Keeping fish in trophy water

[jscheetz]

Another thing I am talking about is that a lot of C&R fishermen think they are better stewards of the trout than fishermen who keep fish. I don't know what the actual mortality rate is for C&R trout -

I don't either - but I do believe for one in the frying pan it still stands at 100%

JS

[ryan]

I have helped people land 20-inch-plus trout in the past and if they intend to keep the trophy, I politely point out the advantages (and disadvantages) to getting a replica made and releasing the fish. If they want to keep it I try not to show any attitude although it's disappointing to see a fish like that die. But you know it's just a fish. I'd rather walk away friends with the guy and not enemies.

Thats an excellent point as fisherman and outdoorsman we should remember to be understanding to all poeple and if we want to try and teach people more effective forms of conservation are best bet is by example

[rcm]

I have been fishing in the trophy trout area below the dam almost every week lately. I never keep anything. However, after a request from my parents for some fresh trout, I put a stringer in my vest. Late this morning I got into some stockers and thought it would be a good opportunity to get them some fish. I strung up four under 12" and headed out of the water. On the way to my car, people kept looking at me like I was carrying a minnow bucket or something. The dirty looks were enough to make me go to one of the conservation signs and check the regulations. I'm interested, how does everyone feel about keeping fish in the trophy area? If this is an unwritten rule I can live by it, but I kind of feel like that is why there is a slot limit.

I've read all the replies on this subject so far.........I'm exhausted!

[Hayduke-2-O]

I will be the first to admit that I look at people keeping fish- not to make them uncomfortable, but to make sure the fish are not in the slot. Just yesterday (Sunday) I noticed a fella spin fishing successfully, and immediately putting each caught fish on a stringer (he was at the rebar hole). After hearing him ask his buddy if the fish he had just caught was a rainbow or a brown, I looked at the stringer I also noticed a jar of salmon eggs (yeah, I know), so I approached him. I told him, in an obviously hushed and non-antagonistic voice, that what he was doing was very illegal. It turned out that he had just purchased his MO license and was completely unaware of the regs... he didn't even have a ruler of any kind. I loaned him mine, he measured then released the fish and was grateful to me for letting him know. (Anecdotal, I know, but relevant.) Personally, I am fine with people keeping <12'' fish, but there is nothing wrong with tactful enforcement of the regulations... even if doing so makes some folks a little uncomfortable.

I am surprized no one has discussed the supply/demand aspects of Taney's ecology and how that relates to keeping fish. The rule of thumb for trophic structures is base 10. That is, the total biomass of aquatic insects, scuds, sowbugs, etc (everything that these trout eat) has to be 10 times greater than the biomass of the trout in order for the population to be sustained. (Likewise, there has to be enough of the right kinds of periphyton and algae to sustain the "trout food" populations.) So, the best I can figure is something like this: by not keeping fish, the demand for "trout food" remains high and distributed over a wide range of trout sizes. Basically, all the fish have to compete for all the food. From this perspective, having a lot of fish will make it harder for any single fish to acquire enough resources to reach trophy size. On the other hand, I am a long way from being convinced that the big (15lbs+) fish in taney got that way without a hardy amount of fish guts in their diet.

I don't know a lot, and I am aware that Taney's ecology is probably far more complicated than that, but I think it is important to realize that MDC understands Taney's ecology (hopefully) and that the management methods depend on a "put and take" system.

[Greg]

Hayduke - the "buddy" that you mentioned the guy asking whether his fish was a rainbow or brown was me. And I was not his buddy. Merely someone downstream. I tend to be in my own little world when I'm fishing and I actually thought he had released the fish. I also didn't know he was fishing with bait. I did notice the stringer and jar of eggs or whatever when you started talking to him. Good job on doing it in a non-confrontational manner. I walked by him later and he spoke to me and was very embarrassed. He seemed like a good enough guy.

On this subject - I haven't kept a fish in years. But that has a lot to do with the fact that I just don't like to eat fish of any kind. It really doesn't bother me when someone keeps the "stockers" under 12". It is probably even good for the fishery. But I have to admit that when I see someone keep a fish over 20" it bothers me a little. I think of all that that particular fish had to go through to reach that size. I saw a spinfisher catch and keep a big (maybe 25") brown yesterday. Personally I like the slot but I'd like to see the upper end increased to 24 or 25".

Just MHO

Greg

[loo10]

"...spinfisher catch and keep a big (maybe 25") brown yesterday. Personally I like the slot but I'd like to see the upper end increased to 24 or 25".

Just MHO

Greg

Ditto.

I can go to the trophy area and catch 15-17" fish pretty regularly.

Makes me wonder what would happen if upper end of slot was raised to 24-25".

But then...I don't think too many are kept over 20.

Or am I just naive?

loo10

[Greg]

"How many fish over 20" are kept"?

loo10 - it's a good question: You may be right it may not be that many. But I fish Taney fairly often (3x/month avg) and it seems like I see one kept every other trip or so. More when the brown trout are spawning in the fall. Personally I don't have a problem with someone keeping an over 20" fish for a mount. It just seems sad when they end up as table fare when there are so many smaller fish for the taking that probably taste better. Also I certainly did not mean "spinfisher" as a derogatory term. Just being descriptive.

Again MHO only

Greg

[NoBarb]

Here's my two bits-why not have rules in place in the trophy area restricting the hooks used,use single point hooks,preferably barbless...it's rough enough on the fish in the fall using 7x.If some one tries to release a fish caught with multiple treble hooks...I personally hate to see that.

The fish in the trophy area would be better of if we would all use single piont barbless hooks,heck if you get one stuck in you, or your gear it's sure a lot nicer to deal with.

[Hayduke-2-O]

I would venture to say that there are many of use who would like to see the upper end of the slot increase to 24'' or 25'', as well as a single-barbless-hook regulation implemented. If I had to chose, however, I would have to chose the single-barbless-hook rule. I have only been flyfishing a few years, and I will admit that I was very reluctant to sacrifice the security of a barb... but as my skill increased and I started seeing how buggered up the fish's mouths were, my hesitency was replaced with a feeling of obligation to go barbless. Besides, barbless is so much easier to deal with.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I still hope to see 2 regulations, all C&R in the wadeble water and that a fish has to be kept in contact with the water. I think barbless is more of a convenience than that harmfull to the fish. I could be wrong, but I pinch to make it easy for me to release.