This stunning stream in the Verde Valley is a natural work of art in progress
The grand opening of the unique seasonal fishery at Fossil Creek can be summed up in four little words – mentoring, fishing, families and beauty.
Maybe make that the most beautiful travertine stream this side of Havasu Creek in the Grand Canyon.
There was also a controversy on whether this rare travertine stream in the Verde Valley should be kept as a classic hands-off native fish refugium or become a unique seasonal catch-and-immediately-release fishery for native chub. Both roundtail and headwater chub that is; therein rested a slight controversy and challenge that erupted shortly before this seasonal fishery was scheduled to open on the first Saturday in October.
The Arizona Game and Fish Commission listened to all arguments pro and con on whether to proceed with the 4.5-mile-long seasonal angling opportunity or abort this first-ever catch-and-release chub fishery. The appointed volunteer commissioners opted for the hands-on approach.
The hands-on commenced with the seasonal fishery opening on Oct. 3 when 30 to 40 youngsters and their families and five different angling-conservation groups joined forces for catch-and-release mentoring with fly rods and spinning rods in hand.
Participants also helped fill bags with trash collected along the stream side from other less conscientious users of this remarkable riparian area.
“Most of those families fishing Fossil Creek had probably never heard of a chub before or ever visited this stunning stream. Now they have all experienced catching-and-releasing these ‘Verde trout’ as the pioneers called them and have enthusiastically joined the ‘Chub Club,” said Fisheries Chief Kirk Young.
“Even more importantly,” Young added, “these families experienced these precious native fish via hands-on angling conservation in action. It doesn’t get much better than that.”
Kirk added that there are times and places to employ the hands-off protectionist model of conservation and times to deploy the hands-on method.
“While we might disagree on method, all sides agree on two basic things – Fossil Creek and its wildlife are rare and precious Arizona treasures, yet this area attracts lots of less conscientious visitors who are ‘loving it to death.’”
That doesn’t mean, he said, that some individual who is not as conscientious won’t do something dumb like dumping non native fish into this rare stream. “You can’t always regulate against stupid, but you can deploy your best management tool in defense – caring people who are conscientious -- and hopefully minmize that ever-present possibility.”
For another view of opening day, read Pete Aleshire's article in the Payson Roundup.