Bed Fishing

[fishinwrench]

1 minute ago, MOPanfisher said:

Google is awesome.  I can find studies that say tournament fishing in ruining the fisheries, and studies that say it has no effect on the overall population.

Show me the one where it says there's no effect. 

[MOPanfisher]

http://sfrc.ufl.edu/allenlab/Popular%20Articles/Bed%20Fishing%20May%2010.pdf

Somewhere about the middle of the second column.  It does however say basically the further north you go the more impact it has.  They even made a computer model, not even a biological study, maybe you will like it more. 

 

I will edit this to admit that most of the "studies" which claim either fringe of the topic are nothing more than blogs, commentary, and opinions.  with very little biological studies, due mostly to the fact that each body of water and situation is different, and sometimes doesn't translate directly from one to the other.

[MOPanfisher]

The effects of bed fishing will obviously vary depending upon many conditions, removal of the fish guarding the nest WILL result in a loss of eggs, doesn't translate directly into a measurable effect on populations.  I as in most things population dynamics prove out that only a certain percentage of the populations of any species is going to survive in a natural setting.  In fish populations natural causes also vary from body of water to body of water.  Smaller lakes/ponds are obviously more affected by things like removal of breeding population that larger lakes, simply due to population size and the ability of fish to move in to vacant suitable habitat.

[mjk86]

7 hours ago, Smithvillesteve said:

Interesting takes here from all you guys. I dont think there will ever be a time when bass fishing is closed for the spawning season. However, that is what they do up in Canada for the walleye. Season is closed and areas up creeks are off limits. Some of you mentioned a system where tournament fisherman can weigh a fish on the spot and then release the bass. Instead of keeping it in a livewell and carrying it around all day and hauling it miles away to be released. I really like that idea. Somebody mentioned bass released carefully will go right back to their bed. Very interesting. And why wouldnt we want that? Appreciate all your takes here on this subject. 

I think there is some confusion in the way northern states and Canada manage walleye spawn.  It is my suspicion that the possession limit is zero, but c/r fishing (fishing in general) is still allowed,  I'm not sure so I could be wrong.  There is a bass season in Missouri rivers where possession limits are zero,  yet on can still fish for them.

5 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

With all that's been said I still think the best move is to weigh/score/release immediately.    

In all other fishing regs once a fish is added to your creel it is yours.  You either release unharmed immediately or keep it and add it to your daily limit.  You can't cull trout, can you?  Noooo, cuz they cost money to raise and stock.

The MDC set their culling laws to allow it in bass tournaments.   Why ?   Are they looking out for the ethical treatment of fish (which is what they get paid to do) or are they pandering to a group that spends some money elsewhere?   Pretty sure we know the answer to that, and the bottom line is that it's not cool.  

It's odd that none of their Biologists care to recognize that constantly relocating fish like LMB could disturb the population balance that they supposedly care so much about, with all their electroshocking, tag tracking, and other crap. 

Your correct in your assessment of why you can cull bass according to the mdc, that's no conspiracy. 

Everything else is just incorrect .  Here is why...

1.  Mdc is not paid to make sure bass are treated ethically.  That's what the oa table rock forum is for.  MDC do not care how you treat a bass, they care how many you have and how long they are.

2.  The biologists absolutely know the effect of moving fish around during the spawn...in fact they know it much better than you.  

The fact is that the only way to enforce such a thing is to close fishing completely,  For all species, during the bass spawn.  How are people missing this blatantly obvious fact?!?!?!  

The mdc is here to provide and conserve the outdoor opportunities in Missouri.   The mdc knows that closing all fishing during the bass spawn will help the bass population.  If they did that though....can you imagine the mdc hate here on oaf then??  It would be truly remarkable.  

your assessment of the mdc could not be more wrong.  

 

[Champ188]

2 hours ago, mjk86 said:

I think there is some confusion in the way northern states and Canada manage walleye spawn.  It is my suspicion that the possession limit is zero, but c/r fishing (fishing in general) is still allowed,  I'm not sure so I could be wrong.  There is a bass season in Missouri rivers where possession limits are zero,  yet on can still fish for them.

Your correct in your assessment of why you can cull bass according to the mdc, that's no conspiracy. 

Everything else is just incorrect .  Here is why...

1.  Mdc is not paid to make sure bass are treated ethically.  That's what the oa table rock forum is for.  MDC do not care how you treat a bass, they care how many you have and how long they are.

2.  The biologists absolutely know the effect of moving fish around during the spawn...in fact they know it much better than you.  

The fact is that the only way to enforce such a thing is to close fishing completely,  For all species, during the bass spawn.  How are people missing this blatantly obvious fact?!?!?!  

The mdc is here to provide and conserve the outdoor opportunities in Missouri.   The mdc knows that closing all fishing during the bass spawn will help the bass population.  If they did that though....can you imagine the mdc hate here on oaf then??  It would be truly remarkable.  

your assessment of the mdc could not be more wrong.  

 

Yes, closing bass fishing while other species remained open would be impossible at best. Requiring their immediate release for a couple of months would be incredibly simple and seemingly a boon to the fishery.

[176champion]

I'll just leave these here...

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/spawning_bass_bed.html

 

Science And The Impact Of Bed-Fishing

Bed fishing impact on bass stocks is minimal - Mississippi Sportsman

[Old plug]

From My experience a bass will build a bed and stay there till the female gets to him. Once  the eggs  fry are in the bed he is very busy defending it from the hoards of bluegill surrounding it. If you take a bass from a bed before the actual spawn I do not know what might happen. But if you take one off the bed when there are  eggs or fry in there I have seen with my own eyes what will happen.  The blue gill will ravage that bed in just a few seconds. 

As far as tournament fishing  being a negative factor in sports fishing I do not need to see a study. I know it is. If I had my way I would set a gaming fee on bass tournaments and require the sponsors to collect capitol gains tax on each check right there on the spot. 

[mjk86]

9 hours ago, Champ188 said:

Yes, closing bass fishing while other species remained open would be impossible at best. Requiring their immediate release for a couple of months would be incredibly simple and seemingly a boon to the fishery.

I Totally agree with that....im in favor of very strict regulations regarding fish possession...and almost all environmental and conservation regulations, of which mdc is quite lax often times.   This line of thought is definitely in the minority unfortunately.    

[MOPanfisher]

Again how many want to stand up in a public meeting and support this against the likes of Big Cedar, motels/hotels/resorts, BASS, etc.  Essentially you are talking about a 2 month ban on tournaments as they are done now.  I have no issues with running tournaments with the catch, measure, photo, release method, but not sure how that will go over with a group that has several thousand dollars of prize money at stake. 

[176champion]

Yea  why would the tourists industry what to do some that could possibly bring in more revenue in the following years...it just doesnt make sense.