We don't want MORE FISHERMAN

[Mr. Aquarium]

@soflabasser thanks buddy. My first time there. We worked hard for em. Can’t wait to go back. 

[DitchPanda]

Not wanting other people to experience this thing you love so much seems very selfish and self serving. While I get the sentiment from a pressure perspective to me its just not morally right. Also pressure was that detrimental to fisheries people wouldn't pull 30+ lb bags out of guntersville, clear lake and chickamauga but it happens all the time. Why deprive others of that? Wanna take the pressure out of the equation? Get better at bass fishing.

[Bird]

And then there are fisherman like myself. 

" excuse me sir but what are you catching them on ? "

Oh, pull up to my boat and I'll tie one on for ya' and explain it's technique. 

" thankyou very much sir, you are a fine gentleman ".

 

I was brought up that way.

[OldManLure]

With the increased exposure the sport has received due  to the internet, YouTube and the cable channels focused on outdoor sport, increased numbers of “fisherman” was and will continue to be inevitable.  My only wish is that there will be more sportsmen among them.

[WRB]

11 minutes ago, OldManLure said:

With the increased exposure the sport has received due  to the internet, YouTube and the cable channels focused on outdoor sport, increased numbers of “fisherman” was and will continue to be inevitable.  My only wish is that there will be more sportsmen among them.

I don’t believe I have heard the word “Sportsmanship” written or spoken in over 2 decades! It’s missing from our society.

Tom

 

[slonezp]

22 minutes ago, Bird said:

And then there are fisherman like myself. 

" excuse me sir but what are you catching them on ? "

Oh, pull up to my boat and I'll tie one on for ya' and explain it's technique. 

" thankyou very much sir, you are a fine gentleman ".

 

I was brought up that way.

When I was still competing, I'd give away productive lures to my competition...Not spots, but lures.

[CrankFate]

I see it like @Bird does. Having had exactly what he described happen to me TWICE when I was fishing the Yellowstone area in Montana this past August, at two different spots, on two different days, I myself appreciate that type of gesture. Especially coming from the city, where I see people regularly leaving long coils of string. 6 Pack plastic, that literally winds up on bird’s necks. And throwing beer cans in the water. I can’t stand the slobs, either. And, you know, these are also the same people taking prohibited fish, whenever they get the chance. But when someone is an actual fisherman, I have no problem with helping them out. To me, that’s the difference. Are they fishermen? Or just jerks that don’t care about anything but catching all the fish they can possibly kill, as easy as possible, without any concern for how easy it is to destroy a good fishery? Those guys aren’t fishermen.

[OldManLure]

8 minutes ago, WRB said:

I don’t believe I have heard the word “Sportsmanship” written or spoken in over 2 decades! It’s missing from our society.

Tom

 

I agree completely.  Sportsmanship was as much a part of the lessons I received growing up as was how to cast, or tie on a lure, or remove a hook.  Saddening.

[WRB]

B.A.S.S. Bass anglers “sportsman” society the word sportsman has been forgotten, replaced by Ike antics it’s all about me!

Tom

[Big Rick]

1 hour ago, Bird said:

And then there are fisherman like myself. 

" excuse me sir but what are you catching them on ? "

Oh, pull up to my boat and I'll tie one on for ya' and explain it's technique. 

" thankyou very much sir, you are a fine gentleman ".

 

I was brought up that way.

Hey Bird, how many Jackhammers you give away? 

[Mobasser]

I don't mind other folks fishing. Lots of them don't catch much anyway. I've had crowds in the spring, when everyone's a fisherman. Come summer and fall many of them are done.                  As long as folks are  curteous, the outdoors is for everyone to enjoy.

[Bird]

46 minutes ago, Big Rick said:

Hey Bird, how many Jackhammers you give away? 

Lol, last time it was 2 older guys and I set them up with drop-shot and Roboworms. Left the lake before I heard their results but I tried. 

[Bluebasser86]

2 hours ago, Big Rick said:

Hey Bird, how many Jackhammers you give away? 

Never given away any Jackhammers (I only own 1 that I found), but I've given away 5 or 6 whopper ploppers ?‍♂️ 

 

One of the last times I took my kids fishing this fall, we were smoking them in the outlet of a lake. None of them were big, but bass and big bluegill every cast. There was one other guy that didn't speak much English but obviously interested in what was going on. He came over motioning at my bait. I showed him and asked "I get where?" Right out of my box, that's where he got some of them. Just a little jighead with a safety-pin spinner and some tube bodies that you can buy anywhere. I hope the guy caught some fish to put in his bucket for his family that night. I also hope my kids were watching and learning.

 

The older I get, the more I enjoy being where other people aren't while I'm on the water, but the fewer fishermen there are, the easier it is for private entities to take away access to the water. 

[schplurg]

10 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.

Me too, just not where I fish ?

[CrashVector]

More fishermen = more $ for fish and wildlife departments = more public fishing areas = more conservation efforts.

5 hours ago, Bird said:

And then there are fisherman like myself. 

" excuse me sir but what are you catching them on ? "

Oh, pull up to my boat and I'll tie one on for ya' and explain it's technique. 

" thankyou very much sir, you are a fine gentleman ".

 

I was brought up that way.

 

I give away a LOT of lures while I'm fishing....exactly like that.

 

Good on you man....it's how we keep ppl interested in the outdoors AND ensuring public fishing spots stay public.

[scaleface]

Last season I was in the rear of a cove catching bass and didnt go unnoticed by a bank fisherman . He said " I know you have more of those lures , let me have one ." So I gave him two spinnerbaits . Dont know if he did any good  .

