We don't want MORE FISHERMAN

[leinad]

6 hours ago, Captain Phil said:

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.  

better read my post again-no belly aching here i catch plenty of fish and 100%from the bank. just telling it like it is, take it or leave it.

[Captain Phil]

57 minutes ago, leinad said:

better read my post again-no belly aching here i catch plenty of fish and 100%from the bank. just telling it like it is, take it or leave it.

Fishing off the bank is tough.  No one wants to fish within arms length of a horde of fellow anglers.  If I was faced with that prospect, I would be looking for other places to fish.  Some of the best bass fishing I have seen has been in small residential ponds.  Golf course lakes can be especially good.  You may have to ask permission to fish these places.  If you find a good one you may have it all to yourself.   The Harris Chain ramps near my home are packed from January until April.  There is at least two tournaments every weekend that time of year.  If the hassle gets to much for me, I have 3-4 small backup lakes to fish.  You don't have to drive all the way to Canada to fish in solitude.  

[cheezyridr]

i love what fishing does for me.  wishing other people to not have that seems selfish

[toni63]

I'm not sure why I would care whether or not someone else takes up fishing at all.

 

It is basically a solitary pursuit, if you bring a buddy along to socialize fine but socializing isn't fishing. It's socializing. You can do that over a beverage in your backyard, you don't need to be in a boat with a rod in your hand casting to do that. Sure, you may enjoy the time hanging out with your friend, but that isn't the point of fishing. 

 

And I really don't understand this mentality of "introduce more people to fishing, it's the future of the sport." Really? So we have to have a bunch of people with rods in their hands for the fish to be in the water? We need people doing it for it to continue? Reservoirs and lakes will wither and die if we don't have thousands of people fishing? Seriously?

 

I can pretty much categorically state that our natural lakes and rivers, along with the man made reservoirs would be much healthier, safer and more enjoyable if less people were interacting with them, not more. If you are going to make this about the health of natural habitats, keep people out, not attract even more to tear stuff up.

 

I started fishing with a zebco 33, a hook, a sinker and a bobber and a coffee can with worms in it I dug up in the back yard at a pond next to our house. Catching catfish and bluegill. I graduated to better stuff and now have a boat and whatnot. But its not like any portion of my enjoyment of my fishing past time is reliant on other people doing it. Or the condition of the places where I go to pursue that past time is in any way improved by more and more people being there with me.

 

I'm not selfish, I am happy for everyone to pursue whatever activities they enjoy. But I just don't think that fishing or the places where we go to enjoy it in any way are dependent on, or improved on, by having ever more people there doing it.

 

In fact, I would have to pretty much agree that if you want to ruin the pleasure of fishing for future generations, just keep expanding the amount of people doing it on the limited amount of lakes there are on which to pursue it.

 

 

[scaleface]

11 hours ago, toni63 said:

I'm not selfish, I am happy for everyone to pursue whatever activities they enjoy. But I just don't think that fishing or the places where we go to enjoy it in any way are dependent on, or improved on, by having ever more people there doing it.

Well put .

[CrankFate]

15 hours ago, cheezyridr said:

i love what fishing does for me.  wishing other people to not have that seems selfish

Me, too. I have fished crowded spots where a lot of other guys were there without any problems, even though it was crowded, because they knew what they were doing and weren’t acting like animals with a territory to tick on. I’ve also fished spots where it only takes one jerk to ruin the entire area. That’s usually how it is. Yes, there are certain places that are almost always overrun with jerks. That’s really  just life. Not just fishing.

[TnRiver46]

14 hours ago, toni63 said:

I'm not sure why I would care whether or not someone else takes up fishing at all.

 

It is basically a solitary pursuit, if you bring a buddy along to socialize fine but socializing isn't fishing. It's socializing. You can do that over a beverage in your backyard, you don't need to be in a boat with a rod in your hand casting to do that. Sure, you may enjoy the time hanging out with your friend, but that isn't the point of fishing. 

 

And I really don't understand this mentality of "introduce more people to fishing, it's the future of the sport." Really? So we have to have a bunch of people with rods in their hands for the fish to be in the water? We need people doing it for it to continue? Reservoirs and lakes will wither and die if we don't have thousands of people fishing? Seriously?

