Feathers and Fins

Na John its not about the cost at least in most states that have them AGFC might be different, but typically its based on angler returns. So long as there is enough return to the angler they will continue stocking. I have seen it played out before and my take is the trout still have some return but the money is actually generated from the striper anglers as that fishery evolved. I love the tailwater striper fishery but don't want to see an over abundance of them as its the hunt for them I really enjoy and to many would IMO take something from it. Seeing a 40lb striper bust a bait is awesome but watching one chasing down a trout will make you put your rod down and watch in amazement.

You can say that

I heard a good one years back and this thread reminds me of it. "If fish had antlers the game and fish departments around the country would have an officer behind every bush and at every pool of calm water, young man you have to understand Bucks = Bucks."

Duck blinds down south are ready here as well Duck blinds on the lake get built that morning Geese everyplace and I tuned up my Bow last night for them. Life is good and I am ready to send some feathers and feathers.

interesting that some very prized species eat the invasive sounds like the perfect opportunity to heavily stock the lake as a prevention method with some very much wanted species. A win for Conservation and Protection of the resource and Fishermen does look like one of those rare times everyone would be happy.

This site has a lot of members registered and plenty of them and others just lurk. But it doesn’t mean they all feel like the ones posting. I believe that you will find that true of fishermen, though those of us posting are not happy with what appears to be at very least short fish on a stringer ( we do not know how many were in the fishing party ) MANY people might be reading this saying “You holier than all people need to shut up, if I want to keep fish and its legal its none of your business”! And they would be right saying it so long as it is legal it’s not for us to belittle anyone or even open our mouths about it. But this sure doesn’t look legal at least on the “Short” fish argument. With the population increasing more and more people will take to the waters and more will without doubt be keeping fish. There is only one way to protect the streams and that is make some of them mandatory protected catch and release only. But then the who will enforce the law, its not like our streams are easy to patrol. Hate to say it but enjoy them now because if the population keeps increasing in 20 years a 12'' will be a monster.

Yes he does and still slow but best doc you could ask for. I think he is slow because he actually takes time with his patients and you don't feel like just another case or practice case and I will take that over all the other docs any day and wait to see him.

Dr Hull hasn't sent me to see Dr Hull yet thank god.... But He has told me to be careful or I will.

Comfy in Arkansas is a mandatory thing. Love my Columbia's

Funny thing is that is the one area ( Beaver TW ) I practice CnR on stripers. Not a ton of them and there size and fighting is much better than on the lake...

LMAO that could be a hilarious rant to see though. I cant think of to many people who go on the white below the dam that arnt keeping the trout, seems every time I am there I see stringer upon stringer of trout, I would like to see a limit in my bait tank and headed up the hill make that left followed by a right and then right in Beaver, Heck only thing I would be doing is releasing them a little higher in elevation well that and upgrading their size and color lol.

No the premise was the difficulty in getting shad ( in general) and its availability on Beaver Lake and ( transporting from other states ) started from another thread. That is why my very first post had the laws for OK and MO in it as well as AGFC regs. And I would say allowing anglers to catch trout on the white below beaver and say Lake Atlanta ( LA which feeds beaver lake ) would be something very viable.

Big difference between catching your own and trying to make a business of it and you dang well know it lol. If shad was a viable commercial bait im pretty sure every bait shop would carry them as they are the Golden Egg on Beaver. Though I have one I like much better than shad even and no its not trout although I wish they were legal as well.... Never have figured out why they arnt its just another fish not like if they got loose in Beaver they might breed or last long. Hey how do we propose a change in regs to allow for trout....

Dam sorry to hear Jeff, should have just send me a message I have several impacts you could have borrowed.

