Ethics question - Opener?

[BigMike]

Ok, I know where I stand on the issue but let me throw it out (maybe it would be kind of lopsided being this is the bass forum and figures mostly bassfisherman read this forum, but what the heck).

If you knew that you wouldn't get caught in MN would you fish for bass right now (before opener)? Or to get it even more of a touchy subject: How many (being honest) are already fishing for bass but say they are fishing for 'eyes or northern.

I am only asking because I've been reading on the Open Water forum about last weekend's opener results - and if you didn't know any better you would think that last weekend was bass opener the way people were talking about how many bass they caught - not to mention the kinds of lures they were using! I'm a goodie-goodie and that's why I've been doing it the legal way by bassin on Pool 2 for a month and a half now Man am I thankful for that legal exception to MN waters!

[Mark Christianson]

Hey BigM,

First of all, your question regarding "knowing you wouldn't get caught would you go after bass" may as well not be a question posed.
We all know there are people watching, and CO's in places you wouldn't expect them.

Your second question won't get any honest replies. If anyone is silly enough to admit it online, they would be slitting their own throat potentially.(Well, there are a few people out here that may openly admit it)

We know it happens, and all we can do is try to do what is right, and hope others will learn by our example. Not very likely in a lot of cases though.

[locolocal]

Speaking for myself, no way!

This obviously does not apply to you BigM, but to justify one's actions as right or wrong, based on whether or not you get caught, is part of what's wrong with this morally defunked country of ours. There are a lot of people who are remorseful ONLY if they get caught, not because they did something wrong. It's part of the downfall of a society where "everything is ok, if it feels ok to you". Once universal truths are removed, the rules are wide open for individual interpretation.

And yes, thank God the river is open early, it serves as a great "pre-season bass" elixir!!

[Deitz Dittrich]

Nope.. a rule is a rule... I am a school teacher and preach this all the time. You may not like the rule, you may think its not a good rule, but the point is, A RULE, IS A RULE.

If your willing to travel and you have the bass itch, you can fish for bass 365 days a year. You just can't do it in Minnesota.

I myself don't even fish for pike untill bass opens, just becuase the 2 can be caught fishing so much in the same way. Then again I never fish for pike.

[BigMike]

Biglake, I suppose you are right in saying that asking for people to answer those questions is kind of like asking them to slit their throat.

I guess it just rubbed me the wrong way earlier today...maybe I'm even a little jealous. However, I don't have any moral quandries on my hands because I fish the 'sippi (pool2) and have LEGALLY caught some nice bass so far this spring . Being that I don't fish for walleye's (or pike) I won't be venturing off of Pool 2 until opener, but it makes me wonder about people throwing 3'' grubs or small tubes, etc... It would just be too hard for me to differentiate between bass baits and ************ baits.

[BigMike]

those stars would be multi - species (maybe this will work) I forgot about that word being blocked out - I don't get it LOL

[Mark Christianson]

BigM
You are forgiven for asking such a dopey question. jk

I think you represent yourself very well on the forums. There is no doubt in my mind you are going to do the right thing.
Rules are not meant to be broken. If you don't like a rule, then lobby for a change in that rule.

Now get that smallie magnet trophy polished up, cuz its gonna look good on my fireplace.

[AnyTime]

Maybe you guys can answer a question I've been wondering for a while. I just moved back to MN from St. Louis after 7yrs. I didn't realize there was a Bass season until I bought my license. The lakes were still frozen so I luckily didn't brake any rules. I'm used to fishing for bass year round in Missouri and Illinois, so why can't we here ? I'm not trying to start a debate, I really don't know why ?

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Anytime, Anywhere !!

[Daze Off]

Not to ignite anything but I spent the day today throwing 3" grubs, Rat-L-Traps and other various crankbaits, a carolina rig, and a spinnerbait for bass and I was NOT on the river anywhere....

Before everyone jumps down my throat - I was in Wisconsin....mwahahahahaha

Just kidding around on an admittedly serious subject.

Daze Off

[Snag]

I took my Dad out on Saturday afternoon. We started fishing in 10 ft using lindy rigs and a floater. He caught two bass in two casts so we moved deeper. Caught nothing and decided to troll shad raps. Caught three more bass, a muskie and a sunny. I'm sure I'll catch walleye and northerns on the bass opener. You never know what will bite. I've had two of my best pike days fishing spinner baits and 10 inch worms.

[Flipnripem]

Two words, Mississippi river!

[Giant_Jackpot]

Hey biglakea$$,

I only gots one thing to say:

Cripes!

[Mark Christianson]

Now who let the Jerkpot into the Bass forum?

The world was a much better place before.

Do we have to talk to Rick to ban you from our place of worship GJ????