 

I can pretty much categorically state that our natural lakes and rivers, along with the man made reservoirs would be much healthier, safer and more enjoyable if less people were interacting with them, not more. If you are going to make this about the health of natural habitats, keep people out, not attract even more to tear stuff up.

 

I started fishing with a zebco 33, a hook, a sinker and a bobber and a coffee can with worms in it I dug up in the back yard at a pond next to our house. Catching catfish and bluegill. I graduated to better stuff and now have a boat and whatnot. But its not like any portion of my enjoyment of my fishing past time is reliant on other people doing it. Or the condition of the places where I go to pursue that past time is in any way improved by more and more people being there with me.

 

I'm not selfish, I am happy for everyone to pursue whatever activities they enjoy. But I just don't think that fishing or the places where we go to enjoy it in any way are dependent on, or improved on, by having ever more people there doing it.

 

In fact, I would have to pretty much agree that if you want to ruin the pleasure of fishing for future generations, just keep expanding the amount of people doing it on the limited amount of lakes there are on which to pursue it.

 

 

Funny thing about hunters and fishermen, they like to hunt and fish. Therefore they fight for, and fund, opportunities to do so successfully. When participating numbers start dwindling, so do the opportunities. Just look at hunting today, not many places to go because people fewer people fight for the right to hunt. Why? Because there are less people that hunt. Let the PETA crowd take over and see what happens 

 

less fishermen, less funding will go to the DNR that provides you access to waters 

 

for example: if they said tomorrow that fishing was banned, you would have lots of fishermen show up and protest. What if you were the only one that showed up to protest? 

[Cdn Angler]

Thanks for the replies, many legitimate and interesting perspectives. For the record I'll tell any local angler where I catch fish and what on. I'm happy to help out and it'd make my day if they catch fish. I am 90% self taught as a fisherman, youtube and this website aside. 

 

I like fishing for solitude. A million bass boats and no available shore to fish from aren't that. I've gone to some great lengths to get away from people and fish. 

 

So if if random person X wants to try fishing, golf, tennis, going to the gym, running, I'd prefer they take up the other options and hopefully have just as much fun doing so. 

 

I don't see a need to promote the sport per se. 

 

I guess in the USA it's a bit different as the fisheries are more managed and there are conflicting agendas. Most the lakes here are just lakes untouched by too much humanity. 

 

Since covid our urban fishing has been hammered to the point of not even being worth bothering. 

 

My ideal day of fishing is a lake with not too many people, fishermen or otherwise, and some bitey fish. Call me selfish I guess. I'd never want to restrict access, not at all, but if I get 200 people a week going to my favourite 2-3 lakes, they are effectively ruined to me.

 

Just my 0.2. as it irks me when people say we need to grow the sport, when I think the driving force behind that sentiment are those making money off of it, not conservationists or non-tournament anglers.

 

I do a ton of backcountry camping and likewise I see no need to promote the activity.  It isn't like basketball where you can just build more courts.

[PressuredFishing]

On 12/13/2021 at 12:39 PM, Cdn Angler said:

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.  

It provides a challenge, being in socal its sometimes incredibly frustrating having 30 people walking the bank on small resavoirs, crossing your line, etc, not to mention the people that live in socal can behave worse than my untrained dog. With all of this being said, if you are even slightly experienced as a fisherman you will catch fish because a lot of the crowds are throwing bobber rigs for panfish, or getting their lures stuck in trees behind them 60% of the time, the other 40% provides fishing pressure that makes the fish more challenging to catch, but are still catchable 

[TnRiver46]

Just now, PressuredFishing said:

It provides a challenge, being in socal its sometimes incredibly frustrating having 30 people walking the bank on small resavoirs, crossing your line, etc, not to mention the people that live in socal can behave worse than my untrained dog. With all of this being said, if you are even slightly experienced as a fisherman you will catch fish because a lot of the crowds are throwing bobber rigs for panfish, or getting their lures stuck in trees behind them 60% of the time, the other 40% provides fishing pressure that makes the fish more challenging to catch, but are still catchable 

Hahahaha. That reminds me of a dam I grew up bank fishing. One day somebody was already on my favorite rock to stand on. I said to my buddy “oh no, somebody is in our spot!” He replied “don’t worry, they don’t know how to *^%#* fish.” And sure enough they didn’t. Once they left I got onto my favorite rock and started slaying 

 

now every time I see somebody where I want to fish, I can hear his voice in the back of my mind say “don’t worry, then don’t know how to **%€£ fish”

[toni63]

3 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Funny thing about hunters and fishermen, they like to hunt and fish. Therefore they fight for, and fund, opportunities to do so successfully. When participating numbers start dwindling, so do the opportunities. Just look at hunting today, not many places to go because people fewer people fight for the right to hunt. Why? Because there are less people that hunt. Let the PETA crowd take over and see what happens 

 

less fishermen, less funding will go to the DNR that provides you access to waters 

 

for example: if they said tomorrow that fishing was banned, you would have lots of fishermen show up and protest. What if you were the only one that showed up to protest? 

