Where Are The Wardens?

[Smalliebigs]

I not really concerned about what people in Rogers AR think about any fees for a fishing license in Missouri. I pay for my AR,KY and IL out of state permit every year when I fish there as I try to be legal. My opinions on the fees and amounts have nothing to do with my fondness for Smallmouth bass.

it seems you think the bums who don't want to pay for a license will take away from the outdoors lobby somehow??? I think the people that don't want to pay for licenses are more than likely people who want to poach.

Your attitude about a $100 license is how I feel every year when I pay my income taxes.....at least a fishing license is going to something I am passionate about.

[Feathers and Fins]

Dont go there OTF.... I said before I lived in CA and they got the Anglers to think the (Ocean Enhancement Stamp ) was a good idea. Started off at $1.00 now its 5.14 then when they got away with that one cam a host of new fees that were included with a license before.

Resident Sport Fishing $44.85

Ocean Enhancement Validation $5.14

Second Rod Validation $13.78

Abalone Report Card $21.34

Spiny Lobster Report Card $9.21

TOTAL $94.32

When I left Cali in 1988 My fishing License cost me $32.00... And they did it to huniting licenses as well... YOU DO NOT want to give the State the foot in the door to start doing that ever or you will quickly find fishing is out of your budget.

Look what Mo did to the Snow Goose, The idea behind the conservation order was to kill as many as possible and to for years it was free. Now look at the cost for it. There is NO REASON to have put a cost on that at all yet here we have it... Raise the license fee a reasonable amount, but never start allowing for add-ons for what is already included in it. I still shake my head at familu living in Cali paying more than a Non-Resident license in most states to fish their howm state.

[Feathers and Fins]

I not really concerned about what people in Rogers AR think about any fees for a fishing license in Missouri. I pay for my AR,KY and IL out of state permit every year when I fish there as I try to be legal. My opinions on the fees and amounts have nothing to do with my fondness for Smallmouth bass.

it seems you think the bums who don't want to pay for a license will take away from the outdoors lobby somehow??? I think the people that don't want to pay for licenses are more than likely people who want to poach.

Your attitude about a $100 license is how I feel every year when I pay my income taxes.....at least a fishing license is going to something I am passionate about.

Psst Smallie I lived in Mo and I still very much care about. It is impossible to get a MO LIFETIME without living there. Guess what I still get surveys from MDC because of that license so my opinion DOES matter to them and this guy living in rogers arkansas filling out those surveys affects you so you may want ot think of others outside mo baecaus.------------> Yes those bums will and their voice grows louder every year with all the celbs they have joining them. You had better hope for a strong sportsmens voice and that voice is only strong in numbers.

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

I don't like the idea of puting more species on a "tag" basis. I can agree that our license is very reasonably priced, and some do fish for food. I like to keep some of the fish I catch when I can get out there. Some people are not as fortunate as others and $100.00 may not be alot to you, but to MANY $100.00 would be off limits to spend to have the priveledge to fish even if it were for survival. If the system is not broken Why should we try to fix it. Give perodic maintenance and all will continue to be well. Just my 2 cents (can't afford much else). HEY, remember, MDC accepts donations for all of you rich guys.

[eric1978]

Of course we'll never see the day where those who keep smallmouth have to pay $100 for a license. But I would be very supportive of an extra smallmouth stamp being required for everyone who fished for them, catch and keep or C&R... all of that money going into better enforcement of stream smallie regs.

Problem with that is there's no way to prove someone is targeting smallies. They could just say they're fishing for largemouth or anything else.

I'm not suggesting that a regular license for everyone be $100...I'm suggesting your license should be $100 if you want to keep smallmouth. No one's got a gun to your head...you don't wanna pay for it, then don't. Your cost is eleven or twelve bucks or whatever it is, and you can still keep all the other fish you want within your limits...there's plenty of other species to choose from. But the one species is off limits. One. Unless you pay for it. If eating smallmouth means that much to you, then a hundred bucks is no big deal. Surely you can catch over the course of a year what would have cost you the same amount at the grocery store.

Really it was a joke, but now that I got all these feathers ruffled, I'm starting to like the idea.

And F&F...you asked if there's anything special about smallmouth, then you answered yourself by saying: "no there isn't." You're right and wrong. They are just fish, just like all the other fish. But they're the most coveted native game fish in the Ozarks, and they grow more slowly than just about any other game fish I can think of...at least around here. I'd say those are two qualifiers for "special."

[ozark trout fisher]

Problem with that is there's no way to prove someone is targeting smallies. They could just say they're fishing for largemouth or anything else.

I had thought of that. But many states with trout stamps have bodies of water that are "designated trout streams" where trout permits are required to fish for any species. That is the sort of thing I have in mind here. Could be a logistical nightmare coming up with a comprehensive list of smallmouth waters, as well as the issue of people fishing for a wider variety of species than on most trout streams, so I realize that it's probably not going to happen. And for those who would worry about the cost...Trout stamps are what, $7? Would a similar price for a smallmouth stamp really break the bank? I hear about some fisherman spending $15 or $20 on a single lure, so what's 5 or 10 bucks to what we're spending for even one day on the river, let alone for a whole year? We have trout stamps to help manage a non-native species, so I just think some similar attention should be given to what is in my opinion the Missouri Ozark's premier native fish.

$100 licenses for those who keep smallies is a very nice dream, but not much more than that. At least in a state like Missouri, I just can't see anything remotely like that happening probably ever.

[Chief Grey Bear]

I think the lowly catfish still out ranks the turd bass as the most sought after fish in the state. So you boys haven't quite reached the "premier" status yet.

There was a list somewhere and I was thinking that the brownie was 3 or 4 on the list. If I remember right, you were juuuuust ahead of the carp.

[Quillback]

The Almighty Largemouth rules the roost. If we're gonna charge $100 to keep those dinky little creek runnin smallmouths, then we should charge $1,000 for a license to keep the King of All Fishes, the Largemouth.

The above is all in jest, before anyone blows a gasket and freaks out.

[eric1978]

I think the lowly catfish still out ranks the turd bass as the most sought after fish in the state. So you boys haven't quite reached the "premier" status yet.

I'm talking game fish...as in for sport. The vast majority of people fish for cats to throw them in the fryer. And carp? The carp on the fly thing is picking up steam...but still, you can hardly call those ugly bastards game fish...yet.

Largemouth is surely the most targeted species, but they grow plenty fast and they're super-abundant in our state because of all the reservoirs. They're hardly special. Just greener, stinkier and slower versions of the real deal.

[Feathers and Fins]

OTF most those States that have the stamps do so because it is to fund the (STOCKING PROGRAM) much like here in Mo and AR, there is a legitimate cost in stocking the fish ( hatchery, feed, etc) I could see that on fish they have to stock to maintain but not on naturally reproducing species. The most popular fish in the US is the Largemouth Bass, Then the Walleye last i checked < but that was from articles a few years back> I doubt its changed though. Smallmouth was way down on the list, Bluegill, catfish and crappie were ahead of it.

The list was by USFW and USAG based on numbers of people fishing for them and moneys spent and time spent. I ll see if i can find the report.