Fishing Report / Shuffling

[BWO]

I too had never heard of this tactic until this thread. My $.02 on it, it's kind of comical to read all the theories on this. I'd put it up there with kissing your sister, it may not be illeagal, and that doesn't make it right, but if someone sees you, you could be in for a good ribbing.

[flip4bass]

Now thats funny!!!

[gonefishin]

Alright, now I am curious. I am not saying that I don't think that shuffling is unethical because I do. Mainly because it effects other fisherman around you. If its doesn't bother other fishernan (there is no one esle anywhere near you), I'm not as worried about people shuffling. I have never done this and I had actually never heard of this until this topic was brought up. Just wondered if people would feel the same if it didn't actually happen to mess up there fishing.

But now for those that think going through a school of shad in a boat causing them to scramble and setting off the feeding reflex in the fish, do you really think that is the same thing. I noticed some saying that it is also wrong. If that is the case then what do you think about things that the pros do on the tours (Kevin VanDam among others) by placing mechanisms that release sounds into the water that sound like shad feeding. I am by no means saying that the pros are moral but just trying to see what everyone else thinks about that as well.

I am trying to see what most people perceve as being moral in fishing. I mean you could go as far as saying that the fly or lure you put into the water in not natural and is actually causing the fish to feed. How far does this thing go?

Again I am just trying to get some perspective on what other anglers think.

My point exactly. Where does one draw the line. Once shuffling is taken on and rules written where does it stop and then what is next? If outside stimuli that stimulates a feed (shullline) is illegal, immoral, or unsportsman like then arent all activities of artificial stimulation also the same? And what is wading other than shuffling? I just dont see where making laws against it makes any real sence especially when there are so many other things that more seriously affect fish and fishing.

[Jeff House]

If Missouri doesn't nip this in the bud by outlawing it I think you'll start to see it happening everywhere. Right now it's most prevalent below Taney but those same people probably fish other trout waters also. As more people witness this and see that it aids in catching fish they are naturally going to try it. It may not bother some of you but the damage to the streambed and fishery in general is well documented in numerous other states. Can you imagine going to Crane Creek and seeing 3 guys shoulder to shoulder kicking up the bottom and fishing at their feet? It will happen.

[flip4bass]

To me it would seem that shuffling would be most effective in places that experience frequent natural shuffling (like when the dam releases) and where the fish are used to fisherman. In most places if a fish saw you they would leave or have tight mouth, unless it is something that they are used to dealing with, like the loads of fisherman at Taney or Bennett. Of course I have never done this or seen people doing this so I am not really familiar with the technique. Do you really think shuffling will work at other locations like Crane Creek? If it does then it could become a problem, if it doesn't then I see nothing to worry about at those locations.

[gonefishin]

In another topic I was reading about boats speeding by fishermen in the upper lake. Wonder what kind of bottom damage they do as compared to shuffling.....

[Phil Lilley]

I believe our trout are used to being fed by humans... hatchery. That's why they are bad about sitting at your feet and other places not- like Crane. Is this reasonable?

[BWO]

Makes sense to me, I have never seen a trout at my feet in a "wild" stream.

[Thom]

Does anyone remember when you would see boats draging a light anchor or brick downstream to kick up the bottom and fishing behind it with spinning rods behind the boat. Chains were also drug behind boats. This was very prevelant on the White in Arkansas as well as herding. Herding was where a group of boats would gather around a good hole like white hole below the drop off and corral fish and then clean out the hole. both of these were practiced by guides and were outlawed because of the effect of the stream. I fished the white often in ARk about 15 years ago and believe me the fishery that remains is not near as good as it was before these things happened and has gotten better since they were outlawed.

The more people learn of the quality TR tailwater the more pressure there will be on it and if some attempt at keeping it regulated within reason doesn't occur we will find it becoming mediorce as time goes by. More importantly our children and grandchildren will not inherit was we enjoy because we let it happen.

WHY? I don't understand!!

SHUFFLILNG IS NOT NECESSARY AND DAMAGES THE FISHERY. IT IS NOT THE SAME AS WALKING INTO THE WATER. IT IS BLATENLY DESTROYING THE BREEDING PLACE OF THE VERY THING THAT ATTRACTS THE FISH THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

I am not a guy that walks into a stream and starts catching fish by the 50's. I have to work at it and change flies and try different things.

I never go to Taney without catching fish and mostly lots of them. Most go back into the lake. My grandsons fish there and tie their own flies and catch fish. It never seems to occur to them to kick up the bottom or fish at their feet. They are more interested in fishing as a sport. Changing flies and and trying other tecniques. Sooner or later they are catching fish again. That is what makes it a sport and fun along with teasing grandpa about how many more they caught than he did.

[Danoinark]

Thom

Excellent post and very true. I have exhausted in posts all that I know about shuffling and my disdain for it. I just have to reiterate that Arkansas got smart and made it illegal and it has not been an enforcement issue. Someone mentioned that it could happen at Crane. Sure it can until it's made illegal. Even if shuffling didn't increase your catch ratio on the Blue Ribbon streams, its going to do some damage to the substrate and fishermen have the right to shuffle at Crane as well as Taney... Dano