MainelyBASS Posted June 10, 2015 Posted June 10, 2015 Moosehead Lake Fisheries Coalition is holding a derby to kill invasive fish species including smallmouth bass and perch. The person who can kill the most smallmouth wins $300. This is in effort to make the salmon and trout fishing better. Is it just me, or is this insane? Moosehead Lake was ranked in the top 100 Bass fishing lakes in the U.S. because of its smallmouth fishery. Our state continues to overlook the economic impact bass fisherman have in the fishing industry. They continue to believe all the money comes from trout and salmon fisherman. It's a shame.
bassguytom Posted June 10, 2015 Posted June 10, 2015 That make no sense to me. They would only be allowed to kill their daily cereal anyway. I would think smallmouth and perch would be food for lake trout and salmon anyway.
Lunker Addict Posted June 10, 2015 Posted June 10, 2015 That's too bad, I certainly don't agree with killing a bunch of smallmouth to improve salmon and trout fishing. If they are having a negative impact on the salmon and trout population however then there may be a legitimate concern. We have had a few lakes around here that they will kill off to improve trout fishing only to find the lake in the same state 5 years later.
WPCfishing Posted June 10, 2015 Posted June 10, 2015 That's too bad, I certainly don't agree with killing a bunch of smallmouth to improve salmon and trout fishing. If they are having a negative impact on the salmon and trout population however then there may be a legitimate concern. We have had a few lakes around here that they will kill off to improve trout fishing only to find the lake in the same state 5 years later. Picking winners and losers. Not cool. There should be a protest. They're interfering with the Eco system.
danno054 Posted June 10, 2015 Posted June 10, 2015 And Maine just got a bunch of publicity from Major League Fishing...smh 1
Super User everythingthatswims Posted June 10, 2015 Super User Posted June 10, 2015 Only one way to get back at the them...Stock Muskies 3
Super User Catch and Grease Posted June 10, 2015 Super User Posted June 10, 2015 Rally up all your fishing buddies and tell them to round up all their fishing buddies and have a protest! Lol
crtasg2002 Posted June 10, 2015 Posted June 10, 2015 Picking winners and losers. Not cool. There should be a protest. They're interfering with the Eco system.
crtasg2002 Posted June 10, 2015 Posted June 10, 2015 I thought the smallmouths in Moosehead were put there illegally.
Brewerbass Posted June 10, 2015 Posted June 10, 2015 That make no sense to me. They would only be allowed to kill their daily cereal anyway. I would think smallmouth and perch would be food for lake trout and salmon anyway. Moosehead has an unlimited bag limit for smallmouths. The bass haters will be out in full force. There was a similar "event" on another lake last summer and quite a few nice fish were killed. The bass will be there long after the haters are gone
Brewerbass Posted June 10, 2015 Posted June 10, 2015 I thought the smallmouths in Moosehead were put there illegally. Way back in the 70's. Although they have been 2 systems connected to moose head even longer
Super User A-Jay Posted June 10, 2015 Super User Posted June 10, 2015 Without getting into whatever politics is involved here, and after reading a little about the Moosehead Lake Fisheries Coalition, I'll admit this definitely rubs me the wrong way. But I'm not a big trout & salmon angler so perhaps I'm missing something.  What I do find interesting is here we have a situation where trout anglers want to kill bass (smallmouth in this case) in order to reduce the competition / number of mouths to feed, so the trout & salmon can thrive.  And not too long ago a different state became very famous in the bass fishing world by using trout to Feed bass, again to help them thrive.  A-Jay 3
Super User Jigfishn10 Posted June 10, 2015 Super User Posted June 10, 2015 Sounds like the Coalition is trying to restore Moosehead Lake to what it once was:  http://mooseheadlakecoalition.org/moosehead-lake-focus-group/  I didn't do a lot of research, but it appears to the eye that Smallies & Perch were introduced to the waters by fishermen at some point. Again, purely subjective on my part.  I can't imagine the Derby doing well, not a lot of trout anglers fish for bass and bass fishermen more than likely wouldn't participate. I could be wrong there as well...LOL! 1
CeeJay Posted June 10, 2015 Posted June 10, 2015 I'll never understand the animosity between trout/salmon anglers on one hand, and bass anglers on the other. And, if it's because of the fishing methods used (tradition).... fly fishing vs. spin/bait casting... then it's even more silly. All the great sport fish in America can be taken on a fly, or a spinner, or a worm, etc...  Trout and salmon are old school glamor fish of course. But who's to say bass are not? The whole "invasive species" thing can be taken way too far, in my opinion. Especially when it deals with fish native to the same country... 1
Super User Oregon Native Posted June 10, 2015 Super User Posted June 10, 2015 Sounds like some west coasters moved up there....they have the same mentality towards warm water fisheries!!!
