Poll: Top Negative Impacts to Area Fishing

[drumking]

Love your comments, Michael. Great piece of writing. I'm agreeing with you on every point. The mentality that most tourney guys have is exactly the reason that I quit fishing them over 30 years ago. I have been waiting this long for CFF to come along where guys really want to get to know one another and share fishing knowledge.

I had a guy cancel a trip with me at the last minute to go practice for a tourney that he had coming up. He shouldn't have ever agreed to go with me. Knocked someone else out of that spot. I still owe WLG a trip and a couple more that want to fish with me. I'm trying to work all these in before the striper bite picks up.

Give me those 120 spots that MB, FA and I caught the other day with a 4.5 pound kicker over 5 keepers anyday. I don't need all the casting practice. I also want to go with you again. emoGeezer

 

[Guest]

My concerns are a little different. I fish some txs and really do everything possible to keep fish in excellant shape. But if you were to count dead fish after every tx in a week and then check alot of your everyday fisherman at all the boat ramps for one saturday I think we would truly be saddened by the # of largemouth less than 15 inches hauled out in livewells of the guys who dont fish txs. Yes I know not all are that way and even some of these so called sportsman fish tx as well, But we have all seen the guy with a stringer full of illegal fish from our boat fishing on the bank. These comments are not meant to be negative in any way, I just always hear people complaining about txs when alot of these guys are like you on the forum that truly care.

 

[Guest]

lake cosmetics under going rapid change like loss of habit, new construction of walls and docks destroying spawning ground would be my number 1. 2 would be fishing pressure which i would guess has increased 200 % in 1 year.

 

[jon the fisherman]

Whiskers, you are right onemoThumbsup

 

[Guest]

I personally do not believe that guys fishing with rods and reels can have any negative impact on a fishery that contains hundreds of thousands of surface acres of water. Sam Rayburn,Toledo Bend,Texoma,Table Rock, Kissimmee are just a few that have 10 times the fishing pressure that Tennessee Valley waters ever receive and they are rated as the top lakes in the country year after year. I do believe that commercial fisherman can and do devastate fisheries everywhere. Pollution and water quality issues whether natural or man made have most likely done more damage to fish than everything else combined.

 

[Guest]

today i saw about 30 boats trolling the river channel, they are from all over the us and they are camped at chaester frost park for the week.
their week ends with a huge fish fry, they have all the rights to do this i guess if i were a spoonpluger i would be right there but 7 days of this kind of pressure will hurt. i hope they release some of these fish to be caught another day. i just hope we got enough to go around.

 

[Fishing machine]

Fishing pressure may be number one ( smarter fisherman ) If I may say something that has been talked about on this thread. Stealing holes.emoScratch
A few years back, I was like dropshot, I did a lot of Tx. fishing, and I to felt like people was going out and looking where other people were fishing. I know several people spend most of the winter putting out cover for their bass fishing for the next yeay, and thats fine. Do they own that spot, NO this is everyones lake. This is one of the main reason I got out of Tx. fishing, Tx. fisherman don't have any fun because they worry too much about who is doing what. David, one of the main reason I joined CFF is that it had people that was willing to teach people how to fish and how to find fish. With the new electronics and GPS's, fishing is better for everyone. We've had people ( polo-dog, madbomer and drumking and others ) put on map studies to teach people how to find different types of fish. This has made people better fisherman. There is no such thing as a secret hole, if you blast off in any Tx, that secret hole belongs to the man with the fastest boat,...
Reading Drumkings reply, what he said is what CFF is all about, sharing. I have either taken or told a lot of people where I catch all of my big cats and sometimes when I go, I to have to look to other places to fish. Last week when I was going to take my grand daughter bream fish, all I had to do to find a place to take her was to get on the forum and ask for help, I received PMs from RSims and Polo-Dog telling me where to go and what to fish with. This week, I sent PMs to MrWiskers and WhisterII about fishing below the Dam, they both told me just where to go and how to fish. The smiles on my Grand daughter face in my pics are what this forum is all about, share with others and bring a smile to someone elses face. Guys, fishing is supposed to be FUN, don't make it anything else.emoDance

 

[SpurHunter]

Last comment on this thread....Mrwiskars, you are the man!

