Hawai`i Has Its Share of Trout Fishermen

Water Ways
Honolulu Star Bulletin (09/06/97)
By Ray Pendleton

Are you as surprised as I am to learn there are trout fishermen and women in Hawai`i? I mean, it figures there are fresh water anglers going after bass and catfish, but trout? I had always thought they were a cold water species.

Recently though, thanks to Ogilvy and Mather's managing director Phil Kinnicutt, I have discovered there are trout swimming wild on Kaua`i, there is a trout farm on Sand Island, and there are over 100 anglers in Hawai`i who have formed a chapter of Trout Unlimited, a national organization with over 450 chapters.

The name of the Hawai`i chapter is Waikahe`olu, or "pleasant, cool, flowing water" - a place where trout would reside - and they meet bimonthly as a club "dedicated to protecting free-flowing rivers, wild trout, and the right of every citizen to fish in unpolluted, accessible waters."

As stated in its monthly newsletter, Trout Unlimited's goals and objectives are:
o The protection of salmonid habitat by advocating integrated watershed management, good forestry and agricultural practices, and balanced land development.
o To work with federal and state fishery managers to maximize the health and populations of wild trout, salmon and steelhead on public lands.
o To insure the protection of cold water resources by undertaking water quality surveillance programs.
o To identify and protect blue ribbon trout waters.
o To support laws, regulations and policies that seek to maximize the protection of wild trout habitat and populations.
o To sponsor scientific meetings, seminars, and symposia on fishery related issues.
o To maximize the ability of citizens to influence laws, policies and practices that affect the sport at the community, state and federal levels.
o To preserve the right and ability to fish for trout, salmon and steelhead for present and future generations.
o To teach our nation's children that fishing is an alternative to drugs, crime and the other distractions of modern life.

Presided over by chapter president Jim DiMarchi, each meeting features one or more guest speakers who present valuable information regarding all aspects of trout fishing.

In one meeting earlier this year, members heard from two representatives of the Aquatic Resources Division of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, biologist Dennis Shinno and Kaua`i Information and Education Specialist Wade Ishikawa.

Shinno gave a clear account of the work being done on Sand Island at the Anuenue Fisheries Research Center to raise trout fingerlings from eggs brought in from the Mount Shasta Hatchery in California. The fingerlings are subsequently transferred to the Puulua Reservoir in Kokee, Kaua`i.

Ishikawa spoke about the history and present conditions of trout in Kokee streams and the reservoir. Surprisingly, Rainbow trout were first introduced in the 1920s and one stream is cold enough to allow natural reproduction.

Future programs will include a slide show on fishing for sea-run trout and salmon by kayak in Alaska, September 27, and another on fishing the Green River of Utah on November 22.

If trout fishing is your game, call DiMarchi at 737-0956.

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