Why Does Fishing Continue To Decline In Our Rivers?

[Hog Wally]

I'm not saying it couldn't be better but the meramec around stclair is awesome right now. I'm not worried about saying this on the forum cause you will tear everything you own up running it right now. I seen three boats today on the river two were anchored off cat fishing and the other was probably some of you guys that catch and release. I'm guessing that because of the fancy garments and nice truck they rolled up in I know dang near every local and even the hillbilliest of em don't keep smallmouth. Just a select few and they do exactly what the guy in the picture does. I'm not onboard with the river being in decline I guess I think big ones are harder to catch most the time. If you fish every other day like me you would experience that rare treat when every fish in a hole opens his mouth and you realize what's down there. Just saying. Maybe I'm an optimist about your beloved smallie. Walleye is what really needs attention IMO

[Guest]

deleted

 

 

[Riverwhy]

No doubt that heavy pressure from catch and keep could impact the stream in the photos. You may love the otter but 2 pounds of fish a day per adult otter is way more problematic.

We are on the same side on the smallmouth issue so I don't want to argue. I absolutely love those fish. The best sport fish we have in my opinion. On the couple of streams I fish the most it sure seemed to me that the quality of the fishery declined when the otters appeared.

[Hog Wally]

There is so many opinions here that all kinda make sense but I don't know about the jet boat one. When I canoe fish I am hammering every little nook and cranny. I drove 12 miles yesterday and only fished 200 yards. The boat that just went by my house is undoubtably a fisherman and he never stopped in the 3 mile range that I can hear Cattle in the river? Where? I haven't seen one in 5 years. Just saying.

[BATCAB27]

Did Missouri pass the bill on the otter bounty?

[Mitch f]

There is so many opinions here that all kinda make sense but I don't know about the jet boat one. When I canoe fish I am hammering every little nook and cranny. I drove 12 miles yesterday and only fished 200 yards. The boat that just went by my house is undoubtably a fisherman and he never stopped in the 3 mile range that I can hear Cattle in the river? Where? I haven't seen one in 5 years. Just saying.

As you know there's a lot of people with jet boats that have cabins along the river and they park theor jet boats in a little dock right under their cabin. They gig all winter long and they fish all summer long and they never get checked These guys are some of the biggest offenders. I know we've talked about some of them

[E Green]

Otters have nothing to do with it. I have spent many hours on 1 particular stream with an extremely healthy ecosystem.... Otters and smallies included.

[E Green]

I got very acclimated with this mature female over the last 4 years. I was able to view her about 50 times. Always in the same pool. I always had moderate to good success with smallies on " her stretch" of stream. I saw 5 otters one day while wading this stream. Almost no pressure ( besides me ), excellent ecosystem and IMO, great smallmouth fishing.

I usually saw the otters feeding on green and longear sunfish fyi.

[Jerry Rapp]

I got very acclimated with this mature female over the last 4 years. I was able to view her about 50 times. Always in the same pool. I always had moderate to good success with smallies on " her stretch" of stream. I saw 5 otters one day while wading this stream. Almost no pressure ( besides me ), excellent ecosystem and IMO, great smallmouth fishing.

I usually saw the otters feeding on green and longear sunfish fyi.

probably also eating 4 to 6 inch smallies Let us know if the good smallmouth fishing continues in 3 or 4 years, it could prove interesting,

[Guest]

deleted