Thanks for nothing MDC

[Chief Grey Bear]

19 minutes ago, Mitch f said:

There is no pissing contest between Meramec and SWMO anglers, it was made up by a fake Indian with nothing else to do.

I'm not the one that is pissed. 

Just because people don't buy into your the sky falling propaganda doesnt mean it's a pissing match.

It would be nice if you could actually contribute to the conversation instead of just posting your typical immature Trump one liners. 

[Chief Grey Bear]

2 hours ago, ollie said:

I thought we had decided that no matter what, the smallmouth are only second to the mighty trout in our state.  Remember that is where the money is.  I mean come on, who travels to MO to just fish for smallies?  They will come out of state to fish for trout though now won't they.  Sure you have some people in neighboring states that will cross the line to fish for smallies, but LOTS of anglers come in from other states to fish for slim rockets.  We all know it so just accept it for what it is worth.  I like others would love to see an increase in length for those who keep, but guess what, we are the minority here that would like to see that!  I went to the public meetings they had in my hometown and there were only 3 fisherman that showed up.  Chief, myself, and some other guy I don't know.  We were there to represent our cause.  I'm thinking when only 3 guys show up for a public comment session that the MDC must think we are definitely the minority and our opinions aren't with the majority or more of us would have came out to the session.  JMO 

That's a point that doesn't get brought up. The state has a few hundred thousand fisherman yet only a hundred or less express an interest in more restictive regs. Yet that is the MDC's fault. 

[Chief Grey Bear]

1 hour ago, fishinwrench said:

Almost zero dollars are spent in favor of the Smallmouth.  Tons of money are spent on Spoonbill with no return on the investment whatsoever. The funds for Walleye, Musky, and Hybrid Stripers are pretty much a throwaway.  The trout program is at least a break-even deal.  

What would the ROI be on smallmouth?

[stlfisher]

I think Smallmouth in the Ozarks could most certainly be a trophy spot for angler's. IT is just not managed that way though.  In fact it is the exact opposite in some cases.  Better fishing would off course bring more people so it is a trade off, but economically speaking it is an resource that is mismanaged and way undervalued by the MDC and fisherman alike.

Trout are not managed all that different really, but the stereotypes follow the fisherman. I can't for the life of me figure out why we spend all this money to raise trout so they can get caught and fried in an instant.  Lower the limits on trout, lower the limits on smallmouth and use excess resources for habitat improvements and education for both species.

 

[Flysmallie]

1 minute ago, stlfisher said:

I can't for the life of me figure out why we spend all this money to raise trout so they can get caught and fried in an instant. 

 

Because that is what sells. Look at the trout parks, they always have a lot of people in them. They want that outdoor experience but don't really understand what that means nor do they care. They just want to catch their limit quickly. That's how they judge success. Don't think you should offer the same type of setting for smallmouth. So there will never be money in smallmouth, but that doesn't mean that it isn't a good idea. I don't see elk being profitable but I liked the idea. 

Enforce the laws that are already there and fishing gets better. At least in this neck of the woods it would help. 

[stlfisher]

2 minutes ago, Flysmallie said:

Because that is what sells. Look at the trout parks, they always have a lot of people in them. They want that outdoor experience but don't really understand what that means nor do they care. They just want to catch their limit quickly. That's how they judge success. Don't think you should offer the same type of setting for smallmouth. So there will never be money in smallmouth, but that doesn't mean that it isn't a good idea. I don't see elk being profitable but I liked the idea. 

Enforce the laws that are already there and fishing gets better. At least in this neck of the woods it would help. 

Oh I agree.  I didn't mean that we should have a trout park like setting for Smallmouth, that would be awful.  IMO the default management plan seems to be geared to harvest for both species which says something about the fisherman and the MDC.  For those that want the outdoor experience, but don't really understand it, I think most just think I can keep 4 or 6...cool then I will....without going any deeper than that.  I think the current regulations just reinforce that mindset.

[ozark trout fisher]

4 hours ago, Mitch f said:

Thank you for the useless condescending comment! 

Not a problem.

[wily]

for perspective -- look at the creel limits of our surrounding states and i think Missouri's are at the least in-line with status quo

TN -- 5 fish limit on all black bass (smb included) with no length limit.

AR -- 10 fish limit on all black bass with no length limit -- with the exception of smb which have a 12" limit in ozarks (top third) and a 10" limit in remainder of state (bottom 2/3).

ky -- 6 fish limit and 12" limit on largemouth and smallmouth bass -- 6 fish no length limit on spotted bass

i am happy that MDC chose to do something about the creel/length limit on goggle eye. they are one of my (and my children's) favorite fish.

At big sugar i see people keeping every fish they catch...kids and adults with walmart sacks full of goggle eye's and smb.  this is a little off topic -- but i wish the influx of people into our region respected the environment more.  Maybe they will in a generation or two.  they remind me of my grandparents.  they were depression era children that didnt waste anything...i think that is the same mindset of the people that i am referencing above.  i dont see people carrying the walmart sacks full of fish on shoal creek like i do in cyclone area of big sugar.

i would like to see more education about of creel limits -- i think a couple signs here or there could make a difference.

[fishinwrench]

1 hour ago, Chief Grey Bear said:

What would the ROI be on smallmouth?

A hell of a lot more than the ROI for Spoonbill, that's for sure.   Unless they are secretly selling caviar. 

[jtram]

The ozarks are a gem, but if you are going after big smallmouth, the ozarks could never grow what the great lakes, east coast, and Idaho can. If they could, you would see the OCCASIONAL monster smalljaw, even in the hardest hit sections of our rivers. Those areas are destinations for a reason.