You actually need multiple licenses depending on what you are doing. To catch the bait for commercial sale $15.00 tackle license To sell the bait commercially you need the $25.00 commercial sales license It would be wise to have the Fish Farmers permit just in case of breeding $25.00 And then the dealers permit $10.00 Fish Farmers permit is $25.00 So 115 bucks in permits but that’s not a big deal a good haul could pay for that in a short order but it’s this one that makes it much more difficult I may be off on one or more permits but its all here http://www.agfc.com/fishing/Documents/regs_mussel_baitfish_fishfarmer.pdf 32.06 TAKING BAITFISH FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IN CERTAIN WATERS PROHIBITED. 08-11 It is unlawful to take or attempt to take baitfish for commercial purposes in: The Caddo River and that portion of the Little Missouri River and its tributaries above Ozan Creek in Pike County; all waters north of U.S. Highway 70 in Howard County; and all waters in Benton, Carroll, Clark, Crawford, Franklin, Lawrence, Madison, Montgomery, Newton, Polk, Sebastian, Sevier and Washington counties. Here is the map of no take for commercial use. The farming would be a great idea but the cost in setting up for actually breeding shad is high and a power outage could cost you thousands of dollars very quickly. It would be cheaper to be able to catch bait from creeks, rivers and lakes but for those in NWA it is another cost prohibitive issue as the nearest area would be The Arkansas River In Johnson county with any viable success. It is at least a 2 hour and more realistically 2.5 to 3hr drive one way, the cost in gas and labor plus the tanks and everything else to do it would put the bait cost through the roof. You are talking $5.00 per shad at minimum at a store, and probably a more realistic number would be 7.00 to 10.00 per shad. Remember you have to have the tanks to keep them alive and healthy along with the chemicals, permits, filtration electric bill and all the other cost. It is not as simple as dumping them in a tank and turning on a bubbler. You would need to catch a minimum of 250 shad a night / day get them to the store alive to make it profitable. The odds of mortality are high and each death cuts in to the profit margin and there is times during the year when the demand is not there so it is not a viable year round career yet you still have the high investment in it. Cost wise it just does not make sense to and regulation wise doesn’t make sense. Now if you could catch and sell them from Beaver Lake or catch other baits from local waters such as chubs or suckers it would make a great deal of sense to do it. Beaver would be at best 30 minutes round trip to several local shops so you could catch shad and sell them at a more reasonable price of say 3.00 per shad. Remember guides don’t count in all this as they are exempt 32.02 (1) Licensed fishing guides are not required to purchase a fish dealer’s license when providing baitfish during the act of guiding. So they can take and use the bait so long as they are guiding. But they still cannot go to Grand anymore nor Missouri and catching shad on Beaver is getting difficult so they must find new sources and possibly travel which could create and increase in the cost of a guide trip.

James there is also some not so nice live bait laws when it pertains to commercial use in NWA and fees to go with it.

Cant be a violation they are color coded for each angler so no violation as it is clearly distinctly identifiable

James they are easier to get on both Grand and Tablerock is why, only so many shallow mud areas on Beaver and most are close to boat ramps and heavy boat traffic. That and a lot of guys in the areas netting makes it hard. There are tons of shad in Beaver true BUT GETTING THEM is the problem. I wouldn't say smarter than you people just people who spend more time on the lake than you by your own admission you are on the Rock more than Beaver.

Ok so this person posted the evidence to facebook. LMAO I cant say im surprised after seeing so many other things but it does make MDC's job easier.

I hate to say it but that looks like the work of a cucumber beetle, Had it happen to me and once it happened only cure it to remove the plant. Speaking of its time to get the fall gardens going.

Ok I only have a couple questions 1. How many people were in his group fishing? 2. What is the size limit on the smallies as obviously he had them 3. Why is his face blocked out 4. if he was over the limit and under the slot did you send this on to MDC face unblocked?

Nathan, there is an old saying " Keep it simple" and with summer stripers that holds so true, don't overthink them or technique and you will do fine you are already putting fish in the boat so just keep it simple.

Thanks Jeremy, I guess time will tell.

Jeremy I have to get to work but if you would; What impacts do you see them having on our lakes? Is there any talk of taking actions to help stop the spread?

I must agree on nets, most guys will get by with a cheap 5ft net and if you just throw at every ripple it is the net for you as loosing or tearing it up wont be so hard on the budget. But for getting bait day in day out you will need to bite the bullet and get a good net. I do have the cheapy and when I am forced to get bait in bad areas I throw it. But my primary nets start at about 110.00$ and go up to almost 400.00$ Unless you get a custom net that will be even higher I suggest these, all are made by Super Spreader. GS1500 Model 15134 SS1000 Model 15029 SS1000 Model 17057