Giggers At Ozarks Finley River Park.

[Al Agnew]

Wow...lots of things to comment upon.

First, the argument that bad habitat, pollution, otters, etc. are causing more harm to the game fish population that gigging so why worry about gigging. I don't consider that to be a very good argument. Yes, all that other stuff is a problem, BUT IF gigging is also a problem, something should be done about it the same as any other problem.

The difference between gigging and EVERY other problem from pollution to habitat destruction to fishing pressure to keeping short fish is that gigging, if we assume for a minute that it IS a problem, is the only one that affects bigger fish specifically. Everything else either affects the entire fish population or affects mostly smaller fish (since nearly all anglers catch a lot more little ones than big ones).

As for gigging helping the game fish by controlling rough fish, I still say that's not really true. Suckers and smallmouths have co-existed on Ozark streams for millennia. Suckers do not compete with smallmouths and other game fish for much of anything. Maybe they eat a few smallmouth eggs, although most of the suckers are busy with spawning at the same time the smallies are. But you could have a LOT of suckers in the rivers and you'd see no effect on the smallmouth population except POSSIBLY a bit of reduction in growth rates IF the suckers are eating too much of the stuff that forms the base of the food chain.

The fact is that SOMETHING, or somethings, are having a bad effect on the smallmouth population when it comes to bigger fish. Most of our rivers have lots of smallies, but few big ones, especially compared to almost anywhere else. I've fished all over the country for stream smallmouths, and you'd be hard pressed to find a region that produces FEWER big (18 inch plus) stream smallmouths than the Ozarks. Is gigging the culprit? I can't prove it, but I still assert that there is circumstantial evidence...like all those big fish I see with gig scars. Even if the vast majority of giggers don't stick game fish, it only takes one boatload of doofuses on a night when the conditions are right to REALLY put a dent in the numbers of big smallies on a given stream stretch. I know, because I've been on the river at night when I could certainly have done it.

There really needs to be some serious study of why the Ozark streams don't grow the numbers of big fish that rivers in other parts of the country do. That's why I'm advocating closing just one or two of the special management areas to gigging, just to see if it really is having an effect. Once that is done, and if the results show it IS a limiting factor, THEN it would be time to figure out what to do about it, whether it be shortening the season, better policing, more education...who knows? I'm not saying it's the only factor. Indeed, it may turn out to be not much of a factor at all. There are plenty of unanswered questions (in my mind at least) concerning the big fish shortage. Why do some streams with thriving otter populations still produce great fishing and good fish? Why, if most anglers catch and release almost exclusively, are the more heavily pressured streams so much worse fishing than the lightly pressured ones--it ain't like that with trout. Heck, maybe it's mostly a matter of simple genetics...Ozark smallie genetics may not be capable of producing large numbers of big fish.

[B-unit]

If folks wanted to lobby for additional restrictions I'd be in favor of gigging restrictions on some of the Smallmouth Special Management areas..I think it would be interesting to see what happens to the game fish populations if they cut the gigging our for a couple years.

I'm realistic. Gigging is not going to be outlawed, and I don't really think it should be. However, I think it would be very interesting to do an experimental ban on gigging on a stretch of stream that has the potential of producing big smallmouths, and see what the effects are on the population of bigger fish. Maybe pick a couple of the smallmouth special management areas...after all, gigging IS banned in the blue ribbon trout streams.

I mean what is going to hurt to even restrict gigging on just the already established trophy smallmouth areas, just to try it out and see if it helps the smallmouth. I love to gig but there is plenty of area to gig, so that the few trophy areas being closed wouldn't hurt the gigging.

I would be extremely happy with gigging restricted in Trophy smallmouth areas. Trout get so much protection, why can't smallmouth. I would much rather catch smallies than trout, Although I do trout fish. I think that banning it will never happen, and I don't think it should be banned, just restricted on certain waters.

-I strongly agree with the above points.

-It takes a long time to grow trophy smallmouth.

-Considering the various factors working against our bronzeback populations (habitat degradation, spotted bass, etc.), providing them some sanctuary would go a long way in giving them a fighting chance (in my humble opinion).