Some Fodder For Your...

[Chief Grey Bear]

reading pleasure.

http://rhtrav.com/wordpress/?p=2532

World-class’: Size of the fish, or beauty of the fishing?

While fishing the Mineral Fork in Washington County on Saturday, my father remarked repeatedly how beautiful the landscape and clear the creek is.

“Dad, this is why I fish,” I said.

He’s relatively new to Missouri and very new to the creek fishing many of us enjoy in the Ozarks. It has taken me quite some time to convince him that, in the Ozarks, creek fishing is a blessing.

The Ozark streams are gems of peace and beauty. The rugged terrain, bold bluffs, clear water and abundant wildlife are blessings. And the smallmouth bass — the underdog with attitude — are a special gift for sport fishermen.

Much attention has been given lately to the quality of smallmouth fishing in the Ozarks. The Missouri Smallmouth Alliance, a club of bronzeback devotees, created a “blue-ribbon” panel to propose a plan for the Missouri Department of Conservation to create a “world-class” smallmouth fishery. Debate has been passionate among those who have differing ideas of how the state should manage Ozark waterways for the fierce fighter.

Beautiful smallmouth bass like this one, caught in Huzzah Creek, are what makes fishing in the Ozarks world class.

MDCs fisheries biologists are charged with the difficult task of managing the states fisheries for a variety of interests. While our methods and motivations vary, we are all anglers and we all have a reason to want quality fishing. As far as I can tell, the folks at the MDC are doing a fine job.

Since I moved to Missouri 12 years ago, I have always been impressed by the simplicity of fishing here. The regulations, free of influence from elected politicians looking to cozy up to lobbyists and special-interest groups, are easy to understand. A resident annual fishing permit, a mere $12, is among the lowest of any state within a day’s drive. Access to quality streams is generally easy, unlike some states that continue to experience legal battles for stream access.

Ultimately, the MDCs responsibility is not to cater to the fleeting desire of humans to practice the type of fishing they prefer. It’s role is to manage the fisheries for the fish — to ensure that they have adequate structure, food and water to sustain healthy populations for our generation and those that will follow.

In 10 years of pursuing smallmouth bass in Missouri waters — on the basin rivers and the little creeks that meander through private land — I can’t recall any trip when I was disappointed. The greatness of fishing for smallmouth bass in the Ozarks lies not in the size of the fish but in the beauty of the places in which they live.

We already have a world-class smallmouth fishery.

You can read the MDCs 2009 smallmouth bass white paper summary here.

The Missouri Smallmouth Alliance’s Power Point presentation with smallmouth bass management proposals can be downloaded here.

[G-ROD]

Just someone elses opinion...nothing more.

I've followed and read all of the posts regarding this topic, but have declined to respond..until now. I simply want bigger smallmouth. I'll trade 20-30-40 10"-16" fish for one 20" smallmouth..Everytime I go.

[Al Agnew]

Actually we've been having some discussion in the committee about the continuing use of the term "world class". It was a pretty succinct, if not extremely precise, catch phrase for what our goal is, but it seems to have a negative connotation among some anglers. Maybe some think it brings to mind hordes of non-resident anglers descending upon the Ozark streams.

At any rate, I agree we have wonderful rivers here, and in truth few places anywhere have the number of smallmouth streams we have and the numbers of smallmouth we have in the better ones. But a more precise statement of our goal is to improve the size structure of the smallmouth populations to where a greater percentage of adult smallies are bigger fish. Just because we have it good already with beautiful streams and lots of fish doesn't mean it can't be improved, and improved for everybody. I'm pretty sure just about everybody would like to catch more big fish. The whole question is what people are willing to "put up with" in order to catch more big fish. It's a matter of managing the fisheries not JUST for the greatest numbers of harvestable fish, but for good numbers AND a better average size.

I've said it before...we in the Smallmouth Alliance are advocating for what WE want, with the idea that in the end just about everybody will benefit from it if done right. It's up to MDC to weigh the costs and benefits, listen to everybody, come up with a final plan, and implement it. I will not apologize for our advocacy.

[eric1978]

Ultimately, the MDCs responsibility is not to cater to the fleeting desire of humans to practice the type of fishing they prefer.

This is my only problem with the article. C&R is conservation, and conservation is not fleeting. It's here to stay unless we want to see the quality of our fishing to go backwards.

I'm with G-Rod...give me bigger fish. Funny how the meat anglers and those who support the meat anglers always qualify their opinions by saying how "we already have world-class fisheries" because the Ozarks are so beautiful, or how they don't mind catching nothing but dinks all day long.

I guess here we go again. I suppose I'm ready for this debate one more time...it's been a couple months.

[timinmo]

After reading the article, two things stuck out in my mind. One, no matter what regulations are enacted the things that the writer loves about stream fishing in the Ozarks will not change. The landscape and the clarity of the water will not be changed by the regulations. The bluffs will not tumble down if the MSA wish list is enacted. Two, the Mineral Fork is already a Special Management Area and from his tone I don't believe that fact ruined the fishing for the writer and his father.

Certainly MDC must serve many masters. They try to balance all the wishes and come up with a viable plan. MSA is just one voice and I am sure they hear many others. I advocate for my desires and interests and make no apologies to anyone. If you have different interests and are not making your voice heard it is certainly not my fault. In the recent past they eliminated commercial fishing on the Missouri River, at the time I'm sure the commercial fisherman were not pleased, but every one seems happy about the recent large catfish caught there. In short somebody's ox is going to be gored I will try my best to see that it isn't mine.

[Mitch f]

Just someone elses opinion...nothing more.

I've followed and read all of the posts regarding this topic, but have declined to respond..until now. I simply want bigger smallmouth. I'll trade 20-30-40 10"-16" fish for one 20" smallmouth..Everytime I go.

I agree with G-Rod, except I want to catch 3 20" fish

[eric1978]

After reading the article, two things stuck out in my mind. One, no matter what regulations are enacted the things that the writer loves about stream fishing in the Ozarks will not change. The landscape and the clarity of the water will not be changed by the regulations. The bluffs will not tumble down if the MSA wish list is enacted. Two, the Mineral Fork is already a Special Management Area and from his tone I don't believe that fact ruined the fishing for the writer and his father.

Very good points, sir!

I agree with G-Rod, except I want to catch 3 20" fish

Hmmm...now that I think about it, forty 16" fish sounds like a pretty fun day! Forty 12" dinks, though, I can live without.

[Trav]

I agree with G-Rod, except I want to catch 3 20" fish

Haha...I will take 3 20inchers and a couple 24inchers to boot!!

[Gavin]

I know Teak, he's no meat head...I think he's just stating that he's pretty happy with the fishing experiences he has right now...I am too for that matter...but I'd still like some bigger fish.

I agree that "World Class" is not be the best catch phrase...Its too easy to too turn it into a argument about how you define "World Class" because that can be many things to different people...Its good that folks are still talking about smallmouth regs....and dissent is welcome..The SMA put its recommendations out there, folks have had time to digest those recomendations and add their comments....the only thing that is missing is something tangible from MDC. Cheers.