I am glad you have the kahones' to say what needs to be said. You are forever on the top of my list of folks I would love to fish with. I too only care about numbers. Latley, I have been mostly chasing cats when I get to go, but would rather catch 20,  5-15 lb fish with my kids, than 2-40# fish. Lm bass...forget it...only if its mixed in with dozens of spots, or white bass.  I grew up in FL, and I have caught all the big LM bass I ever want to catch. </p>

I think this thread once again is off track, but at least I didnt start it. </p>

I still feel commercial netting is the bigest threat right now. I left the Gulf Coast of FL almost 13 years ago. They banned the nets right after that and my buddies started reporting unbelievable catches with-in 2 years....and still going strong!</p>

 

[SpurHunter]

OK Terry, you snuck your post in before me, and you too are on my wish list...you are also the man!

</p>

 

[Bprice]

Water Pollution whether it be man-made or biological (erosion) I believe is the number one killer of our fish.</p>

I don't believe that livewell mortality has even a fraction of the effect of poachers.  I have seen folks on the banks with buckets of illegal bass (size or numbers).  They look like they need it though, and probably don't have a license.</p>

Taking out 35 12-15 inch bass has a great effect than 5-6 "keepers" taking a trip to davy jones' locker.  Tournament fisherman get a bad rap, and its undeserved.</p>

Catters, I guarentee you we have killed more big cats than we realize.  Imagine the trama a fish like that must overcome from being drug up 55 feet, and fought to near death.   We hug 'em to take pictures, and remove valuable protective slime.  I'm guilty of this too, but sometimes I think catters think the tournament basser does all the damage.  It just isn't true...</p>

I love catching fish, I fish for everything, check my report history... I stink at a lot of it (i.e. sauger, crappie), but still love it.</p>

Enjoy God's creation in your own way, but also respect it in everything we do.  If you don't believe in Him, just remember you are still enjoying God's creation

</p>

 

[DHaun]

These are all great points so far. One thing I should have clarified is that I am mostly intrerested in "long-term" impacts to fishing rather than something that affects a few days on the water. Things that destroy the forage, habitat, or recruitment...affecting the overall population of any species over months or years - anything that might affect the renewability of the resource.

I am most fearful of chemicals or any kind of pollution being introduced into the river system. The copper chemicals mentioned on Nickajack had me concerned from an ecological basis. The increasing population of pleasure boats and jet-skis on Nickajack from the new development has me concerned as to how that might affect my experience on the water in the next few years, but I think it will have little affect on the population of fish in the river.

I think we have great fishing in this area. I try to immediately release every fish I catch hoping they will be there to catch next time I am able to get out. I just wish I had better luck figuring out how to find fish I released after they have been relocated to a weigh-in by another angler. I like catching them a whole lot better than cleaning and eating them, but I probably keep a dozen or so crappie each year.

If fishing pressure and livewell mortality is a primary concern currently affecting the river system then I would expect TWRA limits to be adjusted accordingly...based on electroshocking, reduction in avg Tx weights, or whatever study they use to quantify an actual reduction in fish population. Has Guntersville and Weiss not had a lot of pressure over the years? Have they affected avg Tx weights or ever required a change in creel limits for bass or crappie?

 

[Bprice]

You are right DHaun... Guntersville suffers more pressure than most can imagine.  I was out there Tuesday, and there was 13 boats on one grass mat in Browns Creek.  That was just a Tuesday morning!  There are so many fish in our lakes, I don't think we can begin to understand that magnitude.  If you drive by the Hampton or Holiday Inn in Guntersville you will see a swamp of Ohio, Kentucky, and North Carolina tags every weekend.  It gets "pounded" and keeps producing.

