Feathers and Fins

Nice report,,, I like the Sonar marks, If i had to guess those would be Walleye actively feeding near the bottom

Pole and Line: Fishing methods using tackle normally held in the hand, such as a cane pole, casting rod, spinning rod or fly rod, or ice fishing tackle commonly known as a tip-up, to which not more than 3 hooks with bait or lures are attached. Does not include snagging, snaring, grabbing, trotlines, juglines or other tackle normally attached in a fixed position. Pg45 of the regs

I understand that, But also a inherit problem to that. If its genectically proven out and some of the more radical groups with far more influance and money starts playing around then you will see full stream closures and massive intrusion to peoples property rights and other wonderful little things. I have seen it happen and is a very real possibility. Knee Jerk reactionist for certain but ones with lots of money behind them and a clear desire to not allow anyone to harm a fish, kangaroo rat or a fly.

Nope im under strict doctors orders to stay on my meds and no outside till monday. I have a major upper respritory infection and he "and I" do not want it to go to pnemonia. I hate hospitals!!! I did talk to a couple friends today who said they were in PC and had a couple bass but a very slow day. After im over this thing the next cloudy or overcast day ill be there for sure chasing stripers.

Drew one of the lakes i grew up on in Cali and was the holder of the world record ( Perris for Alabama spots) somehow ended up with Florida Strain Largemouths. Instead of setting 2 diffrent regs they stuck with a 2 bass 15 inch minimum size. It worked great. I talk to my dad often who fishes it daily and he says its still a super lake. My thought is to many people cant tell one bass from another so to protect the stupid people Cali made it very simple. Simple is the best IMO. Take the guess work out of it. I seldom keep a bass it really has to be deep hooked for me to think about it. But the worms in smallies would not phase me a bit. Sea Trout are full of them and they dont add or detract flavor from the trout. Then again Ive been to south america and some of what ive ate there i dont want to know.

Sounds like a good day. If you want to get real close to a Bald Eagle there is one that is on the south side of prairie creek just past the swim beach that will let you get right under it.

Thanks Drew, Regs shouldnt need to be 176 page books we have ot get every year. Make them simple to understand and follow. Stop breaking it down by region, by area by water etc etc... How hard really would it be to simply say X size on X bass Y limit on Y bass. Or X limit on X trout and Y limit on Y trout. The more simplified the regulations are the less possibility of not following them. I've spent alot of time this last week this subject on my mind and reading over other states regs which are far more simple to follow and understand.

As a Duck Hunter I spend nearly 6months out of the year in waders. Two types 3mm neos and 6mm neos. Both have rubber boots and are designed to stay dry and warm. Lacrosse and Drake are the only two I use, They will last at most 5 years before needing replacement but that is mostly due to the abuse they see. Price wise 300$ for them. You might look funny wading a stream with them on to guys using the standard fly fishing waders but you will be out there for hours without being cold. Last year my oldest set sprung a leak and i kept fishing for hours still staying warm in them.

If the goal is protection and simplifications just make the limit on smallmouth 2 fish over 15’’ on all state waters. Then to make it even easier and more protected make gigging illegal of all fish illegal. Also for tournaments make it illegal to cull any smallmouth. That is protection and simplification of the regulations.

I'll throw out a few possibilities... Bird of prey hitting it with talons, Maybe Turtle, Maybe bacterial or even trolling motor... To many possibles, I still lean toward a gig but other things are possible in the eyes of some.

Could be a Kid AL, Im sure you are right about amature. that or someone who doesnt care... Kinda like people going to where high concentration of ducks and geese are that are banded. Trophy hunting for bands. I can easily see people doing it for fish.

