Members poker fisherman Posted May 3, 2010 Members Posted May 3, 2010 Waded with a couple friends in Indian Saturday evening before the rain moved in. Smallmouth were guarding beds all over the place, and biting really well. We caught a dozen or so fish in about and hour. I was throwing smoke/purple flake 2.5" tubes, and one buddy was throw a crawdad pattern streamer fly on the fly rod. Both of us caught a couple fish apiece over 15 inches. Was too good a day not to have a camera out there.
ollie Posted May 3, 2010 Posted May 3, 2010 Oh, and here I thought you were giving a REAL report. Not hard to catch fish on the beds IMO. Just saying I wouldn't target them on the beds. You might catch more flak from others on this one. "you can always beat the keeper, but you can never beat the post" There are only three things in life that are certain : death, taxes, and the wind blowing at Capps Creek!
Danimal Posted May 3, 2010 Posted May 3, 2010 Every one of those nests probably lost half the eggs or fry in them to small sunfish and suckers, chubs etc. while the fish was being caught and admired. Think about it. Dan-o RELEASE THOSE BROWNIES!!
Members rubicon31 Posted May 4, 2010 Members Posted May 4, 2010 sunfish suckers and chubs need to eat too
Danimal Posted May 5, 2010 Posted May 5, 2010 True, but I'd rather see them work for it as opposed to being served a free buffet of baby smallmouth. Simply my opinion. Dan-o RELEASE THOSE BROWNIES!!
Members poker fisherman Posted May 5, 2010 Author Members Posted May 5, 2010 WOW - I have been away from the computer for a few days, come back to Ozark Anglers, which I have grown to love in the past few months to see this crap. Fellow fisherman, laying it to each other; each trying to seem more Elite and Ethical than the other guy. I give a report, because I like sharing information about fish and fishing with others who love it just as much as I do. No where in my initial post did a say we were catching fish off their beds. Just saw a ton of fish guarding nests. Our fish came from deeper holes with low visibility. Maybe they were on nests too, I dunno. The point is, even if we were pulling fish from their beds....its not illegal. I also didnt realize how many Biologists we had posting on our board, that truly understand the population dynamics and fisheries ecology of our Ozarks streams (much sarcasm intended). Granted, most fisherman I know are much more educated about these things than your average Joe Public... but to get up in arms against each other is ridiculous. Not only that but I also have a Private Message that reads: "Hey, I just want to offer a friendly suggestion. When posting a report about Indian Creek, if you would, please don't mention where you were fishing. There are too many lurkers on this forum that come in and strip an area of good fishing. Most of in this area just mention the report with out, in some cases, even mentioning the name of the stream. Indian is a very fragile fishery and will not be able to handle the amount of traffic that can be generated from post about the good fishing it has to offer. Of course it is no secret to most that live close to this area but, it is not out of the question for people to start coming from say, Branson, Springfield, Tulsa, Pittsbugh and such. Most of us stopped posting about Indian a while back. There are still some that will post about it from Lanagan on down but, nothing is mentioned about it from there up stream. I hope you understand. I certainly like reading your reports as we fish the same waters. I would also like to invite you to our Spring Float that is coming up at the end of this month. " I won't call out the gentleman who sent me this, but needless to say it also ruffled my feathers. Don't mention where you were fishing or even the name of the creek??? My post simply says Indian Creek upstream of Anderson. There is quite a stretch of water from Anderson on upstream. That is a fairly vague description. And if a few fishing reports posted by me (a degreed and Certified Wildife Biologist by the way) on this board encourages someone else to get out there and fish, then I consider that a victory. The point of all this is that, we should be encouraging and promoting fishing and all outdoor pursuits in as unified front as possible. We already have enough groups that would love to see the end of sportfishing and hunting as it is. Fisherman don't need other fisherman telling then when, how, where, etc to purue their hobby, as long as they are doing so by legal means. Which, by no coinicidence is regulated and established by Biologists who care just as much about the future of this sport as we do, because they are fisherman too. I will continue to posts reports, because I believe its important to share information and because I love reading everyone elses fishing reports, seeing their pictures, and interacting with other fisherman as much as possible.
ollie Posted May 5, 2010 Posted May 5, 2010 "Smallmouth were guarding beds all over the place, and biting really well." Sorry if I misread into that, but it seemed to indicate you were catching them off the beds. My mistake if your weren't, but I have seen WAY too many fisherman taking them off the beds during spawning season on Indain Creek. It is a proven fact that the eggs will be taken from the nest while the fish is being caught. Less fish to try and make it in a smaller more fragile stream. I really don't know how long you have been fishing Indian creek, but I for one have seen the decline of bigger fish from the creek due to human and enviromental problems. The 15" inchers you talked about used to be the smaller of the spawning fish when I fished this stream way back probably before you were born. I know man has played an important part in that. I am by no means telling you what to do. I am only stating my opinion. I am also by no means an elitist, just ask anyone! "you can always beat the keeper, but you can never beat the post" There are only three things in life that are certain : death, taxes, and the wind blowing at Capps Creek!
Chief Grey Bear Posted May 5, 2010 Posted May 5, 2010 Hell, I'll say it right here since you want to put it all out there. It was me that sent that PM. Nobody was jumping your case. Post on cowboy. Chief Grey Bear Living is dangerous to your health Owner Ozark Fishing Expeditions Co-Owner, Chief Executive Product Development Team Jerm Werm Executive Pro Staff Team Agnew Executive Pro Staff Paul Dallas Productions Executive Pro Staff Team Heddon, River Division Chief Primary Consultant Missouri Smallmouth Alliance Executive Vice President Ronnie Moore Outdoors
Danimal Posted May 5, 2010 Posted May 5, 2010 Ditto on Ollie's response. I can't speak for Missouri, but in Arkansas the commissioners set the regulations while the biologists simply make suggestions and I've been told by a couple of reputable ones (who I won't drag into this) that while pulling smallies off beds is legal, that doesn't make it smart. Everyone has a right to an opinion. Even us "Elitists". Dan-o RELEASE THOSE BROWNIES!!
KCRIVERRAT Posted May 6, 2010 Posted May 6, 2010 Poker, ease up a little bud. From what I've read nobody's on your case. In fact you've got an invite to fish! Hope you can join us. You never said you were catching them off their beds. Catching them in deeper water correct? Like you said... this is a good forum. Hang in there... One thing though bud... if you get a PM it's really supposed to be between the person who sent it and you. If it ruffles your feathers work it out with the sender in private. I've been fishing down in SW MO. lately. Maybe I'll see ya down there... HUMAN RELATIONS MANAGER @ OZARK FISHING EXPEDITIONS
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