The president of the Monocacy TU Chapter has explained that the mayor of Bethlehem can kill the proposal to use bait in the trophy section of the Saucon. I've just emailed him. His email address is below, followed by my letter, which reiterates the main points TU has shared with him. Please send your own email if you love wild trout. Your stream could be next, and we need to stick together to preserve the beautiful wild fish that mean so much to us.
With only a few days until the 30th, when the decision will be made, I decided to email Mayor Donchez so he would get my message in time. His email address is:
rdonchez@bethlehem-pa.gov
Dear Mayor Donchez,
It has come to my attention that the city of Bethlehem has the power to protect the trophy water on Saucon Creek in Hellertown. I implore you to do so for the following reasons:
The special regulations were designed by the Pennsylvania Fish Commission biologists to create an amazing trout fishery, and they have done just that.
This section of the stream is pure magic. It is a small stream that produces big wild fish, and I know of no other small stream in the entire state with the potential that the Saucon has in its lower reaches. Wild fish are so special. They live and reproduce in the stream, and develop a health, beauty and strength that stocked fish just can’t match in a put and take situation. Wild fish are a natural part of the good Lord’s creation, not paid for and introduced by humans.
The regulations (Trophy Trout, Artificial lures only) only restrict the use of bait, not the type of tackle. Anyone can fish with any kind of tackle in this section. As a teacher, I value children, and have taught many to fish. The people pushing for the use of bait have incorrectly and erroneously stated time and again that the regulations limit the use of the trophy section in the Saucon Park to fly anglers, and that it discourages kids from fishing there. This is not true. Kids are entirely free to use spinning tackle in the park.
In addition, a great many opportunities to use bait for stocked fish exist within 5 miles of Saucon Park, including most of Saucon Creek. The short trophy section is the only section in which bait cannot currently be used, and this protects the larger breeding fish from being killed before they can reproduce to keep the gene pool strong. Trout often swallow bait deeply, and once hooked in the gills a fish will die, even if released.
Allowing bait fishing in the trophy section of Saucon Creek will damage, if not destroy, a very special fishery, one that exists nowhere else in the state. I often come to fish the Saucon, and visit local restaurants, gas stations, and shops while in the area. Many other anglers do the same bringing additional business to the area. Please help protect this valuable resource.
Respectfully yours,
Louis Martin
