are questionable. We are getting some upgraded BLM accesses which is nice. But the priorities seem confused. They are spending your money to install blank plaques rather that getting the new boat ramp in at the bridge etc. There will be bridges installed in the back channels of the Cable Hole for people to view spawning trout. These will restrict boat access to these channels at high water(hopefully they don't destroy the couple good holes in the back channels). I think these are silly...I hope I eat my words looking back on this in 10 years. It always seems that improving means removing the outdoor experience from the outdoors. Anybody who knows me knows that I am always trying to improve/upgrade almost anything I own(often to a fault). But, I won't attempt trump Mother Nature.
The access at the Outhouse Hole wasn't pulled because of fisherman abusing the ground. You are just the ones who will suffer the effects. I believe that the access was cancelled because of ongoing misunderstandings between the Game and Fish and private land owners.
There might be some new ground added to offset the lost Lusby and Outhole Hole accesses. the BLM is working on purchasing a stretch of land along the left bank below Government Bridge.
Erik
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