Catch And Release Fishing

[drew03cmc]

Okay, I changed my mind. I think we should all just look out for ourselves and the hell with everyone else. Catch as many as I can and keep them as its my RIGHT>

I have no idea why ppl have to resort to name calling when we are talking about changing our mindset about caring about our neighbor and the future.

Spiteful much? It is your right to keep them within LIMITS set forth by either KDWP, AGFC or MDC. It is illegal to keep as many as you say you catch.

We are talking about catch and release not, changing our mindset about caring about our neighbor and the future.

I agree with Al on how he handles small streams and native fish. If you keep a native fish, you will deplete stocks of natives in that watershed, whereas if you keep a spot in the Meramec, you are helping natives. It is a delicate balance.

[creek wader]

Al makes a lot of sense, he always does. I'm one of the guilty ones that letall bass go including the spots. I know it is better for the smallies if I kept them. My main problem is that most that I catch are <12. I don't want to drag around 1 or 2 keepers with me in an ankle to knee deep stream for 4 or 5 hrs. In my opinion, there should be a no size limit on spots. Of course then, many people would then be keeping every bass of any size. Which would lead into another problem. Oh well, I think I will carry a mesh bag with me the next few times out and see how many spot keepers, that I can catch.

[Al Agnew]

Creek wader, just to make sure you know...if you are fishing the Meramec and any of its tributaries (Big, Bourbeuse, Huzzah, Courtois, Mineral Fork, Indian Creek, and a bunch of little creeks) there is NO length limit on spots. If fishing any south-flowing stream (Whitewater, Castor, St. Francis, Black, Bryant, James) the spots are native (though on some of those streams they are more plentiful than they used to be) and no real problem. I'm concerned that there is a 12 inch limit on the Gasconade and tribs...in my opinion, same rules should apply to the Gasconade river system as the Meramec.

[Guest kevinkirk]

Good point on taking out the fish that are not native to the streams too. I understand that. My main point is that where I live, the fishing usually is really good after high water for several years then goes down fast as everyone loads up on the easy fish, only to complain then later that the fi sh are not there. I dont think ppl realize how much pressure is put on even the big lakes. And how many fish are taken out each year that cannot be replaced naturally. Hence the introduction of hatchery fish to try and keep up.

Everyone that wants to keep all their legal limits are morally within their rights to do so. I was just proposing that maybe the fishing is more important than the killing. I have done plenty of both so dont take this wrong.

[creek wader]

Creek wader, just to make sure you know...if you are fishing the Meramec and any of its tributaries (Big, Bourbeuse, Huzzah, Courtois, Mineral Fork, Indian Creek, and a bunch of little creeks) there is NO length limit on spots. If fishing any south-flowing stream (Whitewater, Castor, St. Francis, Black, Bryant, James) the spots are native (though on some of those streams they are more plentiful than they used to be) and no real problem. I'm concerned that there is a 12 inch limit on the Gasconade and tribs...in my opinion, same rules should apply to the Gasconade river system as the Meramec.

I knew that the regs. on spots were pretty liberal on the Meramec and it's tribs. I fish the Lower Osage and it's tribs. (Maries River and Big Tavern Creek) and the two forks of the Moreau (flow into the Mo.). The Lower Osage, Moreau, and the N. Fork of the Moreau all have a pretty good population of spots and the crosses. The south fork of the Moreau was still holding it's own as of last year but, I'm afraid with the high water that we've had this year, the spots have probably breached the low water xings. I haven't fished it yet this year (high muddy water). On the lower Osage, last year, I caught spots at least 10 to 1, vs. smallies and about 6 to 1, vs. largemouth. Most were between 6 in. and 10 in., with an occasional keeper. The largest that I caught out of over 100 was a 15". Three years ago it was about 50/50. I've called and talked to several conservation officers and biologists, to let them know about the invasion. They agreed with me but, didn't seem too concerned. I'm just hoping that the "keep every fish they catch" people will do thier part on the spots. The main problem being is that they are almost too small to clean.

[drew03cmc]

Everyone that wants to keep all their legal limits are morally within their rights to do so. I was just proposing that maybe the fishing is more important than the killing. I have done plenty of both so dont take this wrong.

You do mean legally within their rights to do so, right? Morally, we should conserve our natural resources for future generations, but if the waters keep heating up, get used to carp.