<p style="margin-left: 40px">Al, there is no doubt that is from a gig, I have spear fished most of my life and my primary weapon being an Hawaian Sling and those wounds look very similar to a sling hit. I have seenn and speared countless grouper and snapper with those marks on them. The second and third are without doubt gig hits. Picture 1 could be argued away as some other type of injury due to the scale loss &lt; playing devils advocate &gt;&nbsp; Picture 4 is an interesting one as it shows possibly two difrent hits, one being from a 4 prong gig and then a second hit from something directly above the gill plate,</p> <p style="margin-left: 40px">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin-left: 40px">I&#39;ll start taking pictures as well and see if i can get some of my old dive buddies to start saving some pictures for you.</p>

I havent been up there for about 3 weeks , but reoprts I had this weekend from other anglers were it was MUDDY! They said the mudline was all the way down to Horseshoe bend. I would concentrate for Bass and Whites from the flats in front of Beaver shores to the islands for Bass and Whites to Prairie and Avoca. Crappie I had an e-mail last night from a friend getting them around the islands in front of 12 bridge. Stripers are still in Prairie Creek and Avoca.

Prairie Creek, If its cloudy work the mouths of Avoca and Prairie creek to the East Bouy line. I would be throwing swim baits in white or pearl. If you see birds working get to them and shut the motor down 100 yards from where they are working and start throwing swim baits toward them as you get closer throw some top-waters. If no birds are working try the points from 10ft to 40 ft depths.

We are all going to be broke come summer and Cabelas Opening... I broke down and put in my order the other day for new rods 8ft all roller guide. Academy is nice for a quick stop but the rod selection is not really impressive.

Quill, Careful you brought up Politics and Phil might spank ya.. Now on a serious note You got me to wondering about it, so i called a friend in FL who owns his own bait shop and asked what he has seen in it. He said he has done since December 300x's The business he normally wood do. If one thing this rig has been good for its the local bait shop economy and lure manufactures. It by itself might Balance the Fed Budget, State Budget and turn Detroit from car manufacturing to A-rig manufacturing. Maybe it should be called the Magic End of Ressession Bullet.

It has its place, Ive thrown it for great success and thrown it and had 0 success. Saturday for instance was a Banner day and caught fish on it as well as swim baits and surface plugs, Sunday in the same spot marking the same fish I couldnt buy a bite. My personal thought on why its worked so well this year is a combination of circumstances. 1st we have had a mild spring err winter. this has kept fish in a more fishable pattern and allowing for far more days on the water. 2nd we all know this is the time of year suspended open water fishing is good and that is where the A-rig shines, But so does other baits designed for this type of action 3rd it is the latest greatest bait out there and everyone seems to want to try it, Thus more people hearing about it and trying it will undoubtedly catch more fish on it. Now in a normal cold winter with snow and ice far fewer people would be out fishing and we may not have seen the controversy its generated. Simple numbers of anglers would be far less on a normal year. Come spring I beleive we would have seen the same talk though when fish go to shallower water and top-water bites and I beleive we will see it still. Come summer however I doubt people will be singing its praises! Cussing at the number they are loosing yes!

Im throwing ther A-rig on 12lbs Floro and having no problem casting or retrieving. Ive lost a total of 3 rigs, 1 Because i didnt retie enough, 1 because i didnt retie after a long battle with a big fish, and 1 the was so hung up even the lure puller couldnt get it out. I like throwing the light line.

Eric you grasp most of what im saying. But the goverment would not step in unless someone helped bring it to them and force the issue. You want the MDC to step in no diffrent than those who managed to obtain the protection for the wildlife I used as examples. Do you think they did it overnight? I can asure you they had the same struggles you are facing and talking about. Yes i do understand the ( hillbilly, redneck, jackleg,coonass or whatever you want ot call them) I do know its frustrating to no end some day. But im a stubborn pigheaded mule and love a challenge. Reading over Al's post it appears to be a management issue on a vast and large scale. I do not think from his post you can manage the resource in this instance with a blanket rule or regulation and then there is the issue of enforcement once regulations are in place. You will NEVER in a million generation get some of the people to obey the law, those need ot be dealt with by Mr. Green Jeans and tougher penalties need to be part of the conservation action. Really is a 50$ fine going to stop someone or threat of taking a license they probably dont have any? But you might be able to get enough of the "Big city slickers" to get behind you and by sheer numbers force upon the MDC the need to act. But they will take their time we all know that. I would love to know what you would beleive to be resonable limits or seasons. Al's proposals seemed very well thought out and one people could live with to me. But then im already on the side of conservation.

