Felt sole ban in RI

[DZ]

Originally Posted by TEAM7x

A comment left to a posting on my blogsite:

"FYI, an executive member of RI Trout Unlimited Ch225, specifically requested the banning of felt bottom waders in RI fresh water at the last public RIDEM fishing regulations meeting held at the Warwick Police station at the end of this past summer. His request and comments should be in the public record."

Well...a check of the DEM website does not show a public hearing agenda item concerning adoption of this regulation, nor any hearing in "late summer." There MAY have been a meeting, but no evidence exists of a properly noticed "hearing" as required by law. If anyone can find that notice or minutes thereof, post it up!
Further, an "executive" of TU RI 225 speaks for whom?...The thousands of salwater anglers represented by RISAA and others that were completely unaware of this proposal? Was this issue brought forward as a result of a vote by TU members? Again a check of TU newsletters shows no agenda item concerning felt sole ban.

Appears we have one "executive" TU member persuading RIDEM to adopt a regulation in the dark of night! Priceless!

team7x.com

Just heard back from RIDEM: Public hearing was held on June 1st, 2011. I have the minutes, names, etc. Proposal for felt sole ban was made by a member of Northern RI Chapter of Trout Unlimited, a member of Narragansett Trout Unlimited, and a member of Federated Rhode Island Sportman's Club. Seems the RIDEM Enforcement Division incorporated the rule to cover all waters for "ease of inforcement".

Good news is there is a vehicle to get this rule changed: petition for change at this years public hearing for 2013 rules. Who knows how vigilant enforcement will be this season. I asked the division to post some clarification on their web page because there was all sorts of misinformation about this controversy.

Our first step might be to ask RISAA to get the Marine Fisheries Council to bring up the topic and send a memorandum to the Freshwater Division recommending that marine waters be deleted.

Letters to the DEM director would also be beneficial - she would be the only one who could possibly alter the regulation for the upcoming season. I believe she has that power.

DZ