Maine Legislators Poised To Ban All Soft Baits

[HOIST-N-HAWGS]

http://keepamericafishing.salsalabs.com/o/6394/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=4098#.UQznwdP0tOo.facebook

[Sam]

That's a shame.

 

No idea what is going through that guy's head.

 

He seems not to have done detailed research.

 

I would think his daughter told him that in school the teacher told the class that fishing hurts the fish and we should not hurt fish so let's do what we can to stop hurting the fish.

 

No other reasonable explanation.

[Jigfishn10]

Back in the early part of 2000's there was a report/article which illustrated fish kills from soft plastics not being passed by fish and binding up the bellies. A trout was used in this particular artcle. So I guess it's been on the table for a long time and just now coming to a head.

[HOIST-N-HAWGS]

Back in the early part of 2000's there was a report/article which illustrated fish kills from soft plastics not being passed by fish and binding up the bellies. A trout was used in this particular artcle. So I guess it's been on the table for a long time and just now coming to a head.

You're correct as usual! That report was the 1st study done that had all of us up in arms.  Which, I believe inevitably lead to the postponement. Unfortunately, I think that study helped the led ban in MA along.

[The one that got away]

Probably won't be long before that kind of legislation makes its way to MA. 

[Darren.]

Dang. Ban soft baits?! Really?!

[slonezp]

Signed it and posted on another forum. Hope it helps

[Snakehead Whisperer]

Back in the early part of 2000's there was a report/article which illustrated fish kills from soft plastics not being passed by fish and binding up the bellies. A trout was used in this particular artcle. So I guess it's been on the table for a long time and just now coming to a head.

Do you know if they tested biodegradable baits like "Gulp"? I read the article and realize that the ban would include biodegradable baits, but I was curious about the research.

 

On a side note I fish soft plastics a lot, and it is very seldom that a fish tears a piece off and might swallow it. Usually this happens with pan fish who can't engulf the entire bait.

[Jigfishn10]

Do you know if they tested biodegradable baits like "Gulp"? I read the article and realize that the ban would include biodegradable baits, but I was curious about the research.

 

On a side note I fish soft plastics a lot, and it is very seldom that a fish tears a piece off and might swallow it. Usually this happens with pan fish who can't engulf the entire bait.

 

At the time of the article I wrote about in my previous post, I don't believe the Bio-Bates were in the market, if they were, they weren't very popoular then, and my guess, pretty expensive. 

 

If you think about it, and I'm not trying to be argumentative here, fish will pick up a soft plastic off the bottom and suck it in...think about a deadstick technique we employ as fisherman. If they are hungry enough and we've all seen how sometimes we gut hook fish, they will take that bait down without even tasting it. 

 

There were and are still a lot of fishermen out there that still toss their used plastics in the water. And I can be honest here, if I'm wacky or t-rigging a senko type bait, I can promise you that I had some fly off the hook and land in the water on a cast. I'm not doing it on purpose mind you (I mean, what a fricken birdsnest that causes...LOL), but it has happened with me.

[Jigfishn10]

An article/report from 2007. Scroll down to page 3. This is NOT the article I was referring to, but if you look at the plastics that came out of this brookies stomach, you would wonder how he got that many in him.

 

http://www.easternbrooktrout.net/docs/EBT%20Newsletter_9-07.pdf

 

This debate has been going on for a long time. Just like the MA lead ban debate went on before it was enacted.

[je1946]

If the legislators in Maine vote this ban in & I'm sure I speak for alot of sportsman, I will not spend a penny in that state including at Cabelas, Kittery Trading Post and LL Bean, and fully intend to Email each of them tomorrow to convey that,and would urge every sportsman to do the same. It would be financial suicide to alot of businesses in the state if the ban is passed, think of Motels, camping areas, tolls, gas stations as well as the state tax revenue they would lose. Just cannot see that passing.

[Mainebass1984]

 The bill will never pass. The same legislator has also introduced a ban on hooks. Yeah hooks. The guy is just plain out of his mind. I participated in a study at Unity College, where I received a bachelors in fisheries biology, for the Maine dept of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife using soft plastics for feed for trout. The trout have a very very difficult time passing the plastic through there system. Most cases they could not pass it through there system. It essentially became a block in there digestive system. They could still feed but there capacity to digest prey was greatly diminished. They had less room in there stomachs. This also caused them to feed more frequently. The study also suggested that stocked trout were more prone to ingest soft plastic baits then native or wild trout. Most soft plastics are impregnated with salt as is the feed that hatcheries use. All this being said I have yet to see a trout that died from eating soft plastics. Usually the soft plastics are discovered by anglers after they have caught and killed the trout.