One More Poll On Smallmouth Management Areas

[eric1978]

Let me know if you guys think these questions are flawed somehow.

NOTE: All of these questions are geared toward streams, not reservoirs.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Eric I'm assuming the last question means fishermen who target streams.

[eric1978]

Eric I'm assuming the last question means fishermen who target streams.

Yes it does Wayne, and actually the entire poll is geared toward streams. I'll fix that.

Edit...looks like I can't change the wording on the poll questions because they've been voted on.

[eric1978]

Interesting....I find it curious that everyone thus far has stated they always C & R, yet one person prefers no change in regulations. I can't figure out why a person who always practices C & R would care if the regs were tightened...Maybe that person would like to explain that, just for conversation's sake.???

[ozark trout fisher]

Interesting....I find it curious that everyone thus far has stated they always C & R, yet one person prefers no change in regulations. I can't figure out why a person who always practices C & R would care if the regs were tightened...Maybe that person would like to explain that, just for conversation's sake.???

I answered yes to all the questions. I voted for pure C&R for the regulations (statewide preferably)... Not gonna happen, but it is what I want. I do not see a need for people to keep smallies, there are enough food fish. Catfish and bluegill both taste WAY better anyway.

I also said that folks who want tighter regs are in the majority, but I can't be sure about that.

I will admit that there was a time when I would keep a smallie here and there, among a stringer of sunfish, catfish, etc. I just didn't realize the harmful effects at the time.

[Chief Grey Bear]

That was me. I don't believe in a "blanket" protection for all streams. There are some streams on this side that are over run with brownies. They actually need to be thinned out some.

Length limits and creel limits are only a part of the puzzle. There are many other factors that need to addressed. Until you have a balance of habitat, favorable land use management, the proper amount forage, and water quality, it will be very hard to get to the quality and quantity of brownies you are seeking. I haven't seen anyone really address these. It has just been a big dog pile on the MDC. There some other factors too. I haven't seen any one talk about the extreme low water conditions we had in the 90's. That didn't do us any good. And in the last few years, I think flooding has been having an effect.

This list can go on. I just don't think that length and creel limits are going to fix the problem. I am not saying it won't help but, from what I am hearing here, it is like you guy's are putting all of your eggs in one basket and bingo, bango, problem fixed. In my opinion it will not be that easy and it will take some time.

[Wayne SW/MO]

This list can go on. I just don't think that length and creel limits are going to fix the problem. I am not saying it won't help but,

Speaking for myself, I've never thought it was "The fix", but it is one that we can control. You're right that there are many parts to the problem, some we can control and some we cannot. Because there are many that we can't control, I believe there are times when excess control of some factors might be warranted.

I'm surprised that there waters to the west that are overpopulated, but because I've fished a lot of the waters west of Springfield without seeing overpopulation I have to think there aren't many.

[eric1978]

That was me. I don't believe in a "blanket" protection for all streams. There are some streams on this side that are over run with brownies. They actually need to be thinned out some.

Okay, I hear you Chief. But you did have the choice of "SMAs for selected streams," and I think for the streams you believe need thinning out, a slot limit would be ideal to get rid of some of the smaller fish while protecting the bigger fish. My opinion is that some regulation is needed on almost every stream, and in some cases that would include harvesting some fish if it would be beneficial to the stream.

Length limits and creel limits are only a part of the puzzle. There are many other factors that need to addressed. Until you have a balance of habitat, favorable land use management, the proper amount forage, and water quality, it will be very hard to get to the quality and quantity of brownies you are seeking. I haven't seen anyone really address these. It has just been a big dog pile on the MDC. There some other factors too. I haven't seen any one talk about the extreme low water conditions we had in the 90's. That didn't do us any good. And in the last few years, I think flooding has been having an effect.

This list can go on. I just don't think that length and creel limits are going to fix the problem. I am not saying it won't help but, from what I am hearing here, it is like you guy's are putting all of your eggs in one basket and bingo, bango, problem fixed. In my opinion it will not be that easy and it will take some time.

Length and creel limits are only one aspect to the problems with our fisheries, absolutely positively true. But I really don't feel like I have very much control over habitat, land use practices, forage, water quality, etc. However, I think (possibly naively) that since MDC is a function of the state government, and I'm a tax paying citizen, that I have a tiny bit of say about the decisions they make.

I know many factors contribute to smallmouth's problems, but just because you can't stop a farmer from letting his cows into the river, you don't say, well, screw it...why bother with regs if this problem can't be fixed. To me it's all the more reason to implement support.

And man, seriously, I'm not bashing MDC. I just think they could do better. I don't think they can fix all the world's problems, but they can help fix a few in our streams.

[Chief Grey Bear]

I'm surprised that there waters to the west that are overpopulated, but because I've fished a lot of the waters west of Springfield without seeing overpopulation I have to think there aren't many.

I believe Buzz tried to tell you the same thing and you chose not to believe him either. They are here.

Length and creel limits are only one aspect to the problems with our fisheries, absolutely positively true. But I really don't feel like I have very much control over habitat, land use practices, forage, water quality, etc. However, I think (possibly naively) that since MDC is a function of the state government, and I'm a tax paying citizen, that I have a tiny bit of say about the decisions they make.

I know many factors contribute to smallmouth's problems, but just because you can't stop a farmer from letting his cows into the river, you don't say, well, screw it...why bother with regs if this problem can't be fixed. To me it's all the more reason to implement support.

And man, seriously, I'm not bashing MDC. I just think they could do better. I don't think they can fix all the world's problems, but they can help fix a few in our streams.

Since man created these problems, man should be able to correct them. If we want to get real serious about it, we need to start talking about buffer zones along waterways where row crops or cattle are present. It would take a lot of work, I mean a lot, but, I think it can be done. The MDC has already done some studies with the row crop part and through that research, have shown some farmers how to get more production out of their fields and benifit the wildlife. I think that same research can be used along the streams. And if that was to happen, that would also help with the water quality and bank erosion.

Now, you are right, what ever the regs are, they are not going to affect me. But I am not the only tax paying user of the resources.

[eric1978]

Since man created these problems, man should be able to correct them. If we want to get real serious about it, we need to start talking about buffer zones along waterways where row crops or cattle are present. It would take a lot of work, I mean a lot, but, I think it can be done. The MDC has already done some studies with the row crop part and through that research, have shown some farmers how to get more production out of their fields and benifit the wildlife. I think that same research can be used along the streams. And if that was to happen, that would also help with the water quality and bank erosion.

I support that 100%, and if I knew there was some way I could contribute to realizing improvement in these kinds of areas, I would be more than willing to participate.

Now, you are right, what ever the regs are, they are not going to affect me. But I am not the only tax paying user of the resources.

There's a difference between "use" of resources and "exploitation" of resources. If people are taking fish out of a stream faster than they are able to reproduce and grow, then I call it exploitation. Just because we have the right to do something, doesn't mean we should do it. People have the right to be lousy parents, but chances are their kids will ultimately be unable to access their full potential. Same thing goes with stream management and fish.