Protecting The Bass Population?

[ozarkgunner]

I will state this again and the last time for the RECORD. Bass harvest limits on Table Rock are not set to control the Black Bass Populations. PERIOD DONE.

Wildlife such as deer and turkey have limits set for populaton control

Black Bass limits are set at a resonable ammount to encourage useage of the resoruce. This generates dollars with very little concern on Table Rock about adversley affecting the populations by over harvest.

With 100's of millions of tourist dollars at stake here the limits are set to encourage people to use and come to Table Rock lake on their yearly vacations, knowing full well, the few fish they harvest will in no means effect the populations in any manner. I believe the harvest is still less that 1 keeper bass for each 8 hrs. of fishing. The tourist are not hurting this population.

Locals, guides and long time Table Rock fisherman, are the people that control the harvest.

I know for a fact that it was recommended that the limits be dropped on the Rock after the 1999 fish kill. This was rejected do soley to the negitive impact that it would have on tourism to the lake Big State Tax Dollars. Limit reduction was rejected because of money, with no real thought of the resourse. These fish have had a rough go with the kill and the Corp's of Engineers, and have weathered it and are in wonderful supply.

Mostly because a huge percentage of the population is released to spawn multiple times in their lifes, and bring joy to multitudes of people by being caught and released over and over. When that 16inch Kentuck, smashes that Zara Spook, I don't care how many times she has been caught before. Only that she was released to hit and fight again. I know, if that continues she will be able to spawn for years in the future, most probably up to another 1/2 million eggs from the time she is 15 inches till her death, as late as 15 years old. It is my joy in life to give anything that gives me so much pleasure the gift of life.

The Biologist at MDC know that the harvest is very select, and that the larger percentage of Black Bass Fisherman are catch and release. This is the data that is used.

Remember this, Table Rock is and has to be a self-sustaining resource as far as the Black Bass species is concerend. Poor spawn, good spawn, no matter, it is on its own. No Stocking Here.

If you feel comfortable keeping legal size bass, its your right.

If you feel right using live crayfish, shiners, worms or leaches to catch and kill pregnant females on beds while they try and sustain a non-stocked resourse, go ahead.

I will not kill these fish as they bring me far to much pleasure. The smiles they put on the faces of the people I take are priceless. The joy of seeing gleaming spotted bass smash a red-fin is one of my greatest thrills. Be pretty hard for me to slice the sides out of something that gives me that much joy.

A heavy thump on a football jig and the Bull Tug of the LM up the James River, where a few years ago, they were almost non-existant. Be really hard to cut one of their heads off.

The screem of the reels drag as that 4 pound SMJ takes off with my grub in the dam area, where as early ago as 1976 they were not even classified as a catchable fish on Table Rock. Know for sure I cannot gut any of these wonderful pullers.

So, from here forth, pleas do not bring up populaton control, it has nothing to do as far as the catch limits of the Bass on Table Rock are concerned. Your tourist dollars do however.

No, for me food is just to cheap and the joys of life to high for me to end any one of them.

I love Table Rock and all the precious fish that swim in her.

I let 99.99% of my bass go and always let them go in the Spring. I think having something like split zones during the spawn for 5 years would show people that releasing the sows really really makes a difference. This is the Show Me state..... I hope that such a regulation would "show" people that killing sows in the Spring is the same as shooting hen turkeys on the nest.

[Phil Lilley]

Wow.

I wonder just how many people that catch and release there are to how many that catch and FRY! I may be way off base here but I'm guessing the catch and fry crowd would be bigger. So to me here we have a minority of people overreacting to fish population problem that to my knowledge does'nt exsist and seems to be in very healthy condition and wants to dictate to the fish and fry crowd thier views and beliefs and going as far as wanting new regulations on this lake forcing the fish and fry crowd to catch and release fish ( LM Bass ). This is the most pathetic discussion I've came across on this board. You all have to be kidding. What ever happened to " keep your nose on your face"? If aguy wants to fish for sport, because thats what catch and release is, a sport, then so be it. He can do what he wants. To me it kind of sounds selfish to want someone who has landed a fish to throw it back so Joe Smo can catch him himself. After all, that person has also has paid the same permit fee, hauled his boat or butt to the lake and bought the gear to catch that fish. If he wants to eat it, why not? Why not? The excuse of protecting a population of fish that realy does'nt need any other protection accept the rules the MDC put forth just is not a viable excuse.

If you want catch and release regulations, then what about the hunting crowd? Why not tranquilise and release deer/turkey so others can hunt the same animal? After you shoot it, get your picture taken and then release it back into the woods. Sounds real similar to me to the catch and release of fish but smaller scale. Also I'd figure that alot of catch and release fishermen that hunt would'nt be so keen on this idea. That'd cost extra money and alot of regulations. Why stop there! Cancel Spring Turkey season also, thats during turkey breeding season, or how about the peak rut of deer season, lets cancel that! Yeh right, at your own risk. Fishing over a bedded female bass is no different.

