ozark trout fisher Posted January 10, 2009 Posted January 10, 2009 Brian: For the purposes of this survey I'm counting anyone who releases a fish as practicing catch and release. If you knock it over head and add it to your stringer, then you're keeping it. When I fish for bass I'm a C&R guy, except when I'm fishing for spots in certain rivers. I'm sure that keeping a fish in a livewell for hours may somewhat diminish its ability to survive compared to releasing it right back in the water right after you catch it. That said, I don't know if that potential negative impact is any worse for a fish than being caught and released over an over again over the course of a day or several days. This question is slightly off the topic, but I'll ask anyway. How come the special smallmouth areas allow bait fishing? The trout areas with restrictive length limits don't generally allow bait, and I would think it would help smallmouth survival if similar regs were put in place in the smallmouth management areas. If most of the fish must be released, why allow them to be caught in a way they're less likely to survive release? I say this as someone who prefers to catch bass on bait, but I just don't think it is the right thing for the fishery for bait to be allowed.
Al Agnew Posted January 12, 2009 Posted January 12, 2009 The short answer is, because the MDC folks didn't want to inconvenience anybody they didn't absolutely have to. They were and are afraid that there would be too much opposition to the special management areas if they also limited the use of live bait. On the trout management areas, there was less "traditional" angling and more of a catch and release/artificial lures mindset among most of the trout anglers, so there was less opposition. Since in the smallmouth special management areas there were a lot more bait fishermen and goggle-eye fishermen and bait fishing for other species, they figured there would be a whole lot more users that would be shut out. Fact is, regardless of how some folks feel that MDC is unresponsive to the concerns of many of their constituents, they really DON'T want to tick people off and cause greater headaches for the commissioners and the enforcement folks. It really took some courage and some perseverance to even get ANY special smallmouth management areas set up...there was a lot of opposition to it within the department, from people who were afraid the average angler wouldn't go for it. I'm not entirely happy with the present state of smallmouth regulations in MO, but I do understand the MDC mindset even if I don't always agree with it.
ozark trout fisher Posted January 12, 2009 Posted January 12, 2009 The short answer is, because the MDC folks didn't want to inconvenience anybody they didn't absolutely have to. They were and are afraid that there would be too much opposition to the special management areas if they also limited the use of live bait. On the trout management areas, there was less "traditional" angling and more of a catch and release/artificial lures mindset among most of the trout anglers, so there was less opposition. Since in the smallmouth special management areas there were a lot more bait fishermen and goggle-eye fishermen and bait fishing for other species, they figured there would be a whole lot more users that would be shut out. Fact is, regardless of how some folks feel that MDC is unresponsive to the concerns of many of their constituents, they really DON'T want to tick people off and cause greater headaches for the commissioners and the enforcement folks. It really took some courage and some perseverance to even get ANY special smallmouth management areas set up...there was a lot of opposition to it within the department, from people who were afraid the average angler wouldn't go for it. I'm not entirely happy with the present state of smallmouth regulations in MO, but I do understand the MDC mindset even if I don't always agree with it. I understand now. I was just curious.
Members shadman Posted June 21, 2009 Members Posted June 21, 2009 I have waded for smallies since i could walk,lol... anyone who wades small streams for bass should know that any taken out have a drastic effect on the overall population. when the action is hot, u can easily take all the dominate fish out of a particular hole, then wade to the next,, it doesnt take long before that stretch of creek will no longer produce and it can take many years for the population to return to what it was. PLEASE... RELEASE ALL SMALLMOUTH AND PROTECT OUR SMALL STREAMS
Members bigdub Posted June 22, 2009 Members Posted June 22, 2009 I am strictly artificial and C&R on ALL species of bass. I believe that they are our greatest sportfishing resource and would hate to see anything detrimental happen to the population in any stream, lake or river. However, this is just my opinion and I am not judgemental of anyone doing anything that is within their legal right as angler (although keeping smallies is right on the edge LOL). If you buy the liscense then its up to you to decide how you use it!! A fool with a plan is always better than a genius with NO PLAN!!!!
bobber Posted June 25, 2009 Posted June 25, 2009 HEY!! if you have to eat fish .... GO TO LONG JOHN SILVERS!! ....we know how it is somtimes... <*)))))))>< * AMERICAN CANOE ASSOCIATION CERTIFIED CANOE, and SWIFT WATER RESCUE INSTRUCTOR.*
et84 Posted June 28, 2009 Posted June 28, 2009 I'll keep some eyes (2 or 3) if we're floating with someone who's never eaten them, but never any other bass. "Sometimes it seems like such a hard life, but there's good times around the bend. The rollercoaster's gotta roll to the bottom if ya wanna climb to the top again."
taxidermist Posted June 29, 2009 Posted June 29, 2009 I dont think its fishing pressure. I thin the gravel not being mined from the streams is the problem. I know Crooked Creek is not near the deep holes it had below Pyatt when McClinton was mining gravel there. Water is warmer too., I remember 40 years ago when the creeks were cool and with removal of the trees and the gravel providing shallower water and filling in the good holes. Smallies are doomed. Released or not.
Members ducksbit Posted June 30, 2009 Members Posted June 30, 2009 I fish the meramec quite often now and I keep all the spotted bass I catch. I've been on it 5 times already this year and I think i'm on about 30 spots I have removed from the river. As for the gasconade, big, and bourbeuse rivers, I keep as many spots as the law allows. Other than keeping spots, I release all of the other fish I catch. Well except for some catfish and crappie. Jim
Geoff Posted June 30, 2009 Posted June 30, 2009 I fish for them all, well i fish for anything really, but i never keep any fish whatever it is. i cant stand how they taste "When you do things right, people wont be sure you've done anything at all."
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