 

[CATCHMAN]

I think environmental pollution is the biggest concern long-term. I live in Cleveland and fish the Hiwassee River more than anywhere. We have been catching bass with open sores/ulcers/cancers(?) for years. Anything that smells as bad as Bowater and Olin Chemical can't be a good thing and they put the "treated runoff" in the river. I have known and still know lots of folks that work at those places and the majority have health problems.

I wonder if the pollution can stunt the growth of the fish. Not being funny, but why is it that there are millions of minnows and almost that many 14" bass? Do these fish grow REALLY slow or are they affected someway? Is it ecological or biological?

I have never gone back after a couple of days to check for floating fish that have been weighed-in. I can't speak about mortality rates for tx fish. I do know that CATCH Ministry has held 8 txs this year. To the best of my knowledge, all but ONE fish has swam away.

There are alot of folks fishing these days, but I don't think we can say there are too many folks out enjoying what the Lord has created. I agree it is way more fun when you catch a big one, but I like just being out in the boat with a friend, a ham sandwich and a good ol' Mountain Dew.

Kevin

emoGrouphug

 

[BigFishGuide]

I would like to add another element to my list which would rank about number 2 or 3. Commercial fishermen with nets.

 

[EricM]

I guess I'll weigh in on this one too. I feel that I have been blessed with the time and the ability to find fish of all types. I have shortened my learning curve by reading books, buying magazines, and now by "surfing the net". There are a lot of folks out there that don't have the opportunities that I feel that I have had, and I am very pleased to share what I have learned with them to shorten their learrning curves and make their fishing time more enjoyable. I love this forum because there are so many others willing to do the same. Lots of folks ask me to take them or invite me to go with them, and I find this a wonderful thing! Thanks to you all!
I do have long term concerns. Water quality is the major concern that I have. There are a lot of different sources of pollution affecting the waterway. Industrial, municipal waste, farm chemical runoff, and improper household waste disposal all contribute. Dissolved oxygen percentages are a big concern, particularly when the rainfall is so low. And one of my pet peeves is gill netting. The thousands of pounds of fish taken daily by each of them has got to hurt the fishery, but what concerns me the most is the amazing numbet of tons of other fish that is either illegal to take or is just not wanted that are dead and dumped back into the water. I hate the waste!!!!
Again, thanks to DHaun for the forum, and thanks to all who contribute their reports, thoughts, and ideas for the rest of us to share!

 

[harbuck handyman]

The biggest negative impact on our fisheries is the propaganda
spewed out by the right wing fascists like Rush Limbau and and Fox news that convinces gullible people to believe that concern for and regulation to prevent air and water pollution is unnecessary.

 

[Fishin Fool]

MrWiskers - 10/4/2007 8:39 PM

beetlespin - 10/4/2007 5:42 PM

Whiskers,

I would be glad to show you all my spots since you only catch little fish. I don't want your spots since they only produce little fish. Competition drives the hole stealing debate. If I didn't fish tournaments I wouldn't hide anything!

Lance

If you want me to get those little ones out of your way let me know. emoPoke

I tell everyone that fishes with me that I am after numbers. I go fishing to catch fish and have a good time. I would rather catch 50 spots than 5 keeper largemouth. If I wanted to work on the water trying to catch 5 keepers for 8 hours I would get a second job. At least that way I would get paid. The only tourny's I fish are the ones for fun like Bbass's. Last I checked everyone I know that fishes tournys around here still has a day job. Fishing was never meant to be as serious a thing as a lot of the tourny guys make it out to be.

Berry and Rsimms are the only people that may have a ligimate grip about hole stealing since fishing pays their bills but I bet someone showed them, told them, or they saw someone fishing the spots they fish, most of them anyway. We all have to have help getting started. Remeber the lakes have been around longer that most of us have been alive. Someone has fished your "secret hole" at one time or another. That being said there are some on this forum that want to go fishing with other members to learn new holes for the sole purpose of using that knowledge to fish tournys and make a buck. These are the people that I think abuse this website and its members. It would not hurt my feelings one bit if this site goes private, since I think the core group of active members would stay and new members would be more likely to join for the right reasons.