Guess things are different where you live. I have multiple places to hunt and fish that are not dependent on government providing them. If the only places I had available were public I’d probably think like that too. 

[cheezyridr]

3 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Funny thing about hunters and fishermen, they like to hunt and fish. Therefore they fight for, and fund, opportunities to do so successfully. When participating numbers start dwindling, so do the opportunities. Just look at hunting today, not many places to go because people fewer people fight for the right to hunt. Why? Because there are less people that hunt. Let the PETA crowd take over and see what happens 

 

less fishermen, less funding will go to the DNR that provides you access to waters 

 

for example: if they said tomorrow that fishing was banned, you would have lots of fishermen show up and protest. What if you were the only one that showed up to protest? 

 

[Zcoker]

It's of my opinion that we ALL have this "elbow room" mentality or "this is my spot" mentality, or at least those kinda thoughts might flow through the brain when faced with so called angler interference. I fish Headwaters Lake here in Florida, one of the most sought after places on planet earth for bass. It truly is a gem of a fishing hole, a place specifically designed and specifically sculpted for largemouth bass. It recently opened a boat ramp and, man, the earth shook, literally, with tons and tons of anglers from all over the world. Even with all the hype going on over that place, one can still find complete and utter solitude, even in the enhanced areas. I've spent many weekends out there in complete isolation. Sure, I hear the boats running the canal (Roland Martin wide open lol) else the hunters blasting but for the most it's pretty wide open and secluded with plenty of elbow room. We share and share alike with most anything with our natural resources. Just the way it is. Live with it or not. Deal with it or not. Make good choices and pick up an empty can if ya see one laying around.  

[toni63]

11 minutes ago, Zcoker said:

It's of my opinion that we ALL have this "elbow room" mentality or "this is my spot" mentality, or at least those kinda thoughts might flow through the brain when faced with so called angler interference. I fish Headwaters Lake here in Florida, one of the most sought after places on planet earth for bass. It truly is a gem of a fishing hole, a place specifically designed and specifically sculpted for largemouth bass. It recently opened a boat ramp and, man, the earth shook, literally, with tons and tons of anglers from all over the world. Even with all the hype going on over that place, one can still find complete and utter solitude, even in the enhanced areas. I've spent many weekends out there in complete isolation. Sure, I hear the boats running the canal (Roland Martin wide open lol) else the hunters blasting but for the most it's pretty wide open and secluded with plenty of elbow room. We share and share alike with most anything with our natural resources. Just the way it is. Live with it or not. Deal with it or not. Make good choices and pick up an empty can if ya see one laying around.  

Been there in May this year. It was awesome!

[TnRiver46]

1 hour ago, toni63 said:

Guess things are different where you live. I have multiple places to hunt and fish that are not dependent on government providing them. If the only places I had available were public I’d probably think like that too. 

Every boat ramp I’ve ever used (in my entire life) is public, and I launch a boat probably over 200 days a year 

 

game and fish doesn’t have to build or maintain those. And game and fish wouldn’t exist without hunters and fishermen 

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, TnRiver46 said:

Every boat ramp I’ve ever used (in my entire life) is public, and I launch a boat probably over 200 days a year 

 

game and fish doesn’t have to build or maintain those. And game and fish wouldn’t exist without hunters and fishermen 

It's different here - the public ramps are maintained by the DNR, just like the public trails. So part of the fishing license fee does go to the maintenance/rebuilding of the ramps.

[scaleface]

Everybody has their limit where they would think "That is too dang many anglers " , some people havent reached it some have.   I avoid the crowds as much as I can . Quit fishing weekends decades ago .

[scaleface]

Mark Tawin once said "Too much mustard ruins the deviled eggs . How much is too much depends on the devourer ."  

 

He didnt really say that I fabricated it .

