Smallmouth Regs

[Chief Grey Bear]

I'd say that's a good start, Chief. But how would you regulate spotted bass?

Well my intial thought was to only change the regs for smallmouth statewide. But in another post you also added LMB to the slot regs. So I thought that wouldn't hurt anything really and would make for larger bass in the river.

I would rather leave the current LMB and Spot regs in place. As stated earlier, the more complex it is, the less chance you have of getting some reg revision.

[KCRIVERRAT]

I'd go with the current regs on black bass for largemouth and spots. Smallmouth are what we all care for on the rivers. I know you guys over east wanna eradicate spots. Heck, look at all the regs you gotta keep up on depending on where you're fishing for trout. If MDC did the same for smallmouth, people would EVENTUALLY follow the same type of regs for smallmouth fishing. It would take awhile and the MDC would have to buy in. I'd darn sure go for it!

[eric1978]

I'd go with the current regs on black bass for largemouth and spots. Smallmouth are what we all care for on the rivers. I know you guys over east wanna eradicate spots. Heck, look at all the regs you gotta keep up on depending on where you're fishing for trout. If MDC did the same for smallmouth, people would EVENTUALLY follow the same type of regs for smallmouth fishing. It would take awhile and the MDC would have to buy in. I'd darn sure go for it!

It does get complicated, but the Meramec system needs special spotted bass regs. It's real simple. Keep 'em all. Normal regs for spots everywhere else (except the Gasconade, which is a river I don't know well). The problem would be (and probably currently is) people not being able to identify them and keeping largemouth as well.

[Al Agnew]

Been thinking about the spotted bass a bit more...

No doubt the current regs on them should be kept in place on the Meramec system. I'd extend those regs to the Gasconade system because although they don't seem to be spreading as extensively there, the potential for spread may still be there. I'd extend the same regs to all the other north Ozark streams where they aren't native and that have historically had excellent smallmouth populations.

On the south-flowing streams where they are native, my knee jerk reaction was that they needed different regs, since they are slower-growing and reach a smaller maximum size that the largemouth and smallmouth as a rule. But the beauty of a slot limit is that it would pretty much keep the three species on a level playing field. Most of the spots would stay under the slot for a year longer at least, so would be subject to a longer vulnerability to harvest. On the other hand, they'd also be a little less likely to be harvested if people were as likely to catch a 13.5 inch smallmouth as a 12 inch spot, and more likely to keep the smallmouth. So I think that keeping things simple in the south-flowing streams and putting slots on all three species might just work. Only drawback from a catch and keep standpoint is that chances are pretty slim of ever catching a spot OVER the slot, especially a 14-20 inch slot.

I could also go with an 11 inch minimum length on all three species, with the smallies and largemouth subject to the slot, the spotted bass NOT subject to the slot, but subject to the total creel limit. But that's starting to get more complicated again.

[Chief Grey Bear]

Well my intial thought was to only change the regs for smallmouth statewide. But in another post you also added LMB to the slot regs. So I thought that wouldn't hurt anything really and would make for larger bass in the river.

I would rather leave the current LMB and Spot regs in place. As stated earlier, the more complex it is, the less chance you have of getting some reg revision.

Something else I have been thinking about is seperating the creel of LM and Spot from the Smallmouth if a slot was implemented. But it would have to be from the bottom. Meaning that one would be allowed to creel 4 smallmouth less than 13 inches in addtion to the total of 6 creeled LM, Spot or any combination of.

Now just think about it a minute before you jump on keyboard and start baning away. Something along these lines may be needed to maximize the management of smallmouth for the greater.

[Buzz]

I guess this subject is one of the main reasons I am a C & R fisherman. Now don't get me wrong, I am all for good reasonable and understandable regulations, but if you try to remember all of the different regs for all of the different species it gets a liittle bit scary. Not very many places have the regs posted and they are obviously different on several of our streams and rivers. So, I'm just going to stay strictly C & R except for a catfish or two.

Maybe the MDC should spend a little bit more money on education of the masses. Commercials on both TV and radio, and maybe a billboard or two. Let the people who don't already know about this precious resource, know about the slow growth rate.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I don't think its unreasonable to expect stream smallmouths in Missouri to get as much attention and regulating as trout do.

[Guest]

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[Gary Lange]

It takes them a while to grow to any significant size.

4-6 Years to reach 12"

7-8 Years to reach 15"

10 Years or more to grow a 4 pounder.

That is a long time growing in a Stream to reach a size that makes you smile proudly when you catch it.

[Chief Grey Bear]

I am all for good reasonable and understandable regulations, but if you try to remember all of the different regs for all of the different species it gets a liittle bit scary.

All we are talking about is a simple state wide slot on Smallmouth only. That wouldn't be very hard to remember. And it is much less complex than what the MSA is trying to have imposed.