To me thats how utterly rediculous this discussion is. Everyone pays thiersto participate in fishing or hunting. They follow the regulations set up by the MDC. The MDC sets regulations according to populations and areas along with fair chase rules.

I'm sorry if I offended anyone, but pushing me with some rediculous regulation of catch and release is stepping on my toes too, and I'm not going to sit back and watch some self ritious crowd ruin fishing for the other crowd that does it for enjoyment and using a natural recource that belongs to all of us to eat. That last thing we need is another regulation for fishing or hunting.

Not sure if you read all the posts on this topic. You're overreacting to what's been said IMO. You're also addressing the discussion itself and not really the topic or issues addressed here. Ridiculous? Then we shouldn't allow any topics that are remotely controversial IYO?

[Phil Lilley]

As for suggesting additional rules here or anywhere else, it won't happen. As Bill says, even if it would help the bass population, it will not happen. Big bass tourneys and tourist dollars will not let it happen.

[ozarkgunner]

Not sure if you read all the posts on this topic. You're overreacting to what's been said IMO. You're also addressing the discussion itself and not really the topic or issues addressed here. Ridiculous? Then we shouldn't allow any topics that are remotely controversial IYO?

I think we need a special forum (area.. whatever it is called) entitled " The Catch and Release Debate" Then we could let people go on and on about this subject, but the constant back and forth would stay out of the normal forum area.

[ozarkgunner]

As for suggesting additional rules here or anywhere else, it won't happen. As Bill says, even if it would help the bass population, it will not happen. Big bass tourneys and tourist dollars will not let it happen.

Ten years ago I would have agreed with you 100%. However, now I think we are see a lot people getting more interested in Ecotourism. There is BIG money in catch and release (Just think about when the regs. at Tanneycomo changed) so i don't think I would call it as crazy as it once sounded. Think about how many people go to Lake Fork, Tx to release most of thier fish.

[FishnNut]

Well, I guess that it is up to each individual's personal feelings. 15 years ago I would keep a Bass now and then to eat. I never did understand those that "stocked" their freezers, but again, that is not my call. However, since 1999 I just haven't kept any. Seeing how TR went from such a great LM fishery to a large portion of the LM being killed put a different perspective on things. I for one am glad to see the LM population doing well and I love those days of catching 40 or more Bass of all species around the dam area or Baxter to Knob. I'd like to see it stay this way, but that's just my two cents worth.

[Whack'emGood]

I will state this again and the last time for the RECORD. Bass harvest limits on Table Rock are not set to control the Black Bass Populations. PERIOD DONE.

Wildlife such as deer and turkey have limits set for populaton control

Black Bass limits are set at a resonable ammount to encourage useage of the resoruce. This generates dollars with very little concern on Table Rock about adversley affecting the populations by over harvest.

With 100's of millions of tourist dollars at stake here the limits are set to encourage people to use and come to Table Rock lake on their yearly vacations, knowing full well, the few fish they harvest will in no means effect the populations in any manner. I believe the harvest is still less that 1 keeper bass for each 8 hrs. of fishing. The tourist are not hurting this population.

Locals, guides and long time Table Rock fisherman, are the people that control the harvest.

I know for a fact that it was recommended that the limits be dropped on the Rock after the 1999 fish kill. This was rejected do soley to the negitive impact that it would have on tourism to the lake Big State Tax Dollars. Limit reduction was rejected because of money, with no real thought of the resourse. These fish have had a rough go with the kill and the Corp's of Engineers, and have weathered it and are in wonderful supply.

Mostly because a huge percentage of the population is released to spawn multiple times in their lifes, and bring joy to multitudes of people by being caught and released over and over. When that 16inch Kentuck, smashes that Zara Spook, I don't care how many times she has been caught before. Only that she was released to hit and fight again. I know, if that continues she will be able to spawn for years in the future, most probably up to another 1/2 million eggs from the time she is 15 inches till her death, as late as 15 years old. It is my joy in life to give anything that gives me so much pleasure the gift of life.

The Biologist at MDC know that the harvest is very select, and that the larger percentage of Black Bass Fisherman are catch and release. This is the data that is used.

Remember this, Table Rock is and has to be a self-sustaining resource as far as the Black Bass species is concerend. Poor spawn, good spawn, no matter, it is on its own. No Stocking Here.

If you feel comfortable keeping legal size bass, its your right.

