Early C&R season for Largemouth?????

[Mark Christianson]

Outdoor News this week, had a column about an early C&R season that is being pushed by the MN Bass Federation.
I have to imagine this will get some discussions rolling.

What are the thoughts out there?

My thoughts are:
Why not? There are many states that have earlier openers, and some states that don't close bass season at all. And bass fishing is by no means hurting anywhere that I am aware of.
The article had a couple things I didn't like. From what I read, the Bass Federation wants the DNR to identify 10 to 12 lakes for various reasons to try an early C&R season to to review the results.
I beg to differ on having only 10 to 12 lakes to "experiment" on. Those lakes would get POUNDED with pressure, and the end result would not be fairly represented due to over-pressure. I agree there needs to be some data or study possibly, but having 10 lakes in the state open to early bassin is not going to give a fair data set. People will travel from longer distances, more hours of fishing will take place, and in the end I think the fish will be show unnecessary stresses and poorer reproduction success due to being so heavily pressured.
In the end the report will show that early C&R is dangerous to the health and stability of the Largies.
PS - There is no push in include smallies.

[Mark Christianson]

The last one I kept was June 24th, 1990.

In fact, thats a great topic alone.

"When was the last time you kept a bass?"

[This message has been edited by biglakeba$$ (edited 02-01-2004).]

[Guest]

I think I have my facts right on this.

A few years back the DNR was seriously considering openning bass statewide to C&R fishing with the walleye openner. The proposal went nowhere do to lack of interest and negative feedback. At that time it is my understanding that the MN Bass Federation and it's members came out against the proposal therefore assuring it was dead in the water.

Basically some of the more vocal and influencial Fed. members at the time thought that if they couldn't hold tournaments do to a immediate C&R of bass "no boxing" regulation than no one should get to fish bass early. I am not sure but they may have been holding out to get the "no boxing" provision removed so C&R tournies would be allowed. However, they didn't get their way, the issue died, and the average Bass Fisherman got screwed out of 2 to 3 weeks of fishing that they could have had. When the proposal went nowhere I was very dissappointed.

I totally agree that the openning up of a few select test lakes and not all of them is counter productive and makes very little sense for the reasons mentioned. Fishery Biology has clearly shown at this point that the immediate C&R of Largemouth Bass during the spawn does not harm a stable healthy Largemouth bass population.

However increased fishing pressure usually does have an effect on the quality of the fishery. Not so much in terms of the size and structure of fish population, but in behavior of the fish. Pressured fish get educated and become more difficult to find and catch.

[Lunker]

Here's my take. I think that maybe there should be some study or reviews done, but not by fishing just certain lakes. How about opening the early catch and release state wide for a projected, say 2 years. See how it goes, see what the positive vs negative feedback is, impact on fisheries, etc, then see if it should be put into place permanently. Most states have early fishing seasons for bass, and I don't think I've seen a lot of data proving it is negatively affecting fisheries. Then there are the people who say that uneeded stress on spawning bass is bad, and to catch bass of their beds is dangerous to the offspring, etc. I would like to see it happen though, C&R of course, but I have a feeling the DNR would be relunctant in changing any of the seasonal dates that are in place now. It does suck not being able to catch bass until the end of may though...

[Cyberfish]

I am all for an earlier season! Most of the bass are still on the beds after the regular season opens on most years anyhow, so the protection of bedding bass can't be the main reason for the late season in my opinion.

"Whoa,SON! another hawg!"

[Guest]

Hey Cyb, on Schmidt lake that is indeed a typical hawg if not a little bigger than average.

[Guest]

"In the end the report will show that early C&R is dangerous to the health and stability of the Largies."

Actually this topic has been studied many times and the results have conclusively shown that taking fish off of the beds has little or no effect on a Largemouth fishery because only a few bass need to successfully spawn for there to be a significant year class of fish. This is one reason why Largemouth are so widespread and prolific in the waters they inhabit. When was the last time you heard about a Largemouth bass population collapsing due to anything other than a winter kill.

Look at almost any lake that has an electroshock creel survey for bass. The size breakdown tends to be fairly consistant when it comes to fish sampled in all size ranges which obviously will decrease at a certain size metric.

[Mark Christianson]

BP
I don't disagree the studies have been done, but what I don't like is the fact that there is a request to choose 10 or 12 lakes to experiment on.
If you choose a few lakes to try and evaluate, I feel it will be skewed because people may flock to those few lakes to get a shot at fishing bass early.
Why not try it statewide to reduce the early pressure on those few selected lakes?

I don't think we will be hurt by the early C&R. Plenty are caught by people panfishing or casting for "pike" in shallow after the official opener.

My sole concern is if a few lakes are chosen, they will be artificially over pressured because they will be the only lakes available to legal bassin before the typical opener. Hence the reason I think we will have some false data that comes from the end result.

[Guest]

ITA that it is a bad idea to open up just a few experimental lakes. Open them all up to catch and release!

I would even be for temporary boxing of fish so tournaments could be held. Just make tournaments responsible for sending in a sheet reporting on fish that die and charge them with the responsiblity of getting dead bass to a charity and documenting it. There are lots of old timers in this state that would be ecstatic to get a fresh fish even if it was a bass.

[SluggoMaster]

I firmly believe in C&R, and think picking a few lakes could be detremental to the lakes that are selected. I would have to recommend "geographic zones" instead of a few select lakes. This way, a few lakes won't get pounded, as you stated in the previous post. I C&R anyway, but how many of you actually keep your bass?