[cyclops2]

All in very good taste .   ?

[evo2s197]

On 12/13/2021 at 4:14 PM, Chris Catignani said:

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

Anytime someone asks me how I did back at the ramp I always just say that every day on the water is a good day, I never say how I actually did or where.

[TnRiver46]

5 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

It's different here - the public ramps are maintained by the DNR, just like the public trails. So part of the fishing license fee does go to the maintenance/rebuilding of the ramps.

I think that’s the same situation we have, I might have mistyped . I was just saying they don’t have to give us access, but they do. With license dollars etc….

 

they blocked access to one of our lakes during dam repair / drawdown and by golly they meant it. Posted up 24/7. If they want to keep us off the water they can quickly and easily 

[T-Billy]

14 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Hahahaha. That reminds me of a dam I grew up bank fishing. One day somebody was already on my favorite rock to stand on. I said to my buddy “oh no, somebody is in our spot!” He replied “don’t worry, they don’t know how to *^%#* fish.” And sure enough they didn’t. Once they left I got onto my favorite rock and started slaying 

 

now every time I see somebody where I want to fish, I can hear his voice in the back of my mind say “don’t worry, then don’t know how to **%€£ fish”

One of my favorite wading spots is fairly popular. It's a lowhead dam. I have a technique for catching fish there that I've never seen anyone else do. That's one spot I don't share info. I'll just cast around like everyone else till my company leaves, then I'll go about catching them. When I go there I'm usually fishing for supper. It's a great saugeye spot.

[king fisher]

When I was young there were almost zero bow hunters in WA State.  The season, and bag limits for bow hunters were ridiculously long and generous, because nobody bow hunted therefore bow hunting did not put any strain on the resource.

       As bow hunting grew in popularity, fish and game had to restrict the seasons and reduce bag limits to manage the resource properly.  When the popularity of bow hunting sky rocketed, they had to limit the seasons almost as much as they did with fire arms.  I new then the good old days were gone for good.  The surprising thing was when I talked to other bow hunters all they would talk about was getting more people in to the sport so we would have more influence with fish and game, and the general public.  I did understand the need for a bigger voice, but also had to wonder if the need for a bigger voice grew at the same rate as the bigger voice.  Then there was always the big worry that the Anti Hunters were going to make the sport illegal, if we didn't get enough people to fight for the cause.  The funny thing is there were not Anti bow hunters when it wasn't popular.  I have to wonder if making a sport more popular eventually ruins the sport.  

       I eventually moved to Alaska to live where the fish and game was plentiful, negating the need for extreme fish and game management.  I soon learned that Alaska is huge, and the wilderness is rich in fish and game, but I also learned that the best fishing spots are crowded and the politics behind who gets to fish, and when they get to fish is as much of a mud pit as any state.

       Now I live in Mexico where the management is terrible. Many lakes bass are considered trash fish that prey on the preferred commercial fish ( tilapia) and people are encouraged to keep every bass they catch.  Commercial gill nets are everywhere, and catch everything.  Even if there were regulations made by competent biologists, no one would care, because either there wouldn't be any enforcement, or the people enforcing the rules would be easily bribed to look the other way. Because there are very few sport fisherman, sport fishing for bass is awesome.

       I'm not saying we don't need management, and that I don't like to see kids learn to fish and being a guide I have taught many people to fish.  I don't have an answer for over crowded fisheries and would not want to see the sport die, from lack of political clout. That said,  I do have to wonder if the OP has a legitimate reason to question the popular theory that the more fisherman there are means more access, better regulation, better management, and overall better fishing because of increased dollars, and political clout.  

      Maybe a louder voice only necessitates and even louder voice, when keeping quite is the best option.

[bulldog1935]

But we do want more conservationists. 

 

Somebody's going to have to pick up the fight for our rivers and bays. 

[cheezyridr]

18 hours ago, evo2s197 said:

Anytime someone asks me how I did back at the ramp I always just say that every day on the water is a good day, I never say how I actually did or where.

 

i can't help being a smartass.   the place i go to sees alot of fishermen, and the fishing there is usually pretty  tough.   when people ask me how i did, i almost always tell them i caught the hell out of them,  and most bigger than average.  sometimes i even claim to have hooked a real big one that got off.   i figure that way,  they'll wonder what i was doing that they aren't, and they'll think i have a secret.    ?