Sad

[outdoorsman110]

TPWD responded with saying that they are aware of the situation.

[Jacob34]

I'm no hunter, but I think a lake trout life span is greater than a deer's. Also Utah does a horrific job at managing our warm water fisheries. A lot of places have no size limit what so ever with just a normal bag limit of 5. I watched a video of a spearfishing tourney that they held on Jordanelle Res last year and they speared tons of larger small mouth. Our state record is only 7lbs and I've seen many pics of fish over 5 and 6 pounds taken while spearfishing. It makes it very difficult to catch a trophy sized fish when everyone around is keep their bag limits. I'm not blaming the spear fishermen, I just think it's unethical to spear fish while on their spawning beds.

[J Francho]

TPWD responded with saying that they are aware of the situation.

Are they also aware of what you did to that fish in your avatar?

[outdoorsman110]

Are they also aware of what you did to that fish in your avatar?

I can assure you, it was voluntary.

[Siebert Outdoors]

I realize I'm the ugly duckling in this debate, but again I'm not trying to argue its more out of being surprised that in 20+ posts I'm the only one that feels this way.

I got a kick out of that. But I actually do spear time to time.

I dont know how many of you have speared before, but I've speared a few times in AR. Its popular on Bull Shoals. Mostly for walleyes. Its extremely challenging and takes a whole different skill set. I do know the regulations are extremely tight in AR. The amount you can keep is 1/2 of what you can with a rod and reel. Spearing and diving have taught me more about a lake and its fishery then I have learned staying on the surface. I have gained a lot of knowledge on fish, relation to structure, and how fish hold to that structure by watching it first hand. The ironic thing about this is I've never hit my max limit on spearing. If I kept all legal fish fishing I'd hit the max a whole lot faster.

[fowlskies]

Are they also aware of what you did to that fish in your avatar?

Hahaha...I can hear the conversation now, "Yes sir we are aware of the situation but we are busy with a sexual battery case involving a fish and a Mr. Bill Dance and a Mr Outdoorsman11....oohh umm well we have to go now have a nice day."

[Jacob34]

I have spear fished as well for Burbot in Flaming George (Which have no limit.) and I can say it can be very hard. I just don't see why anyone would want to target a fish that's sitting on a bed no matter the species? to me it wouldn't be very fun. It's literally like shooting fish in a barrel.

[fowlskies]

I got a kick out of that. But I actually do spear time to time.

Would devils advocate been better?

[Siebert Outdoors]

I have spear fished as well for Burbot in Flaming George (Which have no limit.) and I can say it can be very hard. I just don't see why anyone would want to target a fish that's sitting on a bed no matter the species? to me it wouldn't be very fun. It's literally like shooting fish in a barrel.

I completely agree with you there!

Fowlskies, now way. I chuckled.

[fowlskies]

I have spear fished as well for Burbot in Flaming George (Which have no limit.) and I can say it can be very hard. I just don't see why anyone would want to target a fish that's sitting on a bed no matter the species? to me it wouldn't be very fun. It's literally like shooting fish in a barrel.

Question, do you target them with your pole when they're on thier beds?

Although since with a spear you end up killing the fish, I don't agree with the season being open when they are spawning. You either have an over population on the waters you are referencing or your EnCon department have thier heads up thier

[outdoorsman110]

Hahaha...I can hear the conversation now, "Yes sir we are aware of the situation but we are busy with a sexual battery case involving a fish and a Mr. Bill Dance and a Mr Outdoorsman11....oohh umm well we have to go now have a nice day."

HAHAHAAH!!!!

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I couldn't even watch this whole video. Eye of the Tiger? Really? Let's just pretend for a second that this is both legal and ethical, are people in the cyber world really watching this and saying to themselves " WOW This guy is way cool!". If so, there's no hope.

[fowlskies]

BTW outdoorsman I like the Washington Irving quote in your handle, very true words right there.

I try and get all philosophical and the best I ever come up with is, "there is nothing quite like the happiness fishing brings when watching my little girls pull pumpkinseeds out of the weeds while I pull bass from the grass."

And you now see why literature is not my day job, I think I'll stick with numbers.

[Jacob34]

Fowlskies,

I would be lying if I say I haven't. I've fished for bass while during the spawn twice since I've started bass fishing. That's in a four year period counting this year. It's an interesting experience, but did feel kinda bad about doing it.I'm also the guy that has a hard time keeping any type of fish I may catch (I'm sentimental I guess ) And to answer you're second question Utah is a trout fishery first and foremost. They don't seem to care about anything else it seems. The only warm water fish they seem to keep a handle on are Wipers and Tiger Muskies which get planted pretty regularly, probably being their hybrids and can't spawn.

[fowlskies]

I couldn't even watch this whole video. Eye of the Tiger? Really? Let's just pretend for a second that this is both legal and ethical, are people in the cyber world really watching this and saying to themselves " WOW This guy is way cool!". If so, there's no hope.

