Question About Gigging/spearfishing?

[Flysmallie]

The few bad apples give the legal and ethical giggers a black eye, just like everything else that goes on in this world. One of my favorite things to do is catch stream smallmouth but I also enjoy gigging. Most smallmouth guys are very anti gigging due to the turd buckets who like to go out and gig them. I'm as against them as anybody, but I don't see the need to punish everybody because a few people like to break the rules. That's like banning guns from everybody because one person shot somebody. Sadly, there are a lot of narrow minded folks who feel that way. It's the same as somebody who doesn't gig wanting to ban gigging because a few folks like to poach.

I agree 100% and I have never gigged in my life.

[MOPanfisher]

There is nothing wrong with gigging, spearfishing or snagging if done within the laws of whatever state its in. When gigging we have had the opportunity to take many non-target fish such as walleye or bass knowing nobody would ever catch us, but we don't and I don't believe we are in the minority of the giggers either. If the state say Arkansas believe spearfishing walleye or catfish to be a problem then they can set restrictions such as missouri has.

[Seth]

Down in the southern US, I think it is legal to bowfish just about anything that swims, It's a wonder they have anything left down there. I've seen videos of guys bow fishing for paddlefish and catfish, even spear fishing smallmouths under the ice! These were televised on national TV so it was perfectly legal too. Game laws vary so much between states it is crazy.

[moguy1973]

The MDC really plays up gigging. In fact in this months Conservationist there's a big article about it.

[Mitch f]

The MDC really plays up gigging. In fact in this months Conservationist there's a big article about it.

Yep, bunch of dorks, they love to play up the Ozark Tradition.

[Chief Grey Bear]

Why are they dorks?

Just because you don't like gigging?

[Flysmallie]

I have to try gigging at least once in my lifetime. I know they get a bad rap but I also realize they aren't all bad.

[Chief Grey Bear]

Exactly Ronnie!

I have caught numerous fish with mortal hook wounds. Ripped out lips, busted jaws, and some that are missing the Maxillary. So does that make C&R folks Dorks?

Guess so.

[Al Agnew]

I don't want to argue the whole gigging issue, but while I wouldn't use the work dorks, I do question MDC's attitude toward it. In my opinion they are behind the times in their continued glorification of gigging as a tradition when present day equipment and boats make it a far cry from the Ozark tradition it once was, and when it is obviously a difficult sport to police. It seems to me that there are more articles on gigging in the magazine than there are on stream bass fishing.

[Mitch f]

Perhaps dorks was too strong of a word. However they seem to glorify gigging, as you say, more than bass fishing and sometimes I feel they should change their name to the Missouri Department of conversation because all they do for the past 15 years that I've noticed is talk about doing things about fishing instead of actually doing anything. Please do something about fishing MDC, while were still young!