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In a word.....Summit1000's of gills harvested every ice fishing season but it always produces 1000's the next. Not just 7 inchers either, I'm talking some brutes.
A perfect example. I believe that lake is around 800 acres? It has a much better chance of supporting harvests in the thousands annually, compared to a 20-30 acre lake or pit.
A perfect example. I believe that lake is around 800 acres? It has a much better chance of supporting harvests in the thousands annually, compared to a 20-30 acre lake or pit. That is why we shouldn't apply a blanket catch total to all bodies of water. Each one has to be evaluated independently.
Bingo...and the best way to do that is get your hands on the recent fish shocking surveys or talk to the biologist in the region for the lakes you fish. It is their job to know what is in the lakes and what they can handle. It is your tax dollars at work, so utilize the info out there instead of starting a thread being critical of anyone and everyone that does not follow some uninformed standand you deem as being law of the land.
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Yeah What HE Said!!!
What if we're talking private water... no fisheries report, no biologist evaluation... better to err on the side of conservancy wouldn't you say? Boys, I don't have a dog in this fight. I don't fish public water, period. I only fish for Bluegill, nothing else. I'm never gonna' fish your waters, and you're never gonna' fish mine. I decided a few years ago that I was done with trying to catch trophy gills' regularly from public water, due to overharvest of large specimens. Does that mean they are not out there? Of course not,I've seen some good photos on here that say otherwise. It just means that for me, to REGULARLY and CONSISTENTLY catch Bluegill a pound or over, I'm gonna have to grow my own. For the last few years I've studied, planned, built, and spent a large amount of money finding out all I can about these fish. I'm on a first name basis with the fisheries biologist for my district. This doesn't make me an expert, just well informed. I don't care what you guys do with my tax dollars, cause I'm not going to do anything with em'. Someone should get some use out of my money. I agree with what Flatbob said, if you're legal what difference does it make? But I also agree with what my grandmother used to tell me. "Just because you CAN do something, doesn't mean you SHOULD" Words to live by.
Wow wax worm.............. I have always enjoyed your posts and the information you have shared.........I see you as a good fisherman and am impressed by your catches. I am surprised you took such offense to me voicing my opinion. Lets be clear about one thing if nothing else here: Your level of misconception, or possible arrogance, that my thread was directed at you freaks me out. My post had nothing to do with you or anyone on this site specifically for posting their big catches. I said I enjoy reading and seeing others catch fish. Please don't stop posting pics guys. Catch away! Keep what you want (within DNR guidelines). I am no biologist and don't know all the variables and things contributing to different lakes, ponds, reservoirs, having different populations and size fish..... I was not speaking of anyone else on this site either. I also was not speaking of people who go out with a group of friends and keep 100 fish between them..........I typically am out with 2 or 3 guys myself and they usually all outfish me (which is not hard to do ) and we probably routinely put 100 fish on the ice between us. I am not talking about that. I am talking about the guy who I see out on the ice or talk with who has 100 fish themselves that day and then talk about they had been doing that every day all week. I only see what they have when I am there so maybe they are full of it anyway, but this type of thing is what I was referring to........ not you Wax Worm, or you Flat Bob......
As for "starting a thread being critical of anyone and everyone that does not follow some uninformed standand you deem as being law of the land." Really??? Being critical??? I didn't say people had to follow what I thought. I didn't say people were absolutely wrong for keeping fish? I keep fish. I have no say on the law of the land. I know lakes need balance and that balance depends on the lake and many variables. I only stated my concern for guys that don't take care of the resource. As for being uninformed.........I consider myself a fisherman and an American so I have the right to voice my opinion whether you feel I am informed or not. I have spoken with biologists and state officials from time to time and have never heard any of them ever NOT wanting people to care for the resources..........
As for people who catch fish for others to give them joy because they can't get the fish themselves for one reason or another, more power to you. Thank you for doing those nice things!!! I have no trouble with that either. I have been in need many times and fellow fisherman have kept fish for me because I couldn't get out or needed the food. Me and my family are very grateful for that generosity. If your adding fish to your meal for your family that is awesome!! Again, more power to you.
I do have the right to express my opinion on this board and you can choose to take it or leave it, take it personal, or ignore it....... I will continue to love to fish, keep fish when its appropriate, follow the regulations, and do my best to help take care of the resource. Please keep catching, posting, and enjoying the sport. I hope to continue to learn from the great fishermen on this site and I hope me having an opinion on something doesn't detour others from posting their good catches, small catches, skunks, or whatever else they feel like posting.
Private waters, you are at the mercy of who owns the water for knowledge of what to keep and what to toss back. I don't fish private waters, but if I had my own ponds, you could bet I would be managing them to grow big gills and to do that you have to harvest alot of fish as you described in a previous post. Lakes, ponds, rivers, mud puddles whatever, a body of water can support only so many pounds of fish. You have to have alot of things just right to grow big gills (food, water quality(temp, ph, oxygen), genes, predetor/prey relationships and the list goes on) and alot of lakes don't have everything in balance to grow 10 inch + fish. Some lakes support an ungodly number of 7-8 inch fish while other lakes might have more 8-9 inch fish. Making the assumption that just because you control the harvest on a lake with 8" gills with a limit of 25 giills, that lake will suddenly produce 10 inch gills is not based on anything but pure speculation. Every lake is different, and if it were that easy, we would have a statewide limit on gills.
FWFeecherman,I for one appreciate you posting your opinion. Along with everyone else for that matter. This was a very educational discussion. Some great posts. Although your opinion may have been unpopular to some, it brought out a lot of great information. Keep posting.
FWFeecherman,I have enjoyed this discussion also... but I think I owe you an apology for running MY mouth on YOUR thread... Sorry!!
spkso in that line of thinking...i yank the 10 incher off the bed and its replaced by an 8.5 inch male. that fish is lucky enough to escape my hook and spawns. the smaller 8.5 inch fish passes its DNA code to the eggs and so goes life. my point....DNA doesnt get better or bigger over time. quite possible the 8.5 was an offspring and carries the same genetic code as the 10" gill i ate. so whats was gained?? how many spawns has the 10 incher had to pass on its code?just thinking out loud...sorta i fish alot of small rural lakes and the best ones in the winter are the same ones with the most buggys in the summer. the carrying capacity of any lake not at its max levels can usually provide some outstanding fishing regardless of most pressure.Excellent point A-bomb!! Here's how it was explained to me. Our human ancestors were a good deal hairier than we are now. the gene that caused that hairiness still exists within us all. The passage of time has rendered that gene inactive, for the most part, in all but a few individuals. it's the same thing with the bluegill. The further removed from the original source the fish becomes, the less likely it is to achieve all of the potential of the original fish. I like to compare it to racehorses. If you could get the great grandson of the Kentucky derby winner to sire a horse for you, that would be great. But wouldn't it be better to have the old man himself? I think the odds of a winner are better that way!I couldn't agree with you more about the buggys! I have been told that excess food trumps good genetics everytime! I would rather pour the food to an average bluegill, than provide marginal food to one with the right pedigree!
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Topic: Probably gonna argue, but I got to get it off my chest.....this bothers me. (Read 17957 times)
