Chief Grey Bear

I guess we all have are own memories of the days of lore. No matter how different they are.

I love the deep red mini maters! Just gorgeous!

Yes sir indeed!

Kudos to you Al! I enjoyed reading that post! You're right, it is a tough job to balance the resouce, meat eaters and C&R fishermen. But know that the resource will always come first. One of the others will always be mad. Usually both, claiming the other is getting preferential treatment. There as been a big shift towards C&R fishing over the last few decades and I don't see that changing. And I'm glad. I know I advocate for some harvest but I still cringe when I see it. But we have to be fair. But also we can establish a set of regs that bring a better benifit to the resource and anglers. We really are on the same team and agree 99% of the time. It's just a few minor points we differ on.

Word on the street is craws too

I like crayons

I agree with you on these points Dan. We could live in a state where the game commissions don't have the budget to be able to even do half of the work that was done before these regulations were implemented. As a result we could be looking at creel limits of 6 fish over 12" per day in our rivers and lakes like many other states. I whole heartedly agree on all counts. Dont think it will happen.

Youge fingers! Hahaha!

Double posted. Only one hit on the button.

Or a box crayon's and a pack of Hardly Decent craws.

I didn't imply you didn't know how to do sampling, I said to go with them to see what is there. Has a fisheries biologist told you they have no idea about the middle section because it was never studied? Actually your speaking of this 70 mile section sounds pretty productive. The majority of the pics were taken in shorts and bare feet. And knowing that the upper third of most river systems don't produce many large fish and that the lower third produces big fish but are so spread out due to the volumn of water, your middle third sounds like it is pretty productive. But when you promote rivers with lots of access, success rates are bound to go down.

Yes you did say understandably. And I'm not trying to be an A-hole but, because you use your equipment less often it justifies it? I personally I do not care if you've got it, use it. That's what you got it for. I've always been curious as to how the MDC does not have a baseline but you do. When by your own admission its antidotal. I would say it's a pretty darn tough argument to say the fishing is worse now than it was then. I won't go so far to say it's better but I think it would be very hard to argue that it is worse. And we both agree that changing the regulations is but one small part of the great picture that it takes to make better quality fishing. This months Missouri conservationist had a great article about some local land owners along the Meramec that are making some needed changes in land management practices. Some of those changes are exactly what I've been calling for the MSA to step forward over the last few years and initiate. We all know where that went. I think you're going to have a very tough uphill battle with this. I went on a sampling survey last year. We did about a three-quarter mile section of river and we sampled 4 different holes. If I remember correctly, we measured and weighed 163 smallmouth bass. That number represents about 15% of the smallmouth that we saw. We also saw several, several very large smallmouth that were able to elude the electric field. So while the sampling surveys do not get a very proportionate number of available fish in a given area, angling for them is a much, much smaller percentage. And by your own admission, since you float so quickly for so many miles, you are only, as you said, catching the easy fish. Days of 50 to 100 fish do sound very impressive. And they are. But when you spread those numbers out over 15 miles and 12 hour days, they become much less representative of what the potential of the waters are. As for the slot limits on rivers, I'm not necessarily opposed to them,but I think in the private conversations that you and I have had, there are much better avenues of achieving a greater success rate in growing larger fish. It's absolutely not a cop out. Nobody has any proof that giggers are causing damage to the upper class of fish. You can do some electro fishing in the late fall when the waters are clearer. I am quite positive if you talk to the local biologist and you establish a relationship with him, you could get that done and you could go with him and participate. And then you could see what is really out there. But if you want any credibility in that the large size class a smallmouth are eradicated by giggers, you're gonna have to stop posting pictures of those same fish. A battle quit is a battle lost. I don't think the MDC has gone as far as they are willing to go. I think with a good working set of regulations and a positive attitude and a good presentation things could change. I have gotten very good vibe from them in the discussions that I've had. But as I've said in the past if the MSA wants to get some better regulations they're going to have to change their attitude towards in the MDC. I see Matt and some of the boys from the MSA are coming down to Springfield on March 25 to speak with the Ozark smallmouth association. Are you going to come with them?

Don't you guys also use the latest in electronics, rod, reel, line, baits, and jet technology? But they are the ones that need to change their sport for you??

I would wager that those that do the most complaining don't even know the local biologist name without looking it up. If honesty was still a virtue. When is the last time anyone had a conversation with that person? But it is that time of year for the annual MSA invite a MDC biologist to our monthly meeting so we can bash them to smithereens.

It's just a fact you have no scientific fact to back up your claim. They do. It's not what you want it to be so you take a page out of the Trump playbook. But im the child. Ok.

I don't reply to jealousy

Anecdotal: (of an account) not necessarily true or reliable, because based on personal accounts rather than facts or research. "while there was much anecdotal evidence there was little hard fact"

Couldn't disagree

You know, you'd be surprised at the great flavor of the potato with just the S&P. I would have never done it but, dad had me try it and it was like wow!

Did you want them to sample the highest quality water?? How would that have worked in your favor? Im not sure they owe anyone any apologies, but I know some people that probably owe them some.

I wouldn't necessarily disagree with that. But I would like it to be for all species of black bass.

Nothing illegal about using foil. Ethical? Personal preference. I just have a much greater sense of accomplishment if I do not foil. Doesn't mean I haven't ever used foil.

No! smart! easy cleanup!

You promised you wouldn't tell

There is no shame in using foil. It is the crock pot of the barbecue world.