Where Are The Wardens?

[Chief Grey Bear]

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.

Psssssssssst.....catfish are gamefish.

Actually I think the LMB came in second behind the catfish. Which surprised me too.

[Feathers and Fins]

Well I guess Carp are a gamefish as well seeing how they are on the IGFA list http://www.igfa.org/Records/World-Records-Fish-List.aspx?LC=ATR

[eric1978]

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.

I didn't say most popular...I said most coveted.

[Feathers and Fins]

I didn't say most popular...I said most coveted.

By who's statandards? I have heard big browns from Taney and Walleye and Crappie so Im curious to where that comes from. Is it from MDC or just a fishing club?

[eric1978]

By who's statandards? I have heard big browns from Taney and Walleye and Crappie so Im curious to where that comes from. Is it from MDC or just a fishing club?

Neither. It comes from ME.

[stlfisher]

I'd have no problem paying more for a fishing license or requiring people who keep legal game fish to pay extra. It gives people a choice to fish for fun or fish for dinner without unjustly hurting anyone. You want dinner you pay for it...just like anywhere else. It is the american way. And I don't think anyone seriously thought $100 would fly. I don't know what the number would be, but imagine what that extra money would do for habitat improvement and stream cleanup. The extra fee would be for all game species and not just smallmouth...keep it simple.

[MOPanfisher]

I strongly suspect that most of us have been "checked" or rather observed more often than we know. I have watched CA's observing folks fishing and unless they see something that needs addressing not reveal themselves so they can watch other folks.

I truly love smallmouth fishing, but until the MDC starts raising and stocking them the idea of a separate fee is nothing more than something to stir us up. I like the trophy areas etc., love catching even smaller smallies, but don't keep them, too easy to pick up enough goggle eye or green sunfish to fill a skillet instead.

[kevthebassman]

I think they ought to put a $3-$5 tax on every canoe/raft rental from a canoe livery. There's got to be millions of dollars to be made with a modest fee on such a huge business. According to Huzzah Valley Resort's website, there isn't even sales tax on a canoe rental.

This is coming from someone who doesn't take the suggestion of a new tax lightly.

[eric1978]

I think they ought to put a $3-$5 tax on every canoe/raft rental from a canoe livery. There's got to be millions of dollars to be made with a modest fee on such a huge business. According to Huzzah Valley Resort's website, there isn't even sales tax on a canoe rental.

This is coming from someone who doesn't take the suggestion of a new tax lightly.

I think that's a great idea.

[Jack Jones]

I think the consensus in this entire posts is that there is money to be had and we all don't mind paying a bit more so long as it is directed to the right place.

Now.....anyone interested in taking the next step and contacting a legislator to propose one or more of these changes? I suspect that license fees are administratively under the purview of the MDC. Taxes may be another story.