Aunts Creek

[Walleye Jenkins]

All fish have have a certain level of mercury. Some fish have more. The larger the fish the more contaminates. Page 42 in MDC list the guidelines. Almost every state puts out the same guidelines for women and children. To think the waters in Table Rock are polluted to the extent you cant eat the bass is ridiculous. The trout out of Taneycomo are drinking the same water. If you want to see some polluted waters that you shouldn't eat fish go to the Mississippi river or Ohio river. And plenty of people continue to eat catfish and walleye from these waters. The guys eating the large catfish have the best possible chance of contaminants. Flathead can live a long time. Some fish like your white bass have a relatively short life span. I'm a walleye guy so I don't prefer to see a stringer full of 6 pound walleye hanging. I have no problem with a stringer of 18 inch eyes. I get the impression if someone has a stringer and likes to eat fish that's a bad thing. But guys slamming fish in the boat and throwing hooks into their jaw is a great thing.

[kwall]

Nice catch Rickf

and a great point you made to those Tourny Bassers about rippin' those poor ol' spawning bass off beds just so they can be throw'ed in a live well for their own entertainment --- agin great job an your catch and happy eating ?

[glennL]

Here are some random thoughts.

1-Why can't the MDC rotate stocking of lakes? One year, bass at TR, another year walleye, etc? Same with other lakes. Why is it they will only stock one fish per lake, like spoonbills in TR? The MDC seems limited in their approach. Let nature sort it out what population survives.

Why can't the MDC stock Stripers, Wipers, Musky, Walleyes, white bass, black bass, kentucky's, small mouth, largemouth, Catfish,crappie and trout? Could you imagine a lake with all of those different fish, in different parts of the lake, at different times of the years.

2- Here is a fact. The economy will be better off if fishermen go out to eat fish, than catching and keeping for themselves. Support your local fish fry!

3- Those fish you pull out of the lake are geometrically gone for generations.

4- I'm not that good of a fisherman, so leave all those fish you want for the fryer, for me to catch and release.

5.Something needs to be done about over population of Gar and Carp. Where is the MDC on that? Absent! The bow fishermen finally do something about it and everyone on this site complains.

6-Bleeding fish need to be thrown back, for other animals to have.

7-Let's change the subject. What's a ned rig?

8-Champ, that's a joke.

[Champ188]

Glenn, I think the Ned rig has something to do with pre-Rapala. Don't hold me to that, though.

[Sac River Jim]

Nice catch Rickf

and a great point you made to those Tourny Bassers about rippin' those poor ol' spawning bass off beds just so they can be throw'ed in a live well for their own entertainment --- agin great job an your catch and happy eating

before anyone starst pointing fingers at tournament fisherman let me ask you this what happens to a big femalecaught and relocated in the middle of her spawn. how do bass spawn in general and what precautions do most tournament fisherman take to ensure the survival of spawning fish. i myself will not keep and most others that i know will not keep a bloody tail male building or guarding a nest. males on the nest are stressed because they are fasting for up to three weeks and need to go back in the water as fast as possible. females on the other hand are not as stressed because all she does is lay her ripe eggs in the nest the male does the rest. a female after laying part of her eggs on an individual nest will search out another male to spawn with even if she is relocated to a different part of the lake. we take precautions to ensure the safety of out live well fish everything from cleaning and general maintenance of our live well systems, fizzing fish caught deep to using everything from hydrogen peroxide and ice to chemicals like rejuvenate. some the series i fish furnish bags to transport our fish from the live well to the weigh in. this ensures the bags are clean and willl hold water. I've spent up to 30 minutes sometimes nursing a weak stressed fish back to strength. The only thing that is going to stop these long drawn out bunch of crap debates is education and knowledge along with people that been on here long enough to know that if a picture of a large bass is taken away from the water its going to stir up a sht storm.We just had the same type of argument on the Stockton forum not to long ago and i told the guys on there just wait awhile this dispute will happen again and so it has and sooner than i expected. As Phil mentioned a couple weeks ago all the mudslinging, stereotyping and name calling does is make us lose members that contribute to this sight. Here's a link to general information on the spawn I hope people take the time to read it.

http://www.ultimatebass.com/content/view/181/48/

[kwall]

Not pointing fingers Jim -- just responding to a Basser upset about a nice catch of some great eating fish --

[kwall]

Oops , SOME Bassers upset about keeping some bass

[Sac River Jim]

kwall i understand i usually stay neutral on these types of threads everyone has the right to do what they want with fish as long as it falls under MDC regulations I don't have a problem with that at all. I personally would rather have a big mess of gigantic bluegill myself, two things bothered me tho. number one why even mention you kept them for a fish fry and they was full of eggs when we know it was gonna cause a sht storm but what i'm more concerned about is setting an example for the younger generations that will see that pic of the 9 bass on a single stringer and think its ok to do it themselves next time they go fishing. i know when i was a kid i immortalized Harold Ensley and Virgil Ward and if I seen them doing that I'd think it was ok to do it too. I'm using that as an examp;e referring to complying to MDC regulations.

[Sac River Jim]

passing on what was passed to me by my grandpa and dad is very important to me. that 1960's looking stringer in my opinion doesn't set a good example even tho he had every right to do so. to me its not about rights it's about responsibility. this pic summs it up for me in a nutshell.

[Flysmallie]

but what i'm more concerned about is setting an example for the younger generations that will see that pic of the 9 bass on a single stringer and think its ok to do it themselves next time they go fishing. i know when i was a kid i immortalized Harold Ensley and Virgil Ward and if I seen them doing that I'd think it was ok to do it too. I'm using that as an examp;e referring to complying to MDC regulations.

I understand what you are saying Jim, I honestly do. But the down side of this is we either have to teach our children to hide their successes or learn to deal with the rampant negativity from everyone, everywhere. Either way it's a teaching opportunity. We need to teach them that it's okay to harvest some fish but you can't keep coming back and doing the same thing over and over again without harming the resource. It also gives them the opportunity to learn the harsh realities of life. You know the one where your opinion means nothing but some asshat-on-the-internet's opinion means EVERYTHING. I teach my kids to not be ashamed for what they believe and to never let anyone change their opinion without some facts. Just coming on here and demanding that those fish are released because that's what you prefer means nothing. Especially if you are worried about cashing a check every time you go out.

I'm about as close to 100% as you can get to catch and release. I might keep 2 or 3 every 3 or 4 years for me and the wife. I keep bass because I know how to catch them. Don't tell me to go catch some walleye or crappie or anything else. I don't like to fish for them. Can I go buy some fish at the store. Yep and I usually do. But occasionally I take a couple home.

This world has gone over the top on trying to guilt people into doing things that they don't really want to do. I can understand if it's a truly horrible thing. But if you get so upset because somebody kept a few fish that you feel the need to openly bash them? Well then you need to man the hell up. If you have to say something then how about bringing some information into it and making it a teaching experience. Not just I'm a big guy with my panties in a wad and you will do as I say. That is purely ignorant.

So if it's going to be about the kids lets teach them why we should catch and release and quit teaching them how you should be an idiot on the internet.