My Report For 2012

[MoSportsmen]

Yep, I sure like to eat fish too. But SMALLMOUTH? Goggle eye would taste better I would bet. Yep, Just signed up to rejoin the MSA, I have thought for years there needs to be changes in the regs. It will make a little difference if it is tightened up.

Tom

[Addicted to Creeks]

thats the thing that bugs me the most, there are such better eating fish all over Missouri than smallmouth.I'm by no means a crusader for strict catch and release on every fish everywhere but it just seems ridiculous....

Just because you can doesn't mean you should .

[Greasy B]

The Ozark Smallmouth is such a special creature, such a fate is indeed a loss.

[DaveMac]

I don't understand this either. Quick check of the USDA website shows the average price of farm-raised catfish at about $2.50 per pound (whole fish). Gas money, time, bait & tackle, etc. would seem to at least make this roughly equal in cost to coming to clean out a stream of smallmouth.

With the exception of stocked trout, I don't think we can afford to take fish from creeks anymore. There are just too many people vying for the same resources.

[buckcreekmike]

I agree that is disturbing. Is the length limit on the Nianuga the same as Table Rock or LOZ? I bet it takes quite a while for a river smallie there to get that big. Unfortunatley they are aggressive and apparently to the right people (or wrong, i should say), that can be their demise.

[MoSportsmen]

Little Red Fisherman

"That is a shame. A few of my friends have been aware of my fishing this winter for smallmouth. One of them is wanting me to take him bad, but he made a comment that he would like to "have a good mess for supper". When it's brought up to go, I kinda change the subject."

Instead of changing the subject take em and introduce them to the concept of self control and why we need to protect smallmouth more than some other fish. I am guilty myself of not speeking up to a friend or aquantice. There is nothing wrong with being ignorant. Ignorance is the lack of knowledge, stupidity is ignoring education. Once we have determined someone is stupid then we can give up trying to teach them anything.

Tom

[Wayne SW/MO]

The winters are getting warmer and the smallies no longer have ice to keep them off of the rivers. Every river I know of has become more shallow due to gravel and has fewer deep holes. The bottom line is that smallies are more vulnerable and there is no reason to allow harvest in the winter. Traditionally Missourians don't expect to eat fresh caught fish in the winter.

MDC needs to address the subtle changes occuring on the Ozark rivers due to the climate change and its effect on the fauna.

[oneshot]

Ok living on the Niangua for years and being on the Internet for years where I now hear this I've heard complaints about Gigging,Brown Trout and even some complain about keeping Goggle Eye.

Take into consideration lots of people do good to make $10K a year for their family I will guarantee you if they are fishing it is for the frying Pan and some don't care if its legal or not but most part they try to stay legal.

Just something to consider.

oneshot

[eric1978]

Ok living on the Niangua for years and being on the Internet for years where I now hear this I've heard complaints about Gigging,Brown Trout and even some complain about keeping Goggle Eye.

Take into consideration lots of people do good to make $10K a year for their family I will guarantee you if they are fishing it is for the frying Pan and some don't care if its legal or not but most part they try to stay legal.

Just something to consider.

oneshot

Well this isn't the 1800s, and there's lots of cheap food available. Aren't Ramen noodles about seven cents each? You can make about ten pounds of spaghetti for the cost of a suspending jerkbait. And if they're so broke, how do they afford gas to get to the river and who bought their boat? I've had enough of the "it's legal" argument. So is adultery.

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

Don't let the bad doings of a few ruin the good things for the many. I don't see a problem there except that it looks to me that the fillets were not used to the most of their potential. As long as it is legal, and it is being done in a legal manner, then they should not be looked down upon. I also think that the waste should have been discarded in a better fashion. I know alot of you all on here have reservations on the smallie, and I am glad that you do. We all are to use the resources given to us to the best of our capability. Now that these fish are not in the areas there is room for others to grow and take the places of the ones that were removed, the cycle will continue. The waters may be down right now, but with the way the glaciers are reported to be melting, soon, the rivers will be normal at flood stage. ;-)