Comment Thread - Shuffling

[CaptainT16]

Who cares how people fish. Isn't this a stocked lake? Why is this an issue. Get a life people!! There are many more import issue to look at than people shuffling their feet. Just because someone does not fish the way you do you must you make an issue of it. And since when do ethics come to play in fishing. What about all the building, traffic, crowds of people and potential for pollution coming into the LAKE. I would be more concerned about the development around the lake than how people fish it.

Why don't you guys worry about more important issues than people shuffling their feet.

It is a big issue that is occuring daily at the lake. If you look at what it does to the trouts food supply you might think again. Like everyone has said before you are just getting rid of the trouts food supply. It is a stocked lake and we like to keep it in the same shape and form as it has been. It is known that the enviromental issues are going to take its toll everywhere, but why not try to preserve what we have. The pollution issue is a big issue to me as well, but I think the shuffling thing to start off with is something that could make a big difference in the way the lake is. Besides if you have to shuffle your feet just to catch a fish something is wrong. I would rather ask one of the nice fly fisherman that are down there what he or she suggests on catching a fish. Might as well just start fishing with bait then in the trophy area, essentially when you are shuffling that is what you are doing.

[vakcmo]

This is not a big issue. You only want to make this an issue. I would guess that less that 10% of Lake Taney Como is accessible to wading. So tell me how shuffling in this small amount of the lake will impact the fish throughout the lake. It sounds like to me we have some over zealous anglers that have nothing better to do than complain about how people catch fish.

Again get a life and worry about issues that impact the community and not your ethics on how to fish.

[Phil Lilley]

It seems this is a valid issue in other states. And it's a subject that's worthy to be discussed - pro and con.

[OnTheFly]

I would guess that less that 10% of Lake Taney Como is accessible to wading.

If that much of the lake is wadable.

Comparing Taney to the San Juan is like comparing Beaver lake to lake Superior they are not event the same type of water or fishery. For the record I am not a shuffler and don’t care for it but there are bigger issues to address at Taney that impact the fishery in a negative manner.

[Phil Lilley]

No one is arguing with that... you're right as rain. We should discuss those issues- create another topic and go for it.

[gonefishin]

Huh? This argument sure catches me off guard. How can any reasonable person compare or buy into the comparasion of shuffling with baiting? Baiting is the intentional placing an outside food source in an area to attract wildlife. Shuffling would be like walking throught the woods kicking up leaves and acorns in hopes to attract deer. In order for shuffling to be the equivelent of baiting a person would have to be dropping trout pellets (or some other food source) into the water with the purpose of attracting fish in order to harvest them.

I am sorry guys and gals but this argument doesn't border on the verge of extremeisim, it defines it.

[OnTheFly]

No one is arguing with that... you're right as rain. We should discuss those issues- create another topic and go for it.

My point was deliberating the shuffling is a little like debate the color of the curtains in the bedroom while the kitchen is on fire... I will try and make myself more clear in future post.

[Guest lbt]

do

[Guest lbt]

Let me just start out by saying that I do not and will not shuffel. However I will have to say that it is wrong to do that method of fishing(ethics). I look at shuffling as I look at someone opening a can of corn to chum. Who cares are we going to go down to Fall Creek all the way down to power site and yell at those people for using the BAIT that they use i.e. (corn, salmon eggs, night cawlers). No because that is legal is that tearing the eco system up or is changing the way fish Feed absoultly not. And the reason I know this is because I can take myself down to Taneycomo and catch fish on just about any fly that I try and I have had fish from 6" to fish that were 30". I really think that the person that started this topic wants to stir the pot. There are bigger issues that need to be addressed at Taneycomo than Shuffling. If someone wants to shuffle let them it's not against the law, I think that some one or some oragization should step foward and start an educational class (mannors and ethics of fishing on lake Taneycomo 101). One might consider this food for thought is it right to shoot a deer while the deer is lying down. It's not illegal but is it ethical. I would not shoot a deer while it was lying down but I'm sure I have a friend or two that would, my father always told me to give the animals a sporting chance so I do.

I think that one the biggest issues that needs to be addresswed is if the water is off there should not be any boats i.e.(bass boats or any boat with a 15 hp motor) let up from Fall Creek to the wire. Drift boats are ok How many times have you almost been hit by a stupid boat when you are wading. There is one man that will remain nameless but we all know who I'm talking about that if he pulls the stunt that he pulled last week with me he, let's just say it won't be pretty. I do see everyones point of view on the shuffling matter, but just let it go. We have bigger things to worry about like the dam breaking, how would that tear up the stream bed.

I do have a concern everyone always talks about how they never see an agent down there at Taneycomo. You all might not know this information and if you do I'm sorry for telling you again. Taney County Missouri has only one agent just like every other county in Missouri. Lets just say they do pass a law that prohibits shuffling from accuring, do you realize the man power it would take to inforce the new law. So the first action of power that we need to take is to get John Hoskins to realize that some conties need more than one agent. Because with only one agent it takes alot of time to patrol 647 square miles (square miles of Taney county). So lets give the agent a break because he only gets to work 40 hours/week. I bet if you pay attention next time your down there you might just see him/her down there. Because they don't have to wear there uniform all the time. I will say this the past year I have seen an agent down there 9 times not bad for 647 square miles.

Hope that I did not offend anyone lets just have some and catch fish in a put and take stream,lake what ever you want to call it. Hvae a good day.

Thank you for your time

LBT

[roundtrout]

I posted "No Change" to the current regulations. Aside from the ethics and/or enforceability arguments set forth, both of which I agree with, the question arises as to the results of a change to the regulations. Though I do not shuffle, I'm also not the most gracious wader. One of the reasons I stay on the bank as much as possible. Shuffling may work at Taneycomo, but at other locations I've found that purposely advertising your presence in the water tends to put fish down more than bring them out. In other words, its just good practice not to shuffle.

What concerns me is that any attempt to ban shuffling will likely be accompanied with a ban on wading. As I'm currently boatless, that would drastically affect my ability to fish. Besides, I like to be able to walk the bank, though sometimes I need to wade from one section to another or simply wade to allow my backcast a little more room!