Why Does Fishing Continue To Decline In Our Rivers?

[ozark trout fisher]

Not buying that one. I've caught too many fish in holes that were populated with families of otters. One was over the period of a couple of years and the only thing that ruined the fishing in that hole was a flood that closed it up.

Yeah, I think the otters could potentially have some impact on smaller streams. But on the larger rivers I have a hard time buying that as more than the smallest trace part of the issue. Even on the smaller streams the fish have to be a lot more worried about the predators on two legs........

[Smalliebigs]

The MDC is just helping destroy the SM fishing in our state. If there was a general regard for keeping river and stream Small mouth numbers up, then there would be no 2nd guessing, they would not be allowed to be harvested. The MDC and the state have no vision FOR THE FUTURE. The mentality of our "overseers" leaves me wanting to pull what I have left of my hair out.

agreed 100%

[Flysmallie]

Yeah, I think the otters could potentially have some impact on smaller streams. But on the larger rivers I have a hard time buying that as more than the smallest trace part of the issue. Even on the smaller streams the fish have to be a lot more worried about the predators on two legs........

The one spot I'm talking about is on a medium sized river. And yes I have seen many of the two legged predators doing more harm than otters, even seen a few getting tickets for their actions. I've also seen more harm from bald eagles than the otters on that river. And their population continues to increase. When can we start dropping them out of the sky?

[Wayne SW/MO]

The idea that people catching and keeping too many fish doesn't hold water. There is no one on here so old they can remember when it it was less of problem. We have all lived with that, just as we have lived with carp, and to look for a decline in a rivers output you have to identify changes. That isn't one f them.

I'm with Flysmallie, otters aren't a big factor either and if they are it's because the smallie population is depressed from something else making their impact noticable.

I've fished the Niangua off and on for many decades and I know of holes you had to swim across that you can now wade without getting you T wet.

[ozark trout fisher]

The idea that people catching and keeping too many fish doesn't hold water. There is no one on here so old they can remember when it it was less of problem. We have all lived with that, just as we have lived with carp, and to look for a decline in a rivers output you have to identify changes. That isn't one f them.

The change you could point to is that there are a lot more fisherman out there keeping large numbers of fish. Very possibly a lower percentage, as more people get into catch and release (or at least not keeping more than you need for dinner) but a larger number total since there are so many more people overall fishing our streams now than at almost any point in the past.

As population increases and many of those fisherman keep doing things the way they always have, there will be a higher level of harvest. And more strain on the populations of all sorts of gamefish in our rivers.

I don't discount the effect of habitat degradation in the least. As I said, it just means we need to be more careful with the bass that our rivers still can support.

[Mitch f]

The idea that people catching and keeping too many fish doesn't hold water. There is no one on here so old they can remember when it it was less of problem. We have all lived with that, just as we have lived with carp, and to look for a decline in a rivers output you have to identify changes. That isn't one f them.

I'm with Flysmallie, otters aren't a big factor either and if they are it's because the smallie population is depressed from something else making their impact noticable.

I've fished the Niangua off and on for many decades and I know of holes you had to swim across that you can now wade without getting you T wet.

You don't have any data to back this up, but neither do I. But I darn sure disagree with you on over fishing

[Wayne SW/MO]

Thing is OTF, I feel that I see less stringers now. I wish I saw none, but I really don't believe I see anymore. fortunately the younger people entering the sport are getting a different message than many of us did 50 or 60 years ago.

Of course if you start adding in people tramping through riffles destroying the insect population, pulling gravel out of the bed, cutting vegatation to within a few feet of the bank destabilizing them amd elimiting water cooling shade, and the list goes on. Jet boats can't be ignored because they cause waves that run counter to the rivers flow and loosen material.

The bottom line is I don't think it's a misuse of the fish, but the environment they need to thrive in. Over fishing is relative and depndent of the resource available.

[ness]

The change you could point to is that there are a lot more fisherman out there keeping large numbers of fish. Very possibly a lower percentage, as more people get into catch and release (or at least not keeping more than you need for dinner) but a larger number total since there are so many more people overall fishing our streams now than at almost any point in the past.

Supporting data? Other than the guy in the picture?

[ColdWaterFshr]

No data to support it, but I tend to agree with OTF. I've witnessed plenty of stringer fishermen recently, they still exist, and they have a bigger impact than ever before.

Al's comparison to trout fisheries out west that get heavy pressure vs. the smallmouth streams here that receive heavy pressure -- not sure I understand that argument. The trout streams out west are almost exclusively C&R'd, and even where harvest is legal, it isn't happening. Different culture out there. And much shorter season from which to harvest for that matter. Whereas here, on our heavy pressured smallmouth water, while it may be true that there is more C & R fishing going on than ever before, I can assure you that the loaded stringer mentality is as strong as it ever was. And it only takes a few of these anglers (who can fish the stream just about year round,) and who are more efficient than ever, to really put the hurt on a stream that used to fish great.

Lack of enforcement is our problem. Too few of agents covering far too many miles of streams. And drought/flood as it relates to a good spawn variability is a crap shoot for any given year.

[Gavin]

It will be interesting to see the results of MDC's smallmouth tag survey. If harvest is significant, we might see some regulation changes. If is not, regulation changes won't work.