Just wanting to see what everyone's opinion on fishing for native brookies while spawning, and the time brookies start spawning here in north ga. I haven't seen any heavy spawning colors or activity yet where I've fished.
If we closed every stream during each spawning season, there would be no time to fish except the dog days of summer which are the worst time to fish for trout anyway.
I don't see any issue with fishing during spawning season per say. I have a big issue with targeting fish that are actively sitting on redds and carelessly stomping through the stream without regard to the redds.
Fish carefully. Watch where you step. Other than that, I don't see any problem.
The closed season was more for protecting the eggs and spawn habitat than the fish themselves. In some states you cannot drag ANYTHING that will disturb the bottom. Some streams we closed so nobody would wade through the beds.
I think they should worry about bank erosion more than closing the season for fishin personally!