Kvd Big Bass Classic Recap

[Tfsh4bass]

dtrs5kprs is exacly right. Would hate to see resort owners and guides be shut out for a month during a critical time of year for them. Honestly, I'd be willing to give up my tournament fishing for a short spell during bedding season but I don't think MDC could effectively do it by setting a blanket statewide period. Seems to me they'd need to zone the state and set different dates according to normal spawn times for particular regions.

I know someone is probably going to bring up the old catch, measure, record and release suggestion for tournaments during the spawn, i.e. hold a "paper derby." That may be fine for bass clubs but in my opinion, that would never fly for bigger-money tournaments.

There will always be pros and cons to everything but after going to Minnesota every year the last 5 years it is easy to see they have it figured out up there. Smallmouth are catch-n-release statewide from Sept-Feb (some lakes have special regulations where they are catch-n-release year around)...Largemouth are catch-n-release from Feb 28th to May 28th every year. Also, it isn't about fishing small waters because I fished Minnetonka, Mille Lacs, Pelican, etc. that are all good sized lakes. They have catch-n-release for long periods of time for bass and even special regulations on Walleye (Mille Lacs has a slot where you have to release all Walleye 18"-28")...BUT still have resorts all over the lakes and boats everywhere when I fished up there. All you have to do is go up to Mille Lacs one time and catch 100 3-6lb smallmouth in a day to figure out it isn't a bad thing. Also, I would add the 16-24 slot doesn't seem to hurt Texas fishing...guides, tournaments, resorts, etc.

[dtrs5kprs]

dtrs5kprs is exacly right. Would hate to see resort owners and guides be shut out for a month during a critical time of year for them. Honestly, I'd be willing to give up my tournament fishing for a short spell during bedding season but I don't think MDC could effectively do it by setting a blanket statewide period. Seems to me they'd need to zone the state and set different dates according to normal spawn times for particular regions.

I know someone is probably going to bring up the old catch, measure, record and release suggestion for tournaments during the spawn, i.e. hold a "paper derby." That may be fine for bass clubs but in my opinion, that would never fly for bigger-money tournaments.

Something like the waterfowl season zones would be the idea. I'm not opposed to a C&R period but that could actually kill some of the better local money circuits. Obviously they hit other lakes, but the MO lakes are big draws. Harder to get entries from KC, Omaha, to go as far as the AR lakes.

Tfish...keep that Pelican stuff quiet. There are no bass in that lake and weren't when I went there every year growing up . MN lakes do operate under a different paradigm though b/c it is kind of hard to float your boat off the trailer from Nov-Mar, at a minimum.

[CaptainJoe]

Well, as I have stated many times on this forum, close a few coves each year (no ramps, resorts, docks, etc.) and prohibit fishing only during the spawn. Just bouy off the entrance to these areas. A few examples in the Dam Area are Jakes, Beardsley, and Brushy. Concentrate and emphasize brush pile plantings in these coves to help the fry hide during the spawn. California does this every year on their trophy lakes (Casitas and Castaic) and these lakes are tiny.

This way everyone can enjoy the lake during the spawn and fish in these restricted areas can have a chance of survival and replenish the lake.

[Tfsh4bass]

Well, as I have stated many times on this forum, close a few coves each year (no ramps, resorts, docks, etc.) and prohibit fishing only during the spawn. Just bouy off the entrance to these areas. A few examples in the Dam Area are Jakes, Beardsley, and Brushy. Concentrate and emphasize brush pile plantings in these coves to help the fry hide during the spawn. California does this every year on their trophy lakes (Casitas and Castaic) and these lakes are tiny.

This way everyone can enjoy the lake during the spawn and fish in these restricted areas can have a chance of survival and replenish the lake.

Minnetonka had something like that...they had signs on the bank and a couple out in the water at the entrances of some bays that said something about being a restricted area from June 1-30 for the bass spawn

[Tfsh4bass]

Tfish...keep that Pelican stuff quiet. There are no bass in that lake and weren't when I went there every year growing up . MN lakes do operate under a different paradigm though b/c it is kind of hard to float your boat off the trailer from Nov-Mar, at a minimum.