I didn't enjoy this video, its pretty cheesey if you ask me but I do enjoy some of those speargun shows on the Outdoor Network. Although, that guy is out in the ocean and tackles some serious fish, but I do find myself going "WOW that was pretty cool". I think this guy is trying to replicate what he has seen on TV and adapt it to freshwater, its blatantly obvious he's an amatuer.

[Jacob34]

Here is an example on how things work in Utah. Utah is a Trout fishery period, quite a few of our rivers and lakes have special regs on them (artificial fly and lure only.) Well a particular stretch of river I used to fly fish quite often held many 20"+ rainbow and cutt throat trout in it about ten years ago. Well they thought of a brilliant Idea to introduce brown trout into it. This stretch of river is mostly fished by fly fishermen and they don't really keep anything they catch. The state is aware of this and has the stats to prove it, but still kept the artificial fly and lure only reg on it. Now a days you're lucky to get anything over 12" out of there. The river is being overran by the brown trout and the rainbows and cuttthroat are almost non-existent. They finally opened this stretch of river up to bait fishing two years ago. This past RAC meeting when asked why they waited so long to change it they stated they where waiting for river to "correct" itself and finally decided that it wasn't going to work, so they changed the regs, This was one the best rivers around, but now it's a far cry from what it was. I can tell you many more stories like this too unfortunately.

[tomustang]

Hunting and fishing don't equate, man. There is no option to release a hunted animal. There is for fishing. If you want to catch and keep bass you catch on a hook and line, it's your right once you purchase a fishing license. I'm pretty sure spearing bass is a no-no in NY.

Actually that's not true, tranquilizer darts can be used but since no one really cares about hunted game it's not part of the system

[slonezp]

You have a good point but over here in the Adirondacks a nice B&C buck is one in a million but you never see anyone chastise someone for shooting one. Instead they are put on a pedistal, make every local hunting forum and receive praise from everyone in the hunting community. Another example is a piebald deer (I can't even fathom the percentage of their occurance), a couple of them were taken this past season down in the Albany area (one by a tennage girl that everyone was excited for) and no-one looked down on them for pulling the trigger. I'm not arguing I just don't see the disconnect

and to stay on point as long as the guy is within his legal limit and following local game laws I have no problem in what manner he takes his quarry.

I wouldn't take home a limit of 5 lbers but one or two a season isn't going to hurt the fishery. I grew up and live in the Lake George area, if you go into any of the local guide shops their walls are filled with pictures of people with their trophy fish and the lake isn't hurting in either category of size or amount of fish that call that body of water home. The same applies for other local bodies in my area such as the Hudson, Lake Champlain or the Sacandaga Res.

I mention my local area b/c A: its a tourist trap where tons of "out-of-towners" come and keep their prized catch and B: I see you're from Rochester so I assume you know the bodies of water I'm referencing.

I realize I'm the ugly duckling in this debate, but again I'm not trying to argue its more out of being surprised that in 20+ posts I'm the only one that feels this way.

Another difference is a trophy bass is just that. A trophy. Most sportsman realize the value of the fish either to the lake or to the sport. You may keep one to hang on the wall. Let's call this guy a sportsman for arguments sake. Why harvest a limit of trophies for food, or bragging rights? As a deer hunter. If you had 3 tags to fill. You shoot a real trophy buck to fill the first tag. You see a couple other nice bucks the rest of the trip. Would you shoot them for meat or come back next year in hopes to get your next trophy. I think most hunters(at least the ones I know) would let the other large bucks walk and shoot a button buck for meat.

I harvest bass to eat. 14"ers not trophies. If they were harvested legally so be it. My opinion is the guy is still a moron.

[outdoorsman110]

Another difference is a trophy bass is just that. A trophy. Most sportsman realize the value of the fish either to the lake or to the sport. You may keep one to hang on the wall. Let's call this guy a sportsman for arguments sake. Why harvest a limit of trophies for food, or bragging rights? As a deer hunter. If you had 3 tags to fill. You shoot a real trophy buck to fill the first tag. You see a couple other nice bucks the rest of the trip. Would you shoot them for meat or come back next year in hopes to get your next trophy. I think most hunters(at least the ones I know) would let the other large bucks walk and shoot a button buck for meat.

I harvest bass to eat. 14"ers not trophies. If they were harvested legally so be it. My opinion is the guy is still a moron.

I let the big bucks walk, I've had a nice mature 8 pointer line up beside a fork horn, took him instead. I think the older ones should walk, I'm not into mounting anything unless it's a trout, fox, coyote and squirrel.

[outdoorsman110]

BTW outdoorsman I like the Washington Irving quote in your handle, very true words right there.

I try and get all philosophical and the best I ever come up with is, "there is nothing quite like the happiness fishing brings when watching my little girls pull pumpkinseeds out of the weeds while I pull bass from the grass."

And you now see why literature is not my day job, I think I'll stick with numbers.

haa!! Thanks. Nothing wrong with that quote of yours man.