Just For Fun, What Would You Like To See Different On Thr Eleven Point If Anything

[ozark trout fisher]

Oh by the way soggyfeet, I never said I was among the best bait fisherman out there. But of course I am. :D

[soggyfeet]

I know that I just had to have a standard to start with. I have no doubt about your abilitys. I would be in the lower section of bait fisherman for trout no doubt about it, heck Im probally one of the worst fly fisherman too. Just to clear things up the only fisherman I look down on is the poachers(I baitfish quite a bit for crappie and cats)

[ozark trout fisher]

I know that I just had to have a standard to start with. I have no doubt about your abilitys. I would be in the lower section of bait fisherman for trout no doubt about it, heck Im probally one of the worst fly fisherman too. Just to clear things up the only fisherman I look down on is the poachers(I baitfish quite a bit for crappie and cats)

I was just joking, when it comes to catching fish on bait I may be the worst bait fisher ever. I also fly fish, and I am most certainly the world's worst fly-fisher, period. I still try though. I hope I didn't offend you in some of my earlier posts.

[soggyfeet]

Me offeneded? No way. I have been in the construction field way too long to get offended.

[Mark]

Lots of interesting responses, opinions, and differences. I'm not too sure I agree with soggyfeet's hypothetical stats on bait fishing mortality rates. I will tell you what our group of bait fishermen do.

We would consider ourselves average fishermen, and no way do we gut hook 30-50% of the fish. We all fish the same way, bouncing the power eggs on the bottom and setting the hook quickly. Anything we gut hook goes on the stringer. If the fishing is good and we already have a couple of the stringer, we catch and release most of the day if the fish is unharmed. We always leave one slot on the stringer open so we can keep fishing for the big one, and many times end up the day with only 3 on the stringer. No big deal for us.

Let's say on our annual Easter trip, there are 6 of us bait fishermen. IF we all catch our limit, that's 24 fish, and more than we need for supper. We prefer fillets deep fried, so we may clean and fillet 15 fish and have maybe 5 fillets each with 9 fish leftover. If we do the same thing the next day, we will have 18 fish we haven't eaten for supper. A couple of us don't care to take fish home while some do want to take fish home for the family, so maybe 3 guys take 6 fish home each. We certainly don't see that as being greedy, as we are now paying something like $24 for fishing license and trout stamp, not to mention our friend who is paying for a nonresident license.

No one in our group would ever think of poaching from the Blue Ribbon area or taking more than our legal limit. And we have heard the stories of the locals who are one step ahead of the law. I see that as the biggest problem.

PLUS THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE SANITARY OUTHOUSES AT THE CAMPGROUNDS ALONG THE RIVER INSTEAD OF EVERYONE CRAPPING IN THE WOODS AND THE CRAP ENDING UP IN THE RIVER. But I guess what's the difference when livestock are crapping in the river upstream from Thomasville to Cane Bluff.

[ozark trout fisher]

We should all thank Brian for starting this discussion. It is obvious that all who have responded to the question asked by Brian are lovers of the Point. I only flyfish, but have no problem with bait fisherman unless they are in the Blue area. The Alton area is not in the greatest shape economy wise and better management of the Point for all kind of fisherman would help the local businesses. The great rivers out west are basically put and take with less spawned fish than on the Point yet we pay 400 for a guide to fish them. Beautiful scenery, clear water, nesting eagles, and nestled in the Mark Twain National we should all be good custonians of Gods Gift to all of us. If you made the Blue zone Catch and Release, it would be easier to enforce. Keep all the regs in others sections the same. Any big fish that are caught are in the Blue area are usally part of a Kodak monent and relaeased. Lets all respect each others love for the point and all pitch in to keep it clean and beautiful.

Happy fishing

I agree. Anyone bait fishing in the Blue Ribbon Area just doesn't care about the fish population, and is quite selfish, especially with the White Ribbon Area available to them. From what I know, it is probably the best wilderness river in this part of the midwest, and everyone should do what they can to preserve it. I also second the idea of making the Blue Ribbon Area a catch and release section. It would eliminate what some people consider "fudging the length limit" which is nothing better than poaching in my mind.

[Phil Lilley]

I'm jumping in the middle of this, not reading everything, but someone mentioned mortality of trout caught on bait. MDC says 20% while artificial is 5%.

[Greg]

I'm jumping in the middle of this, not reading everything, but someone mentioned mortality of trout caught on bait. MDC says 20% while artificial is 5%.

I would have thought it would be a greater difference than that. But still the bait mortality is 4 times that of artificial. Very significant. Thanks for the stat.

Greg

[ozark trout fisher]

I would have thought it would be a greater difference than that. But still the bait mortality is 4 times that of artificial. Very significant. Thanks for the stat.

Greg

I know I said I was bowing out of the argument, but am afraid I just can keep my big mouth shut anymore. I agree that there is a big difference, a big enough difference that I think bait should be banned in all of our Blue and Red Ribbon areas, (which would mean banning it in the NFOW's lower section, where it is now legal) . But the White Ribbon area of the Eleven Point, is put and take, (hopefully we'll see some browns in there someday, which would balance the fishery I believe) and I believe if you are going to have such a liberal length limit and daily limit anyway, why not allow bait in the White Ribbon area. Just food for thought. You do have to have more than just trout parks and winter trout areas available to bait fisherman, because at least I know I love and care about the sport of trout fishing as much as many fly fishers. Bait fishing is truly my passion, and it kinda pains me when I hear people saying that bait fishing should be trout parks only, like they mean that we shouldn't be able to have good choices to fish, just like every other method does. Frankly, I like to bait fish, and I don't like the trout parks or the winter ponds too much. Even though I bait fish, I want to fish in a remote ozark stream just as much as anyone else. I do agree with the sentiment of catching your limit, which I actually have yet to do in Missouri,(but that is a different topic) and switching to artificials, or quitting altogether. I should say that I do fish my share of artificials only water, as I do keep that box of Rooster Tails and Panther Martins handy at all times...

I understand some areas need to be artificials only though. I would be in favor of banning bait from Turner to Whitten if I was quite sure it would greatly increase the trout population, but definitely not from Whitten to Riverton. Maybe even go ahead and extend the Blue Ribbon area to Whitton. This would leave the White Ribbon area's stockers spread over much less water, and I believe that fishing in both the Blue Ribbon and White Ribbon area could vastly improve. Just my 0.2

[Greg]

OTF - please don't think I'm advocating banning bait fishing. That's not my position at all. I'm fine with people bait fishing wherever it is legal. I think it's a great thing in put and take areas. Nothing against bait fishing or people who do so at all. In some areas it is even healthy for the fishery for some fish to be taken out.

My only point is I just don't think it works that well for catch and release.

Greg