Question About Gigging/spearfishing?

[ozark trout fisher]

Which is what?

Once again, I'll just say that I have zero opposition (and plenty of support) for most of what they stand for, but I find it odd that I've now twice been asked to answer for them when I've never been a part of that organization for reasons of my own. There are plenty of MSA members on here, so ask them.

Was that a little strong??

Perhaps, but I'm probably not the right one to judge.....

No I said both legal fishermen, that follow all fishing regs and illeagal fishermen that couldn't care less about fishing laws or the negitive impact that they cause. And yes they are saying otherwise and they have in this very thread. And that is my point. Very easy to understand. It is a pure numbers game with the law of averages against the fish population.

I can only say I agree with you. Rod and reel poachers (and those who consistently keep legal limits) hurt the smallmouth population. No argument there. So does illegal gigging. I don't like any poachers of any type.

Please don't think for a minute that meat hunting anglers put their rods away for the winter. The clear water makes it easier for them too. All you need is a 1/4 oz jig head and clear water. You can snag them in the gut or lip. All you need is a half way warm day.

The number of (rod and reel) anglers (meat hunter or otherwise) is greatly reduced during the cooler months (ie, the gigging season outside of the first month and a half or so.) While some certainly do stick it out and it's possible to have a lot of success, that's not really an arguable point......Meanwhile gigging generally takes off when cold, dry weather has made the water crystal clear, ie the time where the majority of those catching (and keeping) bass are long gone. So at least for that season, it seems somewhat logical that gigging may be a more significant problem than rod and reel poaching/legal harvest. At the bare mininum it's close.

Its much easier to gig trout due to their habits. They cost a lot of money to produce. They make a lot of money. But I say gig'em anyway. They ain't supposed to be here anyway. Dang things are invasive!!

But in truth, I answered that in the previous post.

As for trout being pests: I could technically point out that they are not almost certainly invasive in the scientific sense....considering their limits on reproduction here and their general inability to colonize wide areas.

But for the sake of continuity in my personal belief system, I have to admit they probably shouldn't be here. With that said, I have no immediate plans to quit fishing for them.

[Flysmallie]

You are asking the wrong person. It's a question I've posed before, though.

I have never been an MSA member, though I support a bulk of what they do.

I wasn't necessarily asking you. Just throwing it out there for anyone who might know.

[Chief Grey Bear]

Once again, I'll just say that I have zero opposition (and plenty of support) for most of what they stand for, but I find it odd that I've now twice been asked to answer for them when I've never been a part of that organization for reasons of my own. There are plenty of MSA members on here, so ask them.

I have to ask you because you said you support the bulk of what they do. What is it they do that you support?

I can only say I agree with you. Rod and reel poachers (and those who consistently keep legal limits) hurt the smallmouth population. No argument there. So does illegal gigging. I don't like any poachers of any type.

I don't either. There is not a reason or excuse for it.

The number of (rod and reel) anglers (meat hunter or otherwise) is greatly reduced during the cooler months (ie, the gigging season outside of the first month and a half or so.) While some certainly do stick it out and it's possible to have a lot of success, that's not really an arguable point......Meanwhile gigging generally takes off when cold, dry weather has made the water crystal clear, ie the time where the majority of those catching (and keeping) bass are long gone. So at least for that season, it seems somewhat logical that gigging may be a more significant problem than rod and reel poaching/legal harvest.

I agree the numbers of anglers does drop in the winter. And yes gigging is just getting started. But how can we be sure that some of these large fish are not harvested in the fall when the bigger fish can be even more susceptible to anglers? Fishing is still pretty hot up to and through deer season. But yeah I don't dismiss alot of what you say. But we don't have any numbers to confirm what impact gigging may or may not have on smallmouth numbers. But we do know is that from population surveys conducted on waters that are gigged, as I stated before, there has been no noticeable change in smallmouth population of any particular size group.

As for trout being pests: I could technically point out that they are not almost certainly invasive in the scientific sense....considering their limits on reproduction here and their general inability to colonize wide areas.

I was messing wit ya.

But I could also point out that in waters in which they are stocked, at least in the waters that I have fished for them, I have noticed a drop in the population of native game fish. I base that on the ease in which I can catch sizable numbers of said game fish in comparable streams in the same area.

But for the sake of continuity in my personal belief system, I have to admit they probably shouldn't be here. With that said, I have no immediate plans to quit fishing for them.

Ehhh, they are entertaining in the winter. I admit. I have to also admit that I haven't really fished for them for the last couple of years. But I am kinda getting a hankering to change that this year.

[Chief Grey Bear]

Word !!!!!

Hey the Vanilla Ice just called.

He said no Hillbilly White Cracker can say that!

[fishinwrench]

Make that a "Hell Yeah" then.

[ozark trout fisher]

I have to ask you because you said you support the bulk of what they do. What is it they do that you support?

The reason why I'm not answering this is because my response would have something to do with spotted bass I don't want to get that one started.

[grizwilson]

So if I follow this line of reasoning, ... we have too many people who drink and drive, so..... we should outlaw Driving? If you outlaw gigging will the outlaws just quit? They are already doing illegal activities, what would no season mean to them? Better lights help the ethical gigger id fish.

[Flysmallie]

The reason why I'm not answering this is because my response would have something to do with spotted bass I don't want to get that one started.

What have they done about spotted bass?

[fishinwrench]

What have they done about spotted bass?

They say bad things about them.

[Flysmallie]

They say bad things about them.

That's what I thought.