New smallmouth and rock bass regs approved

[fishinwrench]

46 minutes ago, Johnsfolly said:

We could live in a state where the game commissions don't have the budget to be able to even do half of the work that was done before these regulations were implemented. 

I have this nagging thought that says without everything that HAS BEEN done we'd still be right where we are.

[mreed81]

I can't believe the word Giggers hasn't been mentioned in all 6 pages of this thread yet . Time to get MDC out of your crosshairs and point at those bottom of the barrel, spear chucking, Busch Beer-drinking outlaws.

[Chief Grey Bear]

11 hours ago, Johnsfolly said:

 

11 hours ago, Dan Kreher said:

We as anglers need to continue to spread the message of restricted harvest, voluntary C&R, slow growth rates of stream smallies and preservation/protection of the environments these bronze bass call home.

Wish I could say that I'll miss these far-ranging online discussions on the management of our favorite fish . . . but I doubt it.

I agree with Joe D on this one. Let's just enjoy what we've got with respect to our Ozark streams, smallmouth fisheries, etc.  Let's spend less time griping online and more time on the water doing what we love.

I agree with you on these points Dan. We could live in a state where the game commissions don't have the budget to be able to even do half of the work that was done before these regulations were implemented. As a result we could be looking at creel limits of 6 fish over 12" per day in our rivers and lakes like many other states.

 

I whole heartedly agree on all counts. 

Dont think it will happen. 

[ozark trout fisher]

I think the funny thing is that if you got a sum total of every SMB harvested by every poster in this thread over the last 12 months, you'd get a number pretty near 0. And yet we have a 6 page thread arguing about Smallmouth Bass harvest for the millionth time. I contributed at least a page of nonsense to that, I know. It's just funny.

All you need to know about fishermen, I think.

[Al Agnew]

It's kinda like "America, love it or leave it" when it comes to MDC.  The fact that I am critical of some of the things they do (or don't do) doesn't negate the fact that overall I think they do an excellent job, and I am happy with their attitude toward river smallmouth.  Just like you can love the country and still be critical of some of the things the government has done, you don't have to leave it to go somewhere else that is almost certainly worse.

I have had nothing but good experiences with their biologists--unfortunately, most of those I got to know are now somewhere else or retired.  I need to make contact with the new guys.  Kevin Meneau was passionate about smallmouth (and passionate about the problems with spotted bass in the Meramec Basin--he called them "evil little critters"), and he was certainly the force behind the 12 fish, no length limit on spots in the Meramec River system.  It's terrific that my home river, Big River, now has its entire length under the 1 fish 15 inch limit on smallmouth.  And it's terrific that there are as many streams as there are under special management.  If nothing else, it sends the message that this fishery is worth more than just meat on the table, and well worth protecting.  So if I often sound like I'm really down on MDC, I have to remember that they should be getting kudos for all the good stuff they have done, even if I would like to see more.  They have a tough job balancing all the different interests out there, many of them quite vocal and quick to complain, and they handle it well.

[Chief Grey Bear]

21 minutes ago, Al Agnew said:

It's kinda like "America, love it or leave it" when it comes to MDC.  The fact that I am critical of some of the things they do (or don't do) doesn't negate the fact that overall I think they do an excellent job, and I am happy with their attitude toward river smallmouth.  Just like you can love the country and still be critical of some of the things the government has done, you don't have to leave it to go somewhere else that is almost certainly worse.

I have had nothing but good experiences with their biologists--unfortunately, most of those I got to know are now somewhere else or retired.  I need to make contact with the new guys.  Kevin Meneau was passionate about smallmouth (and passionate about the problems with spotted bass in the Meramec Basin--he called them "evil little critters"), and he was certainly the force behind the 12 fish, no length limit on spots in the Meramec River system.  It's terrific that my home river, Big River, now has its entire length under the 1 fish 15 inch limit on smallmouth.  And it's terrific that there are as many streams as there are under special management.  If nothing else, it sends the message that this fishery is worth more than just meat on the table, and well worth protecting.  So if I often sound like I'm really down on MDC, I have to remember that they should be getting kudos for all the good stuff they have done, even if I would like to see more.  They have a tough job balancing all the different interests out there, many of them quite vocal and quick to complain, and they handle it well.

Kudos to you Al! I enjoyed reading that post! 

You're right, it is a tough job to balance the resouce, meat eaters and C&R fishermen. But know that the resource will always come first. One of the others will always be mad. Usually both, claiming the other is getting preferential treatment. 

There as been a big shift towards C&R fishing over the last few decades and I don't see that changing. And I'm glad. I know I advocate for some harvest but I still cringe when I see it. But we have to be fair. But also we can establish a set of regs that bring a better benifit to the resource and anglers. 

We really are on the same team and agree 99% of the time. It's just a few minor points we differ on. 

[joeD]

It's ironic that, apparently, fishing was better years ago without regulation, and now, that's all we talk about to make fishing better.

Then again, I was younger and skinnier and unmarried and happier years ago too.

[fishinwrench]

1 hour ago, joeD said:

It's ironic that, apparently, fishing was better years ago without regulation, and now, that's all we talk about to make fishing better.

Then again, I was younger and skinnier and unmarried and happier years ago too.

When I was a teenager you could spend the whole weekend on the river and not run into another fisherman.  And if you did it was more likely to be and old dude soaking a ball of nightcrawlers than it was to be another bass fisherman.  When "bass fishing" first became cool and popular (late 70's) hardly anyone fished rivers, they were all fishing lakes, pits, and ponds.   My dad and grandpa were River rats, they didn't like fishing lakes as much, and while I don't remember anything in the 20" catagory during my early years the 15-17 inchers sure seemed alot more plentiful (and stupid). 

In the 70's the rivers were a mess. Literally.  Trash, old appliances, old cars, buses, tires, Falstaff bottles.... crap everywhere.  Bridges were used as disposal sites, and floods scattered the debris evenly.  Thankfully we've cleaned up our act since then.

[joeD]

"...the 15-17 inchers sure seemed alot more plentiful (and stupid). "

When.." in the 70's the rivers were a mess. Literally."

Judging by anecdotal stories, again, fishing apparently was better in days of yore without regulation and do gooder interference on how to make fishing great.

Seems to me that the more attention and altruistic meddling we do to "improve" fishing, is, actually, having the unintended and opposite effect of creating a sub species of dissatisfied fishermen who lament the past, and refuse to be appeased ,or satisfied with, our government ,and the way they manage our fishing resources.

Just stop it. Go fishing. Show us pictures (not food, not fly rods on grass).  We have a bounty of waters  that have smallmouth bass in them. And we can go get them any time we want. Yet....Whatever. Bob's your uncle and Donald Trump is your president. I fish. Let me brag again with pictures of fish that are in our streams and anybody, anywhere, can get on our lovely streams and catch.

 

 

[snagged in outlet 3]