Mainebass1984 Posted June 10, 2015 Posted June 10, 2015  Sorry guys but I completely disagree with most of the post here. There is much more to this story then some may believe. Moosehead lake is the largest lake in the entire US with a completely native Brook Trout population. Smallmouth bass are an illegally introduced species that directly competes with Brook Trout. I wonder how many people here commented here have actually ever been to Moosehead Lake ? My family has had a camp on Moosehead for the past 20 years. I also worked for Maine Fish and Wildlife as a Fish Biologist Assistant out of the Greenville office which is located on Moosehead Lake. This isn't a tournament aimed at killing bass for the sake of killing bass. This is an effort to preserve a very unique and famous native fish population. There aren't any big lakes in this country where an angler can catch large native brook trout. If there was an invasive species degrading the fishing in your local lake wouldn't you want something to be done about it. Lets say an invasive South American fish was devastating Lake Fork. Wouldn't you want something done about it ? I think it is pretty selfish of some individuals to not only stock bass in Moosehead but to then have such hatred towards other anglers because they don't like the fact that some bucket biologist decided to put bass in a prestine, remote, world famous native brook trout lake. Lets ignore the fact that this lake is the best native brook trout fishing in the entire country just so we can catch bass. Its pretty ridiculous guys. Smallmouth have been have been degrading the native Brook Trout population. This tourney wasn't just some trout anglers idea. As it stands right now the State of Maine allows for the harvesting of all bass caught by special regulation. Moosehead Lake isn't just some random lake in Maine. Do some research into the subject guys. 9
MainelyBASS Posted June 10, 2015 Author Posted June 10, 2015  Sorry guys but I completely disagree with most of the post here. There is much more to this story then some may believe. Moosehead lake is the largest lake in the entire US with a completely native Brook Trout population. Smallmouth bass are an illegally introduced species that directly competes with Brook Trout. I wonder how many people here commented here have actually ever been to Moosehead Lake ? My family has had a camp on Moosehead for the past 20 years. I also worked for Maine Fish and Wildlife as a Fish Biologist Assistant out of the Greenville office which is located on Moosehead Lake. This isn't a tournament aimed at killing bass for the sake of killing bass. This is an effort to preserve a very unique and famous native fish population. There aren't any big lakes in this country where an angler can catch large native brook trout. If there was an invasive species degrading the fishing in your local lake wouldn't you want something to be done about it. Lets say an invasive South American fish was devastating Lake Fork. Wouldn't you want something done about it ? I think it is pretty selfish of some individuals to not only stock bass in Moosehead but to then have such hatred towards other anglers because they don't like the fact that some bucket biologist decided to put bass in a prestine, remote, world famous native brook trout lake. Lets ignore the fact that this lake is the best native brook trout fishing in the entire country just so we can catch bass. Its pretty ridiculous guys. Smallmouth have been have been degrading the native Brook Trout population. This tourney wasn't just some trout anglers idea. As it stands right now the State of Maine allows for the harvesting of all bass caught by special regulation. Moosehead Lake isn't just some random lake in Maine. Do some research into the subject guys. I wanna see the numbers. You tell everyone to "do research into the subject" and you throw out that smallmouth are degrading the brook trout population. So because you have done the "research" you can show me the article that shows what the population of native brook trout was before smallmouth were introduced, and what the numbers are today. 2
Super User A-Jay Posted June 10, 2015 Super User Posted June 10, 2015  Sorry guys but I completely disagree with most of the post here. There is much more to this story then some may believe. Moosehead lake is the largest lake in the entire US with a completely native Brook Trout population. Smallmouth bass are an illegally introduced species that directly competes with Brook Trout. I wonder how many people here commented here have actually ever been to Moosehead Lake ? My family has had a camp on Moosehead for the past 20 years. I also worked for Maine Fish and Wildlife as a Fish Biologist Assistant out of the Greenville office which is located on Moosehead Lake. This isn't a tournament aimed at killing bass for the sake of killing bass. This is an effort to preserve a very unique and famous native fish population. There aren't any big lakes in this country where an angler can catch large native brook trout. If there was an invasive species degrading the fishing in your local lake wouldn't you want something to be done about it. Lets say an invasive South American fish was devastating Lake Fork. Wouldn't you want something done about it ? I think it is pretty selfish of some individuals to not only stock bass in Moosehead but to then have such hatred towards other anglers because they don't like the fact that some bucket biologist decided to put bass in a prestine, remote, world famous native brook trout lake. Lets ignore the fact that this lake is the best native brook trout fishing in the entire country just so we can catch bass. Its pretty ridiculous guys. Smallmouth have been have been degrading the native Brook Trout population. This tourney wasn't just some trout anglers idea. As it stands right now the State of Maine allows for the harvesting of all bass caught by special regulation. Moosehead Lake isn't just some random lake in Maine. Do some research into the subject guys.  