[fishface5]

Oh **********, Oh **********, Where are thy words of wisdom, on the morals of the preseason poach? Art thou out there now casting forth to the fish with the great mouth? Oh when will the keepers of the holy forum allow thy ramblings to once more grace the flickering lights of so many monitors? I long for the day! Untill then, Fish on in a leagle manner, and sendest me an email, or givest me a call, so as we may go forth and leagaly catch a fish of the bigmouth or of any variety. Whack and stack dude!

[fishface5]

The stars are for the clergy of the largemouth species.

[fish4ed]

Anytime - the reason for the season is to protect the resource, especially, fish during the spawn. I grew up in Arizona, and they had continuous open season, but not the same pressure. It makes sense to me - spawning fish are more vulnerable, and bass will guard their nests, so once you disrupt them the babies are exposed.

There was a good article in In Fisherman recently espousing not targeting early season smallmouths, even where legal, to prevent disrupting spawning behavior. The gist of it was that smallies seem to be particularly sensitive to pressure at this time and are likely to not spawn if stressed, and that only a percentage of bass in a body of water will spawn in a given year.

[Daze Off]

Wish I had a nickel for every In-Fisherman show I've seen fishing smallies in and around the spawn.

Daze Off

[BigMike]

Daze, I hear you. I've seen a lot of in-fisherman shows about how to catch smallies in spring - not to mention all the advice they give about how they are on the beds, staging for spawn, etc... Kinda ironic that the magazine says they shouldn't target spawning smallies.

Although I do have to say, I have found some great articles in the In-Fisherman magazines over the last 4-6 months on smallie fishing - what do you think got me through the long winter?

[united jigsticker]

This time of year, it is way too easy to catch Largemouth.

For one, they are in the same places as the Crappies for the most part, and two...well, they eat whatever comes near them.

I am a die hard, straight up Crappie fisherman. The only exception comes on my yearly Canada trip in the fall.

Little tiny 1/32 oz jigs and the smallest crappie minnow I can find in my bucket, on 4 pound test line is what I fish with right now.

2 weeks ago I was out on a local lake. I found some Crappies in about 5 feet of water, but I caught 5 Bass for each Crappie I caught.

What are you going to do about it? Quit fishing? Maybe...

I unhooked them without pulling them from the water and off they went. All lip hooked and healthy.

However, while I was legit in my target for Crappies, there were a few big Bass rigs on this lake who came up and starting free casting larger jigs in these areas.

Argue all you want, but anyone who's got a clue can figure that you wouldn't expect to catch a Crappie on a free casted 1/8 oz jig during the 2nd week of May. They were most likely targeting Bass. But that's up to a CO to decide.

Now, sure the Bass were a fun fight for me, but anyone that is a diehard specie specific angler knows that the enjoyment from catching a fish you're not targeting just doesn't make the day as satisfying as limiting out on you're targeted specie. (unless of course it's a school of big Walleyes, the only other fish that excites me)

I fish Crappies because I can't catch Walleyes. Sad.

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Good fishing,
UJ
[email protected]

[Duffman]

EBass.....
Babe was legal that time.
I drove by and saw him filming that episode around noon the Tuesday after Memorial Day last year. Yes, he was targeting spawning bass, but at least he waited till the season was open.

[EBass]

I saw babe winklemans show on Mille Lacs going for bedding smallies. The show was like two weeks ago from last year is what I should've said.

[This message has been edited by EBass (edited 05-19-2004).]

[Guest]

Jeepers.....you would think everyone here never even goes over the speed limit.

If ya fish for bass before it is legally open.....so what!

The good news is that I caught 2 crappies a northern 2 dogfish and a few bluegill yesterday while I was throwing a tube and a small crankbait.....not to mention the 20+ bass that also accidentely happened to bite.

Yup.....Most guys on the internet are somehow perfect when they start typing.

[Mark Christianson]

Oh brother......

Here we go again.
Always somebody that throws the spin on it, to justify their belief in what is right and wrong, and better yet to show the "Who cares" attitude.

No, I am not perfect, but I don't target out of season fish. That's just me, and the majority of good sportsman out here and on the water. Do what you want. A forum sure won't change that attitude.

[EBass]

Duffman,
I'm sure you're right. Babe wouldn't do anything illegal - well that may be a stretch. Yuck- yuck!

[Ray Esboldt]

Mr. Lee,

Are you not a dedicated tournament angler in Minnesota? I'm guessing you represent some products and are looking for more. I guarantee you, the vendors of those products would not look the other way to your public statement of ethical infractions. I suggest you zip your lip.

The people that run those businesses read FM too.

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Ray Esboldt

Catch-N Tackle
MarCum
Stone Legacy