If you feel right using live crayfish, shiners, worms or leaches to catch and kill pregnant females on beds while they try and sustain a non-stocked resourse, go ahead. Let the grand children and their grand children deal with your glutony, what do you care, thats the way your folks did it.

Lets us just go ahead and use up all the natural resources we can and while were at it put the country in the largest debt in history. Let the Grand Kids and their Grand Kids deal with our fundamental lack of repect for who and what we are responsible for. Thats the way our folks did it so it has to be right.

Or, Oh, It's really not a problem however as most of us can catch all we want anytime we want. We have special teniques that really work anytime we go. All the more reason to kill everyone of them we can.

I will not kill these fish as they bring me far to much pleasure. The smiles they put on the faces of the people I take are priceless. The joy of seeing gleaming spotted bass smash a red-fin is one of my greatest thrills. Be pretty hard for me to slice the sides out of something that gives me that much joy.

A heavy thump on a football jig and the Bull Tug of the LM up the James River, where a few years ago, they were almost non-existant. Be really hard to cut one of their heads off.

The screem of the reels drag as that 4 pound SMJ takes off with my grub in the dam area, where as early ago as 1976 they were not even classified as a catchable fish on Table Rock. Know for sure I cannot gut any of these wonderful pullers.

So, from here forth, pleas do not bring up populaton control, it has nothing to do as far as the catch limits of the Bass on Table Rock are concerned. Your tourist dollars do however.

No, for me food is just to cheap and the joys of life to high for me to end any one of them.

I love Table Rock and all the precious fish that swim in her.

That was truly beautiful Bill. My sentiments exactly.

You are a true Champion of conservation. Keep up the good work.

Thank you Bill.

Whack'em

[ozark trout fisher]

That was truly beautiful Bill. My sentiments exactly.

You are a true Champion of conservation. Keep up the good work.

Thank you Bill.

Whack'em

There seems to be two schools of thought on this. One, is the people who think that it is unethical at its core took keep bass, and will loudly condemn anyone who does. The other is people who brag about killing bass of the spawning beds, and talking about how they will taunt catch and release fisherman.

Neither is good in my opinion. Like I've said earlier, I respect people who release all of their catch, but I am also willing to respect people who occasionally keep a bass. Now I can't bring myself to say that I respect people who constantly bring home limits of bass just to fill their freezer-If I did I would be lying. I can understand the people who think that no one should ever keep a bass out of a lake like Table Rock. I just respectfully disagree. Spawn bed bass are different. I do believe, that at its core it is entirely unethical to ever keep a bass of its bed, unless it might be a state record or something.

By the way, with this post, I'm in no way trying to indicate that folks like Bill Babler aren't true conservationists. Although I don't know him, I'm sure he is. And I think it is better to be all catch and release, than to just harvest every legal bass you catch. I just don't think that I should feel bad about keeping a bass every once in a while. I try not to keep more than one every couple of weeks, and none ever during the spawn. I don't think there is anything wrong with that.

[getfished]

I can't believe I've read this entire thread.

GETFISHED!!!

[ness]

There seems to be two schools of thought on this. One, is the people who think that it is unethical at its core took keep bass, and will loudly condemn anyone who does. The other is people who brag about killing bass of the spawning beds, and talking about how they will taunt catch and release fisherman.

Neither is good in my opinion. Like I've said earlier, I respect people who release all of their catch, but I am also willing to respect people who occasionally keep a bass. Now I can't bring myself to say that I respect people who constantly bring home limits of bass just to fill their freezer-If I did I would be lying. I can understand the people who think that no one should ever keep a bass out of a lake like Table Rock. I just respectfully disagree. Spawn bed bass are different. I do believe, that at its core it is entirely unethical to ever keep a bass of its bed, unless it might be a state record or something.

By the way, with this post, I'm in no way trying to indicate that folks like Bill Babler aren't true conservationists. Although I don't know him, I'm sure he is. And I think it is better to be all catch and release, than to just harvest every legal bass you catch. I just don't think that I should feel bad about keeping a bass every once in a while. I try not to keep more than one every couple of weeks, and none ever during the spawn. I don't think there is anything wrong with that.

You're spot-on, in my opinion.

I read this whole thread, then went back and reread some of the original comments that sparked the trouble to try to understand the arguments a little better. I don't regularly visit this forum and never go to TR, but I do fish (mainly trout, but also bass) and practice C&R almost exclusively. Have I learned anything from this thread? Sure - I'll be more aware of spawning bass and avoid them like I do trout redds. But there was sure a lot of extraneous nonsense in the thread that didn't really add to the discussion.

It's ok to be passionate about something -- in fact, it's good. But, you're far more likely to get people to understand or adopt your point of view using solid, reasoned logic and polite dialogue, rather than with a personal attack. Just sayin'.