Bigger Brown Limit 24"

[jefly77]

I voted for the size increase because I almost never keep any fish at all, but being a spinning guy, I get real defensive when people start calling for further restrictions than hard lures and flies only. On Sunday night, Aug 31st, I fished down by the MDC boat ramp from about 9:30 - 1:00 in the morning with a gold rapala that has the barbs mashed down from my time fishing the Lower Mountain Fork. I had almost constant action. I would hook a fish or get a hit every 3-4 casts. I only landed about 5 fish due to the barbless hooks. I lost lots of them during the fight, they simply shook my lure out. I don't think the treble hooks tear them up too much. One thing I worry about concerning flyfishermen is the amount of time the fish gets played. I use 6lb test and I can usually land any fish of substance in about a quarter of the time it takes fly guys to get the fish to hand. When I release a trout it usually has a lot of energy left in it and swims off with ease. You fly guys often must play a fish to near death levels of exhaustion. What I'm saying is this, I practice C&R and follow all the regs. Don't try to take away my right to fish the way I want with the type of gear that I want. I am for the further size restrictions, but adamantly opposed to declaring any part of Taneycomo a "fly" only or barbless section.

[Murdoc]

OK,

Let's skin one cat at a time. Right now I would like to know if there is enough interest in the 24" limit. If there is more we should look into we will tackle that once we have looked into this one. (by the way I don't like barbless hooks)

[loo10]

I don't keep any of my browns so it isn't going to change what I do or don't keep.

(And yes, I voted...24"- yes)

But I thought this comment went a little nutso.

Barbless only?

Check in at an authorized station and have your license checked?

Welcome to Point Zero.....Czechoslovakia.

Come on!

Next thing we'll be wanting to ban all boats.

Then, limit it to flyrods only.

Then bamboo flyrods only.

Then bamboo fly rods with single action fly reels only.

How about flies only?

Or flies tied with silk thread only?

When will the madness end?

Let's have as few regulations as possible but enforce them!

I don't care about you guys using spinning rods & rapalas.

But we gotta do something about the bait fishermen every night in the restricted area!!!!!

To clarify.....

when I say I don't care about you guys using spinning gear & rapalas;

I'm not criticizing 'cause sometimes I are one!!!!

I'm saying you/we are not the problem in my estimation.

Didn't mean to get anyone's panties in a bunch.

[Thom]

voted yes. Hardly keep anything over 14 below fall creek and never keep over 20 anywhere. That is what my digital camera is for.

[The Caddis]

Yes, I release 99.9% of the fish I catch, so size isn't an issue.

I would also support single hook, barbless as well.

[Danoinark]

OK,

Let's skin one cat at a time. Right now I would like to know if there is enough interest in the 24" limit. If there is more we should look into we will tackle that once we have looked into this one. (by the way I don't like barbless hooks)

I would have to agree with the others it would be best to concentrate on the 24" rule. With the other issues the whole project gets clouded. I also would not want to infringe on hard bait fishermen. Phil's thought on an additional fee for Taney is an interesting concept. I would not have a problem with that if enforcement were to be increased with positive results.

Dano

[Bill B.]

I don't keep any of my browns so it isn't going to change what I do or don't keep.

(And yes, I voted...24"- yes)

But I thought this comment went a little nutso.

Barbless only?

Check in at an authorized station and have your license checked?

Welcome to Point Zero.....Czechoslovakia.

Come on!

Next thing we'll be wanting to ban all boats.

Then, limit it to flyrods only.

Then bamboo flyrods only.

Then bamboo fly rods with single action fly reels only.

How about flies only?

Or flies tied with silk thread only?

When will the madness end?

That's quite a slippery slope!

If we really want a trophy fishery, the kind of fishery that will turn heads all around the world, we'll do what it takes to keep our big fish alive and growing. A check-in system seems to work for deer hunters in Missouri. Why would it be too extreme for trout anglers? I'm just looking for a way to limit the take to one large brown per person per year. If we could do that and enforce it, there would soon be a lot more hellacious cannibals eating stocker rainbows below TR dam.

[laker67]

.

. It's not as simple as just making a rule to appease the lunker hunters.

Phil,

Can I assume that you do not like "lunker hunters"? I will take no offense if the answer is "yes", just curious to your status on that issue.

[Guest]

deleted

[bigredbirdfan]

Yes, I release 99.9% of the fish I catch, so size isn't an issue.

I would also support single hook, barbless as well.

So now in addition to checking creels and limits (which is as we all agree under manned) and of course checking for anyone using scents and baits. We now need to add hook checkers as well.

Pretty soon I will be a criminal just like the poachers????

You catch and release fly fisherman really know how to make a sport so dang complicated nobody will want to figure it out and you will have the lake to yourself. Will that make you all happy? But in the end you will get the trophies. Then those of us who want to fish with kids will be relegated to the non trophy area where we can keep anything but browns under 24". Thanks.