We only caught yellow perch in Pelican

I agree MN is a different animal but just look at their DNR website and you will see how important their fishing resources are to them...Texas is very similar. Also, MN gives out a limited number of tournament permits each year per lake which I think is another good idea.

Just an example of 1 lake break down

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/showreport.html?downum=48000200

I have never been impressed with our conservation department and I think our lakes are good in spite of them not because of them. No offense to any conservation department member and I realize you work with the funding provided...I have just never thought we have done enough in our state to promote/improve fishing.

[techo]

I lived in MInnesota for about twenty years. I lived on Rainy Lake for nine. The DNR are not highly thought of there either. I am sure they do a good job, just easy targets......same here.

Is our fishery in trouble? It seems like Table Rock is doing fine and just has the ups and downs of seasons and regular fluctuations. Generally speaking.....you can go out on Table Rock and catch something. Don't get me wrong....I am all for treating the lake with respect and anything that can make it healthier is good by me. I was just wondering if the lake was not doing well or living up to expectations with the suggestions regarding tournaments and fish management.

[dtrs5kprs]

I lived in MInnesota for about twenty years. I lived on Rainy Lake for nine. The DNR are not highly thought of there either. I am sure they do a good job, just easy targets......same here.

What a couple of beautiful, God-made lakes Rainy and Kabetogama are. Did you ever make it back into the falls by Crane? Was so spectacular I couldn't even fish after walking all the way back into it.

Think the local view of the various DNR's is like the opinion people get of local doctors...no one seems to like any of the ones closest to home.

Best 5 largemouth I have ever caught anywhere came from a single blown down pine tree on Pelican in 1992, easily 26+ for the 5 good ones and hit another one 23" there later the same week, at the big north running point where the mouth of the river meets the lake. Have fished all over and never come close to anything similar. That was back when the fish up there had hardly seen a jig and pig put in the right place, and Sluggos would just destroy them. First TW fish I ever caught was up the Pelican river on that lake in about 1984.

[Tfsh4bass]

I lived in MInnesota for about twenty years. I lived on Rainy Lake for nine. The DNR are not highly thought of there either. I am sure they do a good job, just easy targets......same here.

Is our fishery in trouble? It seems like Table Rock is doing fine and just has the ups and downs of seasons and regular fluctuations. Generally speaking.....you can go out on Table Rock and catch something. Don't get me wrong....I am all for treating the lake with respect and anything that can make it healthier is good by me. I was just wondering if the lake was not doing well or living up to expectations with the suggestions regarding tournaments and fish management.

I wouldn't say trouble and I just want what is best for the fishery where we have the best lake we can. I just look at Bull Shoals as an example...the high water the last few years let that lake have great spawns and it limited the site fishing as well. That lake is the best it has been in years and I had some early spring trips that were unbelievable. Also, you see a ton of small bass swimming around which are the hatches from the last couple of years which tells me that lake is really going to explode the next 4-5 years.

[Champ188]

I'm with Tfsh4bass and Capt. Joe both. I don't believe the lake is at all in trouble but it could only benefit from closing down some of the spawning areas on an annual basis. Wonder if there's any way to get MDC to listen to such a suggestion and give it a try?

P.S. Again, it's partly a money issue, but if you want to see poor game and fish management, come to Arkansas, where the striper is king.

[Tfsh4bass]

Best 5 largemouth I have ever caught anywhere came from a single blown down pine tree on Pelican in 1992, easily 26+ for the 5 good ones and hit another one 23" there later the same week, at the big north running point where the mouth of the river meets the lake. Have fished all over and never come close to anything similar. That was back when the fish up there had hardly seen a jig and pig put in the right place, and Sluggos would just destroy them. First TW fish I ever caught was up the Pelican river on that lake in about 1984.

Does this bring back some memories?