We don't want MORE FISHERMAN

[Cdn Angler]

I continually see this comment on this board and elsewhere. 

 

I understand if you are a bass tournament fisherman looking for bigger purses or if you sell fishing tackle and want more buyers. 

But as the average bass fisherman? It makes 100% no sense. There is only so much water and so many fish to go around. The more people you get fishing, the worst the fishing gets. 

 

I come from Canada. I seek out lakes that might have 1-3 boats fishing per day, often zero, and im talking lakes that are a decent size.  It isn't "easy" but I know I can catch fish most days/good ones (3-4 lbs) and I don't need sonar, a bass boat, 50 rods to do so. 

 

I was recently in Southern California. Fishing report after fishing report is people getting skunked, catching one fish a day, barely accomplishing anything on the water, fishing cheek to jowl with others. And these same people want MORE FISHERMAN.  It makes zero sense to me. 

 

The only rationale is that it helps build the fishing industry so we get better lures. This is total nonsense. You don't need crazy lures to catch fish if they aren't getting hammered by thousands of people a week. Bass will bite most lures if they don't get 1,000 lures/week in front of them. 

 

I can go out on a Canadian lake with a $4 Cotton Cordell spot or Big O and catch 5 fish, more times than not. And decent ones too 3-4 lbs or more. And we have less fish total as it is so cold and they can't eat 5 months per year. 

 

As a bass fisherman you should want as few other people on the water as possible, for solitude, catching and overall enjoyment. 

 

I'm 100% in favour of helping fellow fishermen and I'll give up my spots, but I have less than zero desire to attract new people to the sport.  The interests of 6th sense, river2sea, rapala, do not align with those of actual fisherman.  

[TOXIC]

While it seems logical that less fishermen equal easier fishing, some of the absolute best lakes get the most pressure.  

[Kirtley Howe]

The attitude that you want less fisherman seems a bit selfish to me. I strongly encourage others to get into fishing...especially youngsters.

[gim]

19 minutes ago, Cdn Angler said:

Fishing report after fishing report is people getting skunked, catching one fish a day, barely accomplishing anything on the water, fishing cheek to jowl with others.

 

I have never fished like this in my entire life.  And if that's how I had to do it, I probably wouldn't be fishing.

 

I think there are plenty of places that a guy can still go fishing and generally avoid a lot of other anglers/competition.  I live in the land of 10,000 lakes and there's no doubt that on some days in the summer when the sun is out, certain lakes are a zoo (these are the days I try to avoid).  Its not really my job to try and recruit other anglers to join the sport, but if someone wants to, they can.  As long as they buy a license and have the appropriate gear, its on their own will power.  They may find that they don't enjoy it and they will want to avoid it in the future.  Its not for everyone.

 

Something else to keep in mind.  The outdoor sports like hunting and fishing are generally losing participants slowly over time.  The demographic is an aging one and we aren't recruiting enough to replace them so if this trend continues, there will be less of us as time passes by anyways.

[Captain Phil]

10% of the bass fisherman catch 90% of the fish.  The rest are like you describe.  On any given weekend, there are so many boats at our ramps that you have to park down the street.  So how is it that it still takes 15-25 pounds to place in one of our local bass tournaments?  Bass fishing is not supposed to be easy.  When you fish as many tournaments as I have, you learn not to be concerned with what other people are doing.

[volzfan59]

For me it's a slippery slope. I prefer to fish by myself, in areas where I'm the only boat. I simply don't care to be around other people so I completely get where @Cnd Angler is coming from. To accomplish this, I usually fish in rivers and creeks on week days. All of that said, I do want kids, and others to take up the sport as long as they respect the resources. 

 

[MN Fisher]

17 minutes ago, TOXIC said:

While it seems logical that less fishermen equal easier fishing, some of the absolute best lakes get the most pressure.  

Lake Minnetonka is an example.

 

One of the most heavily pressured lakes in Minnesota, home to 10-13 bass tournaments a season - plus walleye tournaments, crappies tournaments, pike/muskie tournaments.

 

The June 1, 2021 MN Bass Nation Minnetonka Classic top 5 finishers had 20#+ bags, 7 teams had a 5#+ bass in their bag

The September 13, 2021 Denny's Super 30 had 6 bags of 20#+ and a 6#15oz big bass (monster for up here)

 

Just two examples...and BASS still rates Minnetonka as one of the best bass lakes in the midwest. Tournament pressure plus all of us non-tournament fishers don't seem to be degrading the lake in the slightest.