There it is what I was wondering if that was the motive, "MY"! Sir you DO NOT own the fish or game and are wanting to stop people from having them because you beleive they belong to you. That is the ammunition and arguement any person will use against any arguement you will have from that point on. Here is a pointer and im not meaning to degrade or put you down, Try say "our" and take yourself out of it. You will get more people to pay attention to you when you show them its about everyone not just YOU or THEM but everyones best interest. You are showing to me someone who understands where your coming from and would be supportive of your efforts the disrespect you say you are getting from the ones your trying to change. I tend to not take people as serious when they disrespect others. Other people do the same.

Cricket, That is another mentality that causes people to not want to help your cause. A person who just moved here could be your next great speaker, or the person with insight to maybe help. But so long as you keep the "jackleg" name calling mentality you will NOT win people over to goals. Explain to me why I or anyone should want to help someone like you and others who name call? Explain to me why a Game and Fish official should take you seriously when talk badly about the people? I truly understand your feelings i truly do. Name calling mentality is counter productive. Trust me Ive taken on the HSUS and made them look bad and forced at least one of their offices to change porcedure. I had to control my anger and my mouth and maintain a professional stance though the entire ordeal. The internet is a wonderful thing, Talking bad about a group ot people and its quickly found. Educating the indivdual is great I try and do it. I also understand like you that banging a head on a wall is a common feeling. But if you can reach one just one it gives you the will to reach the next. It is not a quick or easy process but an obtainable one.

But you are wrong Eric, I have seen it work, but it took time and a great deal of banging heads on walls and keyboards. Where once the Gopher tort was just that annoyance to builders now there are preserves for them. Where once there wholesale killing of Eastern Diamond back rattlers there is now protection, Where there use to be a Good Gator is a Dead Gator mentality there is limits and protection. Infact one of the greatest conservation stories in this Nations is that of the American Alligator. Or how about the Turkey or Whitetail deer. My friend there are many success stories. You used the word "REDNECK" well they dont get much more redneck then Georgia, Florida, Loisiana and yet those Rednecks had the forsight to finally understand after some very open minded conservationist pointed it out to them without name calling or steriotyping them. Now look at those and many other species that are comming back. IT DOES WORK.

Eric, I have been down this road before with reptile conservation. People see a snake and think the only good snake is a dead snake, or a gopher tortoise is of no value so build a housing development over their habitat. Calling people “irrational and short sighted” might well fit for an individual’s personal definition but it creates enemies that could sway those people you think of as “irrational and short sighted”. You must look at those very people’s views as very rational from their point and work with them to gain your goal. I understand you are passionate about preserving the smallmouth and I commend you for it. But the “It’s just one species” comment is a dangerous one I learned as people then say “ ok that species then the next then the next until all our rights are taken because of this groups wishes” I have seen that and heard that many times. You need to turn the people and it may take time. You need to show them the value of protecting the species but while doing it show them the value of protecting the entire resource surrounding that species. Turn them from the “short sighted” to the long sighted and to conservationist. Instill in them the same passion for not just the one species but the entire ecosystem around the species. Then you will no longer have “irrational and short sighted” but other champions for conservation. It should and is not about one species but the entire ecosystem. That “ONE SPECIES” lives in an entire ecosystem. By teaching people about the species and the system and enlightening them to the harm being done to the species by way of the harm to the ecosystem and the harm removing that species can do to it, shocks people and wakes them up to become champions. How they become champions is this way, they may already love the creek and the wilderness around it for is supplies them with fish to catch for fun and food. But when they hear the fish’s destruction or loss takes away from the rest of the picture they love, it turns to anger and a will to stop the destruction. Then you will have mass numbers there standing by you full of anger as they are losing something they love. Then you have the numbers to go to the politicians and bureaucrats to enact change.

I can give the location of three more but im getting them back when the lake draws down lol.

Eric: I have heard this exact almost word for word expression voiced by people in regards to Catch and release anglers. And the attitude of this: is counter productive to conservation and in some cases dangerous to anglers as I have seen streams trashed tires slashed of people in clubs and catch and release stickers. We have to think of the resource and all people who use it and their wants as well.. Its not a one sided game.