Conservation (IMPORTANT)

[ESipes_89]

Let's talk conservation for a minute. I'd like to hear each and every one of your stories and opinions on the subject.

I have several local lakes and ponds that are over-crowded with bass and other fish and several that are the exact opposite. In my home state of Oklahoma there is a state wide limit of 6 bass per person and no size limit. This limit is just not specific enough. This should change for different lakes and ponds (although, it does in some state and local parks) whether it be a stocked farm pond, large lake, or river.

IMO, each body of water should be checked anually or semi-anually for population numbers and given a limit of it's own. There are so many areas that are way over fished and have small bass numbers but, about the same number of areas with over-crowding.

The only solution I see to this is to give each body of water it's own posted limit. In scarcely populated areas give a limit of 2 bass per person with a size limit from 12-16". In these waters the larger bass need to spawn and reproduce while the survival rate of smaller bass needs to be taken into consideration as well. Small bass (less than 12") have a very low survivabilty rates due to predetors such as bigger fish, birds, ect. They don't need us to make that any worse.

In average populated areas, the limit should be 6 (mabye as high as 8) bass per person from 12-21" with only one of which can be over 21". Same reasons as the scarcely populated areas but, in this case the population needs to be maintained.

In over populated areas, (You know the ones, that pond you really love to fish because you catch bass so frequently, but they all seem to be 12-14" or less. Yeah that one.) there should be a limit of 12 bass under 21", only one of which can be over 21". In these areas, competition for food is very hard on the fish and they can rarely grow to more than a few pounds during they're entire life. Small bass can even starve to death. IMO, these areas are the greatest problem. Bait fish and other food source populations dwindle as the bass population grows. Therefore, bass and other dominant fish species can only eat insects and other things that come into the area by land. Larger limits may need to be posted but, never take more than one fish out of these areas more than 21".

Just try to remember these guidelines the next time your out fishing and do what you can, law permiting, to help your local water's ecosystem. If you do just that and help spread the word, your bass will grow larger and healthier for the next generation of anglers.

With all bodies of water, never leave your garbage such as used fishing line and food containers behind. Fish and other animals can be trapped or entangled in it. Plus, land owners really don't appreciate that special little gift you leave for them to pick up. It helps to bring a garbage bag for your's and other people's trash that's been thrown on the bank.

If anyone has any opinions or anything else to ad please do so.

Also, remember that this doesn't just apply to bass. Practice conservation with all fish and wildlife.

-Eric

Just doing my part while trying not to sound like a hippie eco-nut.

[Rodman_Rob]

bass run rampant in these parts, so do the rednecks, that's why the forestry service is closing much of the Ocala National Forest down. Many of the honey holes I like the fish are tucked away off 4x4 trails. 2 years ago I helped organize a cleanup for one particular area. Never have I seen that area look so nice. We ended up filling 4 full size dumpster (8'x20') with tons of trash. A year later they shut down the area completely. Only way you're getting back there now is walking. Unfortunately I can't carry my boat. Part of the reason they closed it down is the ATV and 4x4 trucks would just make their own trails, drive through lakes, and destroy everything in their path. I enjoy offroading just as much as the next guy but always practice tread lightly techniques. The lakes back there never had much pressure so I can't really say the fishing will get better, but I can say a lack of conservation killed the oppertunity to fish.

[zooker]

i have fished slot limit lakes afore and they can be very rewarding. but as a tourny angler the slot sucks. i fish several lakes with an 18" limit.. and the big lakes with much more traffic have an 14" limit.

i have fished all over the eastern half of this country and i must say that nc is about the worst litter problem i have ever seen..

zooker

[senkosam]

Screening lakes for quality vs quantity is usually not on the top of most state conservation dept.'s lists. Manpower and funding limit what can or is done anually and unfortunately some states have cockamany regs when it comes to protecting panfish. (Since when do sunfish and crappie need protection for all waters?)

Tournaments is another issue that can conserve or hurt a fishery depending on how heavy the pressure from different clubs, the size of the water and the sum of mortality or delayed mortality. Mortality numbers should include all angler caused mortality, which is never addressed by any club much less by individuals that harvest fish. We feel entitled as anglers to enjoy the sport whenever we have the time and as much as many of us release fish, unless the water is shocked or anglers and/or clubs give numbers of their catch or tournament stats to their state regional offices, no one can be sure of a fishery's health.

Many of us are for conservation and quick to come down hard on harvesters, but deciding where the responsibility truly lies and what to do about it is complex and sometimes just not going to happen until it's too late. My small, local private lake is no longer the fishery it once was and the invasive weeds that have spread in the last year have made it a motha' to fish and catch quality fish.Too many tournaments have done the lake in and boat trailers bringing in weeds from other waters have compounded the problem.

The Hudson R. fishery has declined for bass and the new size limit is 15". Considering club limits are far fewer than in previous years and a small percentage is harvested, is it too little too late?

[ESipes_89]

Originally Posted by senkosam

Screening lakes for quality vs quantity is usually not on the top of most state conservation dept.'s lists. Manpower and funding limit what can or is done anually and unfortunately some states have cockamany regs when it comes to protecting panfish. (Since when do sunfish and crappie need protection for all waters?)

Tournaments is another issue that can conserve or hurt a fishery depending on how heavy the pressure from different clubs, the size of the water and the sum of mortality or delayed mortality. Mortality numbers should include all angler caused mortality, which is never addressed by any club much less by individuals that harvest fish. We feel entitled as anglers to enjoy the sport whenever we have the time and as much as many of us release fish, unless the water is shocked or anglers and/or clubs give numbers of their catch or tournament stats to their state regional offices, no one can be sure of a fishery's health.

Many of us are for conservation and quick to come down hard on harvesters, but deciding where the responsibility truly lies and what to do about it is complex and sometimes just not going to happen until it's too late. My small, local private lake is no longer the fishery it once was and the invasive weeds that have spread in the last year have made it a motha' to fish and catch quality fish.Too many tournaments have done the lake in and boat trailers bringing in weeds from other waters have compounded the problem.

The Hudson R. fishery has declined for bass and the new size limit is 15". Considering club limits are far fewer than in previous years and a small percentage is harvested, is it too little too late?

My point exactly and this is what needs to change.

Senkosam brings up an excellent point, anyone here that is, or knows anyone that is part of a fishing club or participates in tourneys would be wise to bring up the idea for anglers to hand over lake stats such as fish quality and quantity, along with weed growth and litter to the club or tournament organizers. If this is done the organizers can create a yearly report for your states conservation and wildlife dept. This will help with the money and funding issue and make it easier for something to be done (if need be).

-Eric