[TnRiver46]

I love sharing the fishing experience with other humans, I’m part of the “problem”

 

let me guess, you are one of those people that lives in a house, yet gets mad when someone builds one and moves in 

[Gera]

While I definitely would enjoy less crowded lakes and ramps,  I do think is important that new people get into the sport. However what I would love even more is that people be more educated about it, take care of the resources that make this sport posible. 

[ironbjorn]

I don't like fishing pressure and I like to be alone on the water for a multitude of reasons including that I'm a loner. so I agree. Call me selfish.

[leinad]

58 minutes ago, Captain Phil said:

10% of the bass fisherman catch 90% of the fish.  The rest are like you describe.  On any given weekend, there are so many boats at our ramps that you have to park down the street.  So how is it that it still takes 15-25 pounds to place in one of our local bass tournaments?  Bass fishing is not supposed to be easy.  When you fish as many tournaments as I have, you learn not to be concerned with what other people are doing.

10% of the bass fisherman catch 90% of the fish is most likely true thanks to those sonar units but without them those numbers would be way off.15-25# in florida is  only 3 or 4 fish right? tournaments have most certainly affected the fishing in my area ( candlewood and lk lillinonah in ct.) you can ask ANY local and they will tell you how it use to be. still  big fish in these bodies of water , of course there is but nowhere near the fisheries they once were!

 

[Tennessee Boy]

If we don't stop  _____________ ,  we are going to ruin fishing.

 

This statement gets debated constantly on this forum.  The only thing that changes is what goes in the blank.    Eating fish,  having tournaments,  using forward facing sonar,  the list goes on.  Mother nature is extremely good at managing herself.  We play a role as predator in mother nature.   Lakes need some fishing pressure to maximize the health of the fishery.

 

Do I think fishing pressure makes fishing more difficult?  Yes,  but difficult fishing also reduces the pressure on a body of water.  Its mother natures way of balancing the necessary fishing pressure.  

 

On any given day,  I know there are places I can go where I will be practically the only angler on the water.  I usually chose to fish highly pressured waters that are also the most productive.  

 

Another thing to consider is the role that we play in funding the management of fisheries though the money generated by fishing license sales.   That money and influence is reduced if our numbers decrease.   There's an on going battle on many lakes around here concerning the spraying of aquatic vegetation.  Non fishing boaters want it all killed.  Anglers want it left alone.  We often win these battles because we have strength in numbers and we generate a lot of revenue.  This would change if fishing was less popular.   

 

Lake Guntersville is the best example I can think of where great fishing and high pressure coexist.  It's one of the most pressured lakes in the country because the fishing is great.  It's great because there is so much non-native aquatic vegetation.  Pleasure boaters and homeowners have lobbied for spraying the grass.  Anglers have fought and won to leave it alone in most of the lake.  Guntersville is a popular destination for fishing tourism which generates a lot of money for the local economy.  I have no doubt that if they killed all of the grass, the pressure would be reduced, the local economy would suffer,   and the fishing would suck.  

[Buzzbaiter]

Now this is quite the spicy conversation. It’s important to consider conservation. People buy licenses, more funds for wildlife (“wildlife” includes the fish that we love to catch). Also, a few standout anglers out of a  new generation might be inspired to get involved in conservation by planning projects or volunteering. None of that is possible without new fishermen. Also consider the state that hunting is in. Hunting is quite similar to fishing in that it involves the taking of wildlife from wild places. Hunters and fishermen are intimately connected with nature, and they are the first ones to notice when something is off about the environment. Hunting as a sport isn’t doing too well, with the demographic being pretty exclusive. Years ago, people would fight tooth and nail for hunter’s rights. Now, it’s often just a passing thought or thorn in the side when it comes to land management planning. Why? There’s not enough hunters. Consider conservation before we start gatekeeping our wonderful sport.

[T-Billy]

I love the cold water seasons. Little to no competition for spots, and it's the best time to catch bigguns. You know what else I love? Following people down a bank, hauling fish from their used water the rest of the year. I don't even get mad when people cut me off anymore. Either you can catch 'em or you can't.

 The OP would hate fishing in OH. No such thing as low pressured public waters here. Our little lakes get HAMMERED from May-Oct. 

[Mr. Aquarium]

I help out the new guys but I don’t give up spots or secrets. Let them figure it out like I did. Lol 

[GRiver]

Didn’t somebody teach or tell you about fishing Cdn Angler?

Most of were taught or shown by relatives or friends, maybe not to the degree we have gotten to now( or to the degree we think of ourselves as). If new people stop getting involved where would we be? 
What would you be doing if they stop new people from starting to fish……. if it was before you were born.

