Updated info on new smallmouth special regs areas

[Dan Kreher]

Thank you Dan for taking the time to update everyone! Your efforts with the MSA are very much appreciated!!!

You're welcome. Just trying to keep things moving.

[MOsmallies]

BUT we still have the gigging issue The eleven point has the right regulation no gigging in the trophy section.

Sadly, this is more likely to protect stocked trout rather than native smallmouth

[rFisherk]

Overall, these are significant and exciting changes. I have very little to add to Dan's eloquent posts. He speaks for me.

But I would like to reiterate at least one of his statements: "Angler input can still have some impact on the scope of these proposed regulations. Let the MDC know your thoughts, comments and concerns either via e-mail, phone call or at the upcoming public comment meetings - dates/locations TBA by MDC. Please be respectful in your communication with the MDC as it does appear they are sincerely trying to be responsive to angler concerns."

Intelligent and respectful pleas will go a long way in this matter, especially at the public comment meetings. Once they are announced, I would hope these meetings become packed and dominated with concerned anglers. Please remember that, despite how it appears here, we who favor stricter regulations are a small minority in the state-wide populace, but if we can show a vast majority at the meetings, we will appear as the vast majority. I think it is very important that we do so at this juncture to not only support these proposed changes, but to encourage the MDC to further their efforts to create quality fisheries across the state.

[Al Agnew]

I may not be able to attend the meetings, but I have already sent my comments to the email address Dan provided in case I can't make the meetings.

[rFisherk]

Thanks Al. I just sent an email, too, about the Black River migration. I'll probably send a few more on other subjects and attend some meetings.

[ozark trout fisher]

This is a pretty big step in the right direction. It may not be the sea change that some desired (along the lines of a 15/1 or 18/1 regulation statewide) but that probably isn't realistic at this time, and I think you'd have to consider if it's even desirable. As it stands, this adds a decent measure of protection to a whole lot of the better mileage for smallie fishing in the state. There are some additions I could see in the future, but this seems like a good start.

I think the scale is really impressive. This is not one or two more 8 mile SMAs. We are talking about much tighter regs in what adds up to hundreds (or at least well over a hundred) miles of good habitat, and dozens of miles on each one. If nothing else, it should demonstrate one way or the other the impact of more restrictive size and bag limits on long stretches of Missouri's best smallmouth water. If it works there expansion only seems more likely.

[Dan Kreher]

This is a pretty big step in the right direction. It may not be the sea change that some desired (along the lines of a 15/1 or 18/1 regulation statewide) but that probably isn't realistic at this time, and I think you'd have to consider if it's even desirable. As it stands, this adds a decent measure of protection to a whole lot of the better mileage for smallie fishing in the state. There are some additions I could see in the future, but this seems like a good start.

I think the scale is really impressive. This is not one or two more 8 mile SMAs. We are talking about much tighter regs in what adds up to hundreds (or at least well over a hundred) miles of good habitat, and dozens of miles on each one. If nothing else, it should demonstrate one way or the other the impact of more restrictive size and bag limits on long stretches of Missouri's best smallmouth water. If it works there expansion only seems more likely.

Yeah, MSA agrees that this a good step in the right direction.

Just to be clear, MSA did not recommend 15/1 or 18/1 regulations for smallmouth bass on a statewide basis. Our Blue Ribbon committee quickly realized that type of regulation would never make any sense on a widespread basis given the diverse practices of anglers. Rather we suggested that the statewide regs be changed to a 15 inch MLL with a 3 SMB creel limit -- allowing some amount of harvest for those inclined while protecting a much larger portion of the population by delaying harvest.

We did suggest expansion of existing 15/1 areas as well as the implementation of additional 18/1 regs on a selected basis across the state. While not as comprehensive as MSA had hoped for, it is a good improvement over what we have now and will hopefully offer a path forward to continued improvement down the road.

[Smalliebigs]

Yep Missouri is too back wards assed to ever be able to deal with C & R for bass....we can't even handle the regs being 1 fish 18 inches or bigger. The Ozark rivers will never be a destination caliber fishing setting. Our rivers do have the potential to produce some crazy fish but, unfortunately the people of Missouri just don't have the stomach to be able to impose the regs that would need to be imposed or the man power to enforce those regs. The rivers are what they are and the fish are what they are,I have to ask, do you think because they expanded the trophy areas and now allow 15 inch Smallie for harvest instead of an 18 incher that the fishing will get better??? I just have to laugh inside and just move on. I have a ton of respect for Dan and Al and a few others that are smallie freaks but, I just don't think this does a darn thing. I will just keep fishing and hope for the best and if I catch a few it's a good day, if not I still got out on the river....I'm done worrying about why the fishing is in decline on a ton of streams I fish and why I see dead smallies at the boat ramps in the winter....I just have to be happy I went fishing at all, that's all.

[ozark trout fisher]

Yeah, MSA agrees that this a good step in the right direction.

Just to be clear, MSA did not recommend 15/1 or 18/1 regulations for smallmouth bass on a statewide basis. Our Blue Ribbon committee quickly realized that type of regulation would never make any sense on a widespread basis given the diverse practices of anglers. Rather we suggested that the statewide regs be changed to a 15 inch MLL with a 3 SMB creel limit -- allowing some amount of harvest for those inclined while protecting a much larger portion of the population by delaying harvest.

We did suggest expansion of existing 15/1 areas as well as the implementation of additional 18/1 regs on a selected basis across the state. While not as comprehensive as MSA had hoped for, it is a good improvement over what we have now and will hopefully offer a path forward to continued improvement down the road.

I'm not suggesting that the MSA proposed this. I just know that some will never be happy until that happens, which is going to be never. I of course have some issues with the "catch my limit" crowd, but I'm starting to become almost equally troubled with the extremes on the other side. Not the MSA folks, but the "nothing will be good enough until no one can keep a smallmouth, ever" crowd. It's a fine ideal, as it goes. Most of us would never keep one ourselves, and it baffles the mind to imagine someone else doing so. But it's also totally unrealistic, and makes smallmouth management way harder to discuss than it should be. There is a lot of middle ground that can't even be broached by those too far on one side or the other.

I like the last sentence of your post. I think it's totally fair to believe that this could go further. I am thinking of several river sections that I wish had been included, and I don't doubt there are a whole host. I think recognizing progress is important while still continuing to work to expand it.

[Gavin]

Not happy with the 1/15 but the extentions are nice. Can understand including 8 to Scott's for winter habitat but it's a who cares in the summer. would like to see better regs well downstream of the present management SMA on the Meramec, better fishing downstream in the Summer months.