The comment about fishermen getting smarter is dead on. Many of the tourny guys put out artifical structure in places only they know. If I were so inclined I could take my Humminbird side image depth finder and spend a couple of weeks on Chick and find a lot of these. Pretty easy and I bet I would establish a milk run or two and really do some damage in the local tourny's. $1200 investment and some time could pay off pretty well for someone. This will probably happen more and more in the futrue as tools like this become less expensive, so hole stealing will only get worse, not better. I plan on spending my limited time on the water fishing and enjoying the outdoors, not search for a way to make a buck.

Bottom line, have fun fishing and be curtious of others, including those that have helped you find fish and spots. For example one evening Alvin and I were fishing one of Jmax's spots and he pulled up fishing a dogfight. I felt bad so I let him go in front of us and have first crack at the spot. Only fair since I would never have fished it in the first place. I also don't fish the catfish holes that Rsimms showed me at the Riverpark if I know he has a guide trip coming up down there. Again only fair since he showed them to me in the first place.

Bring on the little fish.emoEvil

Thanks Michael for saying what I wanted to. You are so on the mark. I fish because I love to fish......period. Not because I am making a buck or trying to shut someone else down. Thanks for a great, on the point post.

The points everyone makes on this subject are good ones. But the encouraging thing is we are talking about it (at least some are) instead of burying our heads in the sand.

 

[foodsaver]

There is no freakin way that 30 guys keeping legal limits of anything can hurt a fishery fishing it once a year. I have fished with those guys before as I have an uncle that does that. He threw everything back that wasn't hooked too deep to turn loose. Im also pretty sure they don't keep any big fish. I would be more concerned with the mortality of all these fish we catch deep in the summer. Both catfish and bass. A prime example would be that large fish caught in the heat of the summer in that tourney that didnt make it. Makes you wonder if there isnt a better way to do tournaments?

 

[Dropshot]

I guess I started a firestorm to say one thing...treat others like you want to be treated. Be courteous and safe on the water. And if you are not courteous do not get upset when someone tells you what you can do with your fishing rod.

 

[Cathooker]

In my opinon Pollution is the number one most detrimental thing to our fisheries. Pollution affects the fish directly making them sick or killing off large numbers of them. It weakens the fish which adveresly affects their ability to spawn. It weakens or even destroys the embryos and when a this is added along with the fish kills we see a noticeable decline in the fishery in just a very few years. When I was a child in the 1950's my Dad would not even attempt to fish the Coosa or the Chattooga rivers because of the pollution. As a young teenager in the 1960's out exploring the creeks, ponds and rivers near my home, we caught the most fish in the farm ponds and small creeks that did not have pollutants dumped in them. The Chattooga river was fed a constant dumping of pollutants by the cities of Lafayette, Trion, and Summerville along with Barwick Carpet, Riegel Textile, and Bigelow carpet mills. Raw sewage and industrial chemicals were the main villians here. I remember seeing and smelling thousands of dead fish because of these mills and cities. Large Fish kills were a common occurance. Then the government started regulating these folks and fining them heavily for their infractions. Now you can fish the Chattooga and expect to catch fish. Stripers, bass, cats, crappie and bream are thriving in it. In some areas where the water temps remain cooler you can catch rainbow trout. BUT it has taken over 30 years to get it to this point.
Commercial gill netting is a very sore topic for me also.....money is the only thing that drives the netters and it is a fact that they waste tons of fish every year. Gill nets do not discriminate between a bass or a drum, catfish or a crappie. We would hope that the state agencies would work harder to regulate this by catch waste but sometimes government agencies are forced to look the other way. Money controls government officials.