[scaleface]

I would like to see less fishing pressure also . 

[WRB]

From as far back as I can recall the belief that 10% of the fisherman catch 90% of the fish. This hasn’t changed in my lifetime.

Fishing pressure does affect fish behavior and good anglers adjust with the fish.

30 years the numbers of bass anglers peaked in California and have slowly dropped in man hours fished. Video games attract more youth then fishing, easy to sit at home alone and play games. I would like to see more young bass anglers, not less,  it’s the future of our sport.

There are lakes in Canada that rarely see a single bass angler in a year. Bass are not the preferred fish to catch and eat, walleyes are.

Tom

[Chris Catignani]

On first reading the OP...I was thinking of how the fisheries are managed here and that, as crowded as it is at times, we are only catching a very small percentage of the fish that exist.

 

That being said...there are times on the lake when someone asks if I was catching any and I say "NO".

Any one ever hook a fish and then open the bail when another boat goes by?

 

[Ole man Fazul]

3 hours ago, Cdn Angler said:

The interests of 6th sense, river2sea, rapala, do not align with those of actual fisherman.  

They never have and never will. They want more wallets to buy their products which is achieved by a higher count of anglers. I don't want a higher count, I want a higher caliber of angler. Not the ignorant bafoons I've seen lately, with no care for conservation, the environment or the impact their conduct and left behind trash has. I want empowered anglers who can take a leadership role in teaching others and taking on the challenges local governments and non-anglers always pose to our waters and resources. I don't want entitled anglers. Entitled anglers aren't taught well and don't know what it's like to struggle to have what we share as resource. If the majority of the higher count of anglers consists of this higher caliber, then I'm okay with it. Sadly, I don't think that's the case. I hope I'm wrong.

[Smokinal]

I know at first thought it seems like it would be nice if there were less people on the water. But what happens when the state tries to take away some access to waters; tries to put absurd limits and more regulations on fishing; rich land owners file to put absurd restrictions on fishing.  When you arrive in court with 37 names on your petition, they will laugh you out of the room.

Now, you show up with 137,000 names, now you have a voice.

 

Not to mention, let's just go ahead and put another PS5 controller in another kid's hand.

I'd rather see a fishing rod....

[fin]

3 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

let me guess, you are one of those people that lives in a house, yet gets mad when someone builds one and moves in 

 

Do you lose the right to complain about traffic if you drive a car?

 

 

[soflabasser]

2 hours ago, leinad said:

10% of the bass fisherman catch 90% of the fish is most likely true thanks to those sonar units but without them those numbers would be way off.

 

+99% of the bass fishing I do is from the shore and I do well enough that I will never need to hire a guide for bass fishing. Like most things in life the harder you work for something the better the result you will get.

4 hours ago, gimruis said:

Something else to keep in mind.  The outdoor sports like hunting and fishing are generally losing participants slowly over time.  The demographic is an aging one and we aren't recruiting enough to replace them so if this trend continues, there will be less of us as time passes by anyways.

This is true. Most of the new fishermen gained during the Pandemic started to fish because they were bored and not because they love to fish. Only those that truly love fishing can fish for decades and enjoy it more as time passes.

1 hour ago, Mr. Aquarium said:

I help out the new guys but I don’t give up spots or secrets. Let them figure it out like I did. Lol 

Nice lake trout you caught recently. I know exactly where you caught it. lol

1 hour ago, scaleface said:

I would like to see less fishing pressure also . 

There are many places you can fish where not many people fish you just have to find those places and not tell everyone about it. Even then it really doesn't matter much if there are people fishing in a particular spot you can always fish another spot and do well.

[slonezp]

4 hours ago, Kirt Howe said:

The attitude that you want less fisherman seems a bit selfish to me. I strongly encourage others to get into fishing...especially youngsters.

The current smash and grab culture is way more easy and way more profitable than trying to make a living fishing.

[Catt]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

Fishing pressure does affect fish behavior and good anglers adjust with the fish.

 

I think it was 2016 & 2017 Toledo Bend was voted the #1 bass lake in America. 2-3 years later through a set of unfortunate circumstances all the grass on the lake died. Many anglers believed the loss of grass & pressure from being voted #1 twice the lake was fished out.

 

In reality the loss of grass caused the the bass to adjust, sadly some anglers didn't adjust. 

 

While I agree fishing pressure affects the bass, I also believe it's not from being caught but rather all the traffic. 50+ years on Toledo Bend I promise you fishing is better during the week.