Eric Sharp of the Detroit Free Press is one of the most freethinking and outspoken outdoor writers in the region. Perhaps his origins as an environmental reporter in the 70s, coupled with his love of outdoor sports, qualify him better than most to look at the issues from holistically.
His column is a reminder that there are Great Lakes region residents who believe Coho and Chinook salmon have always been here.
If I could wave a magic wand and rid the Great Lakes of every salmon, steelhead and brown trout, I would do it in a Grayling minute, with one stipulation. I would get to wave it again to restore the lakes to the incredible fishery they were in 1805.
After I wrote last week about using cut steelhead as bait for flathead catfish, I heard from a guide who thought that using steelhead as bait was a sacrilege. I told him that I love to catch them, but steelhead are just another exotic species, like zebra mussels, that don't belong in the lakes.
http://www.freep.com/sports/outdoors/outcol23e_20050723.htm
Posted by Dave at July 23, 2005 02:10 PM