[EBass]

I'm for CR on Largies when Pike and Eyes open. Most people release bass as it is. (Exclude my dad who will eat any game fish with scales - he's old school)

But like everyone else said on here why only a few lakes? Try it for the whole state for 5 yrs then see what impact it plays. I don't think much. Who knows though.

But then we'll get the yahoos who think a smallie is a largie, and - well... you know.

[Guest]

EBass- That reminds me of a story but it works the other way. Cyb and I were fishing a lake in the Lonville area at the Fishers of Men Fall Outing in the Longville area a couple of years ago. It was time to leave and there was another boat at the ramp.

They were dissappointed becasue all they could catch were Smallmouth Bass, which were now in the C&R phase of the season. This lake didn't have Smallies as far as Cyb knew and he fishes the lake a lot. Also we were keeping both hammer handles and Largemouth for a fish fry, so Mike went and got one of our Largies and asked them if this was what they were catching. They didn't know that they were catching Largemouth's so they were throwing back fish they would have kept otherwise.

[Cyberfish]

Yep, I have seen lots of people misidentify largemouths as smallmouths, especially younger fish. I cannot ever remember anyone thinking a smallie was a largemouth though.

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simul iustus et peccator

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[Glenn_S]

I'm going to keep my opinion to myself this year on a C&R before season opens. BP and I have had our share of "discussions" about this.

BUT, I will say this. If you read the article carefully, the Fed only seems to address the 600 or so Fed anglers, and what THEY want. From what I have seen, the Fed looks out for themselves, and that's where their motives lie. If it doesn't affect them directly, they tend to turn a blind eye to it.

A controversial statement? Yes.
Basis in fact? Maybe.
Anecdotal examples based on my experience? Yes.

Now don't get me wrong, the Fed has done some good things for bass fishing, but I have also seen an elitist attitude from MANY Federation anglers.

What I REALLY find interesting, is the adamant resistance from the walleye and northern community to opening bass sooner. Are they afraid that bass anglers will get their areas on opening day? I seriously doubt they are that concerned about the bass population. Too many walleye anglers refer to bass as "trash fish".

Ok, now that I have opened a can of worms, remember, this is for the sake of discussion. It's not like we can actually launch the boats...

Glenn

[Guest]

Something to keep in mind as well.

From the Reg book:
Species Open Season Limit
ROCK BASS Continuous 30
WHITE BASS Continuous 30

Certain Bass are always in season.

I've caught a lot of Rock bass on spinnerbaits, cranks, and small plastics. Whites are known to take topwater, small spinnerbaits, small plastics, cranks, and jerkbaits.

Catching nice sized Whites is a blast.

I actually love to catch Whites

[Guest]

I found and read the article and am behind the proposal 90%. The only change would be to open all lakes and put a mandatory review of 10-20 lakes in a cross section of types ,sizes, and locations to measure the effects.

[rscabin]

imbass if those walleye anglers refer to bass as "trash fish", dont the realize that walleye's are bottom feeders........yuck

[Glenn_S]

Thats my reply, too! LOL...

The funny thing is, even the walleye guys admit that a bass has MUCH more fight than a walleye.

Dave, I agree that only opening a few lakes would severely impact the population in those lakes. IMHO, NOT a good idea.

Glenn

[This message has been edited by imbass (edited 02-03-2004).]

[Cyberfish]

Thats funny, if walleye purists think bass are trash fish, wouldn't they want us to have an all year season so there would be less of those stinky green fish harrassing their rigs and leeches?

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simul iustus et peccator

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[HawgTide]

I'm from an area where there are no fishing seasons (open all year), so I'm new to this concept.
I don't understand how they can say Bass season is not open and Walleye, Pike, etc. are open. If I'm casting spinnerbaits or jigs, who's to say that I'm Bass fishing or Pike fishing or Walleye fishing? I release everything anyway, so I won't have possession of anything.

[Sliderfishn]

Thats the problem with our system. There is a great fealing about catching the first bass of the season, only to know that you are breaking the law if you target just bass. C&R for bass should be open along with walleye and pike.

[Guest]

Phin-I never thought about it like that, and it is a pretty good point. I generally only fish panfish in the spring and winter. And if I find a good panfish bite the odds of me keeping some is pretty good. I would definitely fish for panfish less if given the option.

[phin101]

I'm new to this topic, but had to check it out after I read the article. I strongly support a C&R season as everyone here. The federation mentioned they are taking their tournament dollars across the border. This is also true of the dollars I spend on gas and powerbait when I cross the border. I'd rather spend it in MN, but refuse to if I'm forced across the border to fish for my favorite species.

Seems like the MN DNR will do anything possible to not manage our resources the same way the WI DNR does. It's a pride issue that they have to put behind them. WI waters maintain both high quantity and quality of fish, of many species, while maximizing fishing opportunities.

A thread on the panfish topic is discussing how to improve the size of panfish in our lakes, suggesting closing the season during the spawn. Creating a C&R bass season during the bulk of the panfish spawn would take pressure off that resource as well. I know I'd be more apt to fish bass than panfish if I had a choice. The number of bass boats hitting the spawning slabs suggest many other bassers fish slabs just to pass the time in the spring.

[tadpole]

I believe everyone should check out the article in this months In-Fisherman in regards to opening the season. I believe it would hurt the fishing in many lakes! Maybe not immediately but the long run effect would be felt!

My 2cents
Tad