Gasconade Fun

[Chief Grey Bear]

I dunno if I should open this can of worms or not but I recently learned something about the bowfishing crowd that I'm not too wild about. I just assumed that most of the guys that are heavy into it had a use for the rough fish, either giving them to someone for hog food or for fertilizing gardens, or something at least moderately useful. But I'm learning (by merely listening) that that isn't the case at all. It sounds to me like most bowfishermen just chuck them up on the bank or throw them right back into the lake.

Not a really huge concern to me personally since buffalo, carp and gar are thicker than they need to be in most waters...but bowfishing is a fast growing sport and I see a future problem in the works here.

I know all the bowfishers in my little corner of the pond because I work on all of their boats, and if I start finding dead bass around here with pierced bodies then I'm gonna be in a difficult situation to say the least.

I noticed a couple of turtles last Fall that had been stuck so I know at least one group isn't above sticking "whatever swims".

You bet it is going to become a problem.

I saw a jet on Elk last year with three bow hunters. I saw literally a hundred dead gar. They were littered along the river and a big pile of them were at the take out.

I know most are not fans of gar because of misconceived perceptions and long standing traditons of folklore. Truth is they have more than earned their spot on our waters. I actually spoke to a biolgist a couple of years ago about this new sport and what I see happening. He didnt seem too concerned.

I'll agree that non native carp are too abundant. And I don't mind them being thinned. Yes they area ton of fun on a rod and reel but they can stand some thinning.

Gar on the other hand are native and may need some protection before things get out of hand.

I doubt you or anyone would agree with me on that though. But I would hate to wait until its too late.

I do think some regulations need to be enacted on bow fishing. Its wide open right now.

And I have been thinking like you. It could certainly have been someone bow fishing or spear fishing. Or he is a piss poor gigger. How did he only hit him the outside prong?

[Seth]

How did he only hit him the outside prong?

My guess would be the fish was hanging in deep water and they just took a crack shot at it and grazed it.

Speaking of spear fishing and bass, here is a video of Eric Young from Off the Hook: Extreme Catches spear fishing for smallmouth on some tailwater in Montreal.

http://on.aol.com/video/off-the-hook--extreme-catches--free-dive-spearfishing-under-solid-ice-517842098

[Hog Wally]

Sounds like lobster

[Old plug]

Chief Gar. can. become a problem. they have had a explosive population increase in LOZ. I think they as well as the practice of taking spawning bass off their beds. contributed to the down turn we had last year in fishing. i personally had a 2 ft gar try to take

a 3 lb bass off my line. They are fun to catch but on line and lure. They are aggressive.

[MattS]

Sad to hear that about gar! They are a hell of a fish to catch on a fly rod.

Not really difficult to catch them.

[Seth]

Free lining a minnow through a bunch of gar on light tackle is a blast. You have to use a small section of heavy mono leader though or their teeth will cut right through light line since they usually swallow the hook. A 4-5' long nose can put up a heck of a fight.

It's cool to watch them stalk a Zara Spook down and nail it. It's sort of like poor man's muskie fishing.

[Old plug]

I use 4 inch steel fine wire leader on mine. i make rope Lures to catch them on. I have a large school of them up my cove nota one under 31/2 ft and many are 4 ft.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Seth if you can, carp will rival any fish for patties and any recipe that uses canned fish.

I would imagine that more than one bedding bass has been arrowed by an unscrupulous bow fisher. If a person is going to bow fish rough fish they should have a plan for them aside from dumping them back in the water or leaving them to stink.

I'm not sure calling native gar and buffalo "rough" fish really fits. They have always been part of the environment in Missouri.

[Seth]

Seth if you can, carp will rival any fish for patties and any recipe that uses canned fish.

I've had pickled grass carp that was really good. It wasn't something I could eat a lot of, but it was a good snack. In the past we would pressure cooked asian carp fillets with seasoning salt and lemon pepper and make fish patties out of them. Those were awesome! We vacuum sealed two patties to a package and froze them. They were great for a quick meal. Just open the package, throw in a skillet with a little olive oil till it's crispy. Throw on a piece of bread, a slice of cheese and little tartar sauce and enjoy!

[fishinwrench]

I figure a sawzall would be the best method, then fillet the meat off the strip of hide.

Rubbery hu? Hadn't heard that. I'm suddenly less ambitious about it than I was before.