Good Morning and I was hoping you'd chime in here. I can appreciate & do respect your educated input here. Beyond the obvious science behind what the Moosehead Lake Fisheries Coalition is trying to accomplish, you have a unique perspective in that you live there. You know the history and with a camp on the lake, you have skin in the game.   As Moosehead Lake is approx. 40 by 10 miles, with over 80 islands and more than 400 miles of shoreline, I am going to go out on a limb here and say that after this "derby" is over even if it wildly successful the actual impact felt by the resident bass fisherman, will be minimal.  As for the "science & biology" that is driving this event - I never agree with it. The shear size of the water leads me to believe this is an attempt to appease & or raise money & awareness.  A-Jay 1
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted June 10, 2015 Global Moderator Posted June 10, 2015 http://www.state.me.us/ifw/fishing/lakesurvey_maps/piscataquis/moosehead_lake.pdf   Yellow perch were introduced to Moosehead Lake in the mid- 1950s, smallmouth bass in the mid-1970s, and white perch in 1984. The establishment of these three species severely compromises the lake's potential to sustain a high quality wild brook trout fishery.   That's straight from the lake survey report that I spent 2 minutes searching for. Not saying I agree or disagree with it, but I can understand why they would at the very least want to keep the population down to try to preserve a unique fishery. 2
Super User A-Jay Posted June 10, 2015 Super User Posted June 10, 2015 http://www.state.me.us/ifw/fishing/lakesurvey_maps/piscataquis/moosehead_lake.pdf   Yellow perch were introduced to Moosehead Lake in the mid- 1950s, smallmouth bass in the mid-1970s, and white perch in 1984. The establishment of these three species severely compromises the lake's potential to sustain a high quality wild brook trout fishery.   That's straight from the lake survey report that I spent 2 minutes searching for. Not saying I agree or disagree with it, but I can understand why they would at the very least want to keep the population down to try to preserve a unique fishery.   Fair enough - but the lake is 40 miles long by 10 miles wide.  The effects of Hook & line eradication seem minimal at best.  A-Jay 3
MainelyBASS Posted June 10, 2015 Author Posted June 10, 2015 They can do as they please, however the economic impact of the bass fishing in that area is unreal. So unreal it was ranked in the top 100 in the country, but they want to hold a kill derby to kill off the exact reason why Maine is starting to become a popular bass fishing destination. Major League Fishing brought $300,000 dollars to the local economy in just 2 weeks of being in Maine. People make a living guiding on Moosehead for trout and smallmouth. People vacation from far away to fish for trout and smallmouth. Why try and make it better for one group or another? The eco system is what it is now, this derby wont change it. If it continues to be a common practice the state of Maine will lose countless amounts of money from people who won't even want to come to Maine anymore because they are trying to do away with bass and bass fishing as clearly evident by the states attempt to ban rubber lures a few years ago. 1
frogflogger Posted June 10, 2015 Posted June 10, 2015 The elephant in this room is that bass are moving north - brookies (which I love fishing for) are a cold water species that are having a tough time in their more southern regions. On a body of water this size bass and perch population growth are probably a given no matter what kind of regulations they put up to deter them.
Logan S Posted June 10, 2015 Posted June 10, 2015 Ask those of us in MD/VA how these type of events work on the Snakehead population in the Potomac . Â And just like the Snakeheads...There's no way they are going to get those smallmouth out of there without doing something that will kill off most other species too. Â Most people probably know that too. Â Events like these are more for show than anything else. Â As a bass fisherman, it sucks to see Smallmouth as the target...But I also understand the importance of trying to protect the trout fishery. Â I just think it's a lost cause once a species is established in a large body of water. Â There are examples everywhere - Snakehead, gobies, zebra mussels, asian carp, etc... 1
MainelyBASS Posted June 10, 2015 Author Posted June 10, 2015 Im fully aware that the practice doesnt work, however if these attempts continue to be made why would anyone want to come to Maine to bass fish knowing we are trying to eradicate the species?Â
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted June 10, 2015 Global Moderator Posted June 10, 2015 Fair enough - but the lake is 40 miles long by 10 miles wide.  The effects of Hook & line eradication seem minimal at best.  A-Jay I agree 100%. I would also think that there's a good chance that the bass and trout tend to inhabit different areas. Hook and line is at least more responsible than trying to poison or gill net. 1
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