[MGF]

11 hours ago, Buzzbaiter said:

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.

Hunting...the source of my annual fall depression. I love to hunt...except there isn't anyplace around here to hunt. I live in rural northern Indiana and there are deer EVERYPLACE. I generally see hundreds in a weeks time and most of the vehicles that I've owned eventually get smashed up by deer. No joke...my current truck was smashed up by a deer while I was parked!

 

The state says we need more hunters. The problem is that most of us don't have access to the land where all those deer live. The local state WMA is over hunted, beat the crap and not worth your time. Small game? I've walked my legs off at the WMA's and I haven't yet found a rabbit.

 

There are hunters around but they're people who have money for leases. It's turned into a sport for the wealthy.

 

The state is in the business of selling licenses. If you are willing to purchase a license for lousy fishing or hunting, they are happy to sell it to you.

 

I usually purchase a combination license (hunting and fishing). The if I'm really dreaming of deer hunting I buy a deer license just in case. This is me second year ins a row of not buying a deer tag and next year I'll probably skip the hunting license. I don't know what I've been paying them for all these years.

 

[MGF]

I have some pretty good fishing around here and I think my brown bass river is GREAT! The crowd that makes fishing difficult isn't fishermen. It's the tubers. You can't fish weekend afternoons during the warm months because the river is clogged with tubers. When I say clogged, I mean clogged. It's big with the locals and there are a couple of rental outfits. Heck I've been run off the river on a weekday after work. It's really getting bad.

 

They're drunk, playing loud music and throwing garbage all over the place.

[Junk Fisherman]

I have started to keep files of all the local tournaments and avoid fishing certain waters when large tournaments are going on.  I am hoping this is cyclical and the pandemic fishing boom lessens moving forward.  Overall, this topic is very conflicting for me.  On one hand, I like seeing people enjoy such a great hobby, especially young people, and we all know it is a healthy passion. On the other hand, more fishermen and more tournaments directly affects how enjoyable my weekends are at the lake.  Over the last couple years, I've had multiple big HS and college tournaments scheduled at the same dates I wanted to fish on my favorite bodies of water.  I've said for a while how the whole "grow the sport" mantra does not help the weekend warrior.  I understand we all have to share the resources and I just try to adjust to fishing pressure by where I choose to go and to mentally prepare myself to fishing in a crowd when I find myself on a busy lake.  But more fishermen and more tournaments are definitely not a positive development for my fishing.  

[cyclops2]

Oh well 

The purpose of fish contests.  Is to make LOTS of money  off of people. Having anything to do with a contest.   Clayton , N Y  takes every contest possible.    MONEY for ALL the local businesses.

 

Very simple

 

[MacJig]

One issue is the way the sport has evolved over the years. When I was a youngster in the '60s fishing was much more like hunting than it is today. It attracted a smaller population who liked to fish and harvest a few for dinner. Fishing and harvesting went hand in hand, within legal limits of course. With the onset of tournament Fishing, especially bass fishing the climate changed. It became much more of a money making, trophy carrying sport. Quite literally, it became a spectator sport with a lot more attention. More attention means more anglers. More anglers means more crowded lakes and other waterways. The bigger the crowd the higher the profits for fishing gear manufacturers. Hunting, unlike fishing, has, for the greater part, kept it's earlier roots with the same niche population. It is far less commercialized and so it's allure has remained the same. A lot has changed with the sport of fishing over the last 60 years! Many may think, not for the better.

[fin]

I don’t mind the people as much as I mind the big bass being removed from the lake. That’s what really hurts.

 

A 200 acre lake can’t recover like 10,000+ acre lakes.

[Captain Phil]

14 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.15-25# in florida is  only 3 or 4 fish right? 

Florida has a five fish limit.  It could take anywhere from 15 to 30 pounds to win one of our local tournaments.  10% of the fisherman have been catching 90% of the fish forever.  This has nothing to do with equipment, it's the skill and knowledge level of the angler that makes the difference.  If you look at any tournament score board today, you can plainly see that fact.  Despite enormous tournament fishing pressure, the same anglers keep winning.  If you want to be in the top 10%, you should learn to be a better angler instead of belly aching about fishing pressure.  Please don't take this personally.  Someone always finds a way to win, be that someone.  

[GaryH]

3 hours ago, MGF said:

Hunting...the source of my annual fall depression. I love to hunt...except there isn't anyplace around here to hunt. I live in rural northern Indiana and there are deer EVERYPLACE. I generally see hundreds in a weeks time and most of the vehicles that I've owned eventually get smashed up by deer. No joke...my current truck was smashed up by a deer while I was parked!

 

The state says we need more hunters. The problem is that most of us don't have access to the land where all those deer live. The local state WMA is over hunted, beat the crap and not worth your time. Small game? I've walked my legs off at the WMA's and I haven't yet found a rabbit.

 

There are hunters around but they're people who have money for leases. It's turned into a sport for the wealthy.

 

The state is in the business of selling licenses. If you are willing to purchase a license for lousy fishing or hunting, they are happy to sell it to you.

 

I usually purchase a combination license (hunting and fishing). The if I'm really dreaming of deer hunting I buy a deer license just in case. This is me second year ins a row of not buying a deer tag and next year I'll probably skip the hunting license. I don't know what I've been paying them for all these years.

 

That really sucks.. sorry to hear 

[scaleface]

55 minutes ago, Captain Phil said:

10% of the fisherman have been catching 90% of the fish forever

True but 10 percent of a thousand is larger than 10 percent of a hundred .