Why Does Fishing Continue To Decline In Our Rivers?

[Gavin]

Otters...think it has balanced out a bit...The two legged otters do more damage that is for sure.

[Riverwhy]

I very much appreciate the otter education I have recieved on this post. i had worried that a family of five otters eating ten pounds of fish a day or over 3,000 fish a year out of a small section of stream could effect the smallmouth and google eye populations. I now realize it is the stringers of six fish kept by anglers that is doing the real damage.

It's also refreshing to hear that otters are part of a healthy ecosystem while humans are not meant to be part of the enviroment.

i just wish otters could get acclimated to eat asian and big head carp.

[mic]

Now that is now what we are saying. Otters eat a lot of things besides fish so your estimates on fish pressure are a little off. No one said we aren't can't be part of the ecosystem. What most if not all of are saying, we can't abuse it. When you poach you abuse it.

I very much appreciate the otter education I have recieved on this post. i had worried that a family of five otters eating ten pounds of fish a day or over 3,000 fish a year out of a small section of stream could effect the smallmouth and google eye populations. I now realize it is the stringers of six fish kept by anglers that is doing the real damage.

It's also refreshing to hear that otters are part of a healthy ecosystem while humans are not meant to be part of the enviroment.

i just wish otters could get acclimated to eat asian and big head carp.

[Mitch f]

I very much appreciate the otter education I have recieved on this post. i had worried that a family of five otters eating ten pounds of fish a day or over 3,000 fish a year out of a small section of stream could effect the smallmouth and google eye populations. I now realize it is the stringers of six fish kept by anglers that is doing the real damage.

Feeling the sarcasm, did you ever stop to consider......

The most remote streams are usually better fishing? The areas with little or no access, or has great distances between public ramps or launch sites always have the best fishing?

[Wayne SW/MO]

Mitch I'm not sure that is a reasonable explanation. First thing that comes to my mind is that we really don't have any remote streams here. We do have some little known, or fished streams, but I can't think of a remote stream in Missouri. My second thought is that if if the damage is being done at accsses and ramps it would be hardly noticable because they make up such a small area. Over the years I've seen or heard of some quality fish coming out of places accesed by floaters almost daily and nice fish coming from access points. The one thing they seem to have in common is deep water and cover, not pressure.

[awhuber]

not only do the otters like fish and crawdads, they like little girls!

http://www.twincities.com/News/ci_26331000/Minneapolis-girl-attacked-chased-by-otter-in-Wisconsin-lake

 

[E Green]

Edit edit edit I'm willing to look at your descriptive info, detailed stories and pictures. I won't quote your points and create exaggerated snide remarks like you did to me. I just wanted to give an example with as much detail and proof as possible that supports my view. I have thousands of pictures and experience that gives me confidence on this topic. You simply posted sweeping generalizations without anything else, besides a smart butt remark regarding my info.

I never said that was the only place I saw otters on this stream either. Nor is it the only stretch where I had success catching smallmouth. Out of 17 various Ozark streams, this one had by far the healthiest ecosystem-from the top of the food chain to the very bottom. This was also the stream where I saw the largest population on Otters.

[ozark trout fisher]

It's also refreshing to hear that otters are part of a healthy ecosystem while humans are not meant to be part of the enviroment.

We're probably meant to be a part of a healthy ecosystem. We just choose not to more often than not.......

[ness]

Guys -- like it or not, it's all subjective.

And you guys squaring off in one camp or another ought to consider that there are likely multiple causes. That's just the way the world works.

Poachers, otters, changing habitat, non-poachers, drought, chemical runoff, gravel mining, invasive species, giggers, bow fishermen, spear gun fishermen, grabbers, food availability, jet boats, expensive lures tossed by even more expensive rods, widely available information how and where to fish, meth (enables round-the-clock fishing), real unemployment, and the dreaded 'locals'.

The only thing that surprises me is that there are any fish anywhere.

[ozark trout fisher]

Guys -- like it or not, it's all subjective.

And you guys squaring off in one camp or another ought to consider that there are likely multiple causes. That's just the way the world works.

Poachers, otters, changing habitat, non-poachers, drought, chemical runoff, gravel mining, invasive species, giggers, bow fishermen, spear gun fishermen, grabbers, food availability, jet boats, expensive lures tossed by even more expensive rods, widely available information how and where to fish, meth (enables round-the-clock fishing), real unemployment, and the dreaded 'locals'.

The only thing that surprises me is that there are any fish anywhere.

Oh I agree.

It's just, given all that, it seems like we have plenty of rationale to be careful with the smallmouth that are still in the river. Overharvest (legal and illegal) may not even be the main cause for the decline, but no one can reasonably argue that it doesn't hurt. And to be honest, it's a heck of a lot more practical to curb than danged near any of the other issues you just detailed.