Smallies Must Be Biting In Northern Ar

[Bird Watcher]

Can't say I like that idea. But I am not a fan of CC either. If you want to carry, then carry. Why should you have to get a permit from the governemnt to carry a weapon? Isn't that an infringment of our right?

haha, I was just trying to stir the pot with another controversial topic to this board, but I agree with you 100%

[stlfisher]

The whole "it is my legal right and I am gonna do it" attitude is really kind of silly. Just because it is legal doesn't always mean it is the right thing to do. It seems some use the legal code as their moral code and think that is good enough. There is more to it IMO.

[Al Agnew]

There is also a big difference between some kid or novice who catches one nice fish and wants to keep it, and a guy who routinely catches big fish and keeps large numbers of them. Although, a little gentle education of that kid as to the value of the fish in the stream and the time it takes to grow one that big might be in order. I'd never tell a kid like that not to keep a fish (unless it was illegal to do so), but I might suggest that, once he starts catching them like that regularly that he ought to think about the impact he's then having on the resource.

I've always believed that the highest ethics involve KNOWING the water you're fishing, its characteristics and problems, well enough to decide for yourself whether the legal code is your moral code, or whether you should go farther. And it cuts both ways. There are many waters where keeping some fish will improve the fishery. If everybody catches and releases all the time, it does nothing to accomplish what slot limits are supposed to accomplish, or what liberal spotted bass regulations are supposed to do. I have as little respect for those who always catch and release no matter what as I do for those who believe it's their God-given right to kill and eat everything in sight. I keep bass from waters that I KNOW need thinning, I keep a few small ones now and then from waters with slot limits, and there are certainly streams in the Ozarks where, if I fished them all the time, I'd have no problem with keeping some of the smaller smallmouth, knowing that those streams have plenty of smaller fish. But I also know that 18 inch plus stream smallmouth are not all that common in the Ozarks, and are under attack from a lot of different directions, so I will NEVER keep one that size. And to be honest, I really DON'T think that anybody who catches smallmouth that size with some regularity should ever keep them. Period. Catch one big fish you want to mount because it's the biggest you've ever caught? Fine. But catch them by the dozens every year...why keep them when a quick picture records the event and gives you the bragging rights?

[ozark trout fisher]

Haven't taken part in one of these debates in awhile....good to see they still exist:)

I will say that I didn't read this whole thread, but here's the way I look at it....I don't keep smallmouth bass, because I get an inordinate amount of enjoyment out of catching them and in that case it seems really silly to destroy the thing that I love. It's partially based on sound, biologically reasons, but that's far from the whole story. I also understand that some other people don't feel the same way, and that's fine. There are places where keeping smallmouth is okay. Not ideal, but okay. There are a lot of Ozark rivers that are absolutely brim full with them and keeping a couple isn't going to be terribly damaging to the fishery. But there are other places, where in my opinion, it's not okay....legal, or not. I fish some streams where the native smallies are a fairly tiny minority of the population, depressed by invasive species or pollution or overharvesting. One should never keep a fish out of those streams.

That said, I don't make a practice of calling out people who are keeping fish and are within their rights. Trying to embarrass someone when they're fishing is rarely productive and is more likely to turn them against your cause than anything else. Of course I only mean this in situations where a person is keeping legal fish, if they're poaching it's a different matter entirely. All you can do is try to spread the word, and hope for the best.

[Greasy B]

On the heavily pressured float streams I fish I'm pretty certain any fish I catch that is longer than 16" has been released at least once since it reached the 12" length limit. If it weren't for someone releasing legal sized fish there would be no quality fish at all. I'm truely grateful for those who release.

[Mitch f]

On the heavily pressured float streams I fish I'm pretty certain any fish I catch that is longer than 16" has been released at least once since it reached the 12" length limit. If it weren't for someone releasing legal sized fish there would be no quality fish at all. I'm truely grateful for those who release.

I'm happy to say that since I released my ex- wife, she has grown considerably.

[Terrierman]

Can't say I like that idea. But I am not a fan of CC either. If you want to carry, then carry. Why should you have to get a permit from the governemnt to carry a weapon? Isn't that an infringment of our right?

Plus if it's really concealed, who's gonna know anyway? 100% here Mr. Grey Bear.

[Terrierman]

Crowbar is old enough to know better. That's the problem plain and simple. Knowing better and failing to act according. Seems to be an all too common human trait though. It's surely one of mine now and then.

[Guest]

I'm happy to say that since I released my ex- wife, she has grown considerably.

I laughed out loud at that one. Amen brother!

[Chief Grey Bear]

haha, I was just trying to stir the pot with another controversial topic to this board, but I agree with you 100%

I kinda figured that.

Plus if it's really concealed, who's gonna know anyway? 100% here Mr. Grey Bear.

Exactly! Unless you get yourself into some trouble, nobody will be none the wiser.