whenwegoin
Well-known member
And there are still fish in the rivers and lakes!!!
Slot limit, chickamuga or nickajack?
- Thread starter Carl Guffey
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Fat Albert
Well-known member
<font color="#6633cc">Yeah, but Carl, there was not as many fishermen as there is now... Lots of folks fishing now with better equipment and baits and electronics and stuff. All bodies of water has 10x pressure than in earlier times.... my .02 worth.</font>
whenwegoin
Well-known member
FA, that is true and I agree with you on technology, pressure, etc..., but didn't you ever see any of those bags that the Crawley's, Grimsley's, and Mills' (to name a few) could pull out of Soddy or Watts Bar??
From some of the pictures I've seen it is a wonder there is a crappie or bass still in the lake. And I don't think they fished with corn dogs back then, but then again it could have been an old secret from generations past!!
From some of the pictures I've seen it is a wonder there is a crappie or bass still in the lake. And I don't think they fished with corn dogs back then, but then again it could have been an old secret from generations past!!
Carl Guffey
Well-known member
My comment was aimed at the fact that when catch and release started everyone said it wouldn't work. It is time to make a change again. We are going to have to make a change or we will all be catching nothing but slicks before long.
Fat Albert
Well-known member
</p>
Ok, and yes I will agree with you on that... somehow, your thoughts must have gone right over my head, but since you explained it I see what you are saying....</p>
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Fat Albert
Well-known member
From some of the pictures I've seen it is a wonder there is a crappie or bass still in the lake. And I don't think they fished with corn dogs back then, but then again it could have been an old secret from generations past!![/QUOTE] </p>
<font color="#6600ff">In the 60's, in the spring when the crappies were going strong there was a man named Squirrely Maynor that fished everyday for crappie and his boat looked like a trawler. everyday 100 was taken home and cleaned and they used to brag about the numbers... and that went on till they went on the bed... but there wasn't that many people fishing back then... most folks had to work to put food on the table and only fished on vac. or weekends... and I know all the folks you were talking about.. good folks, too, I might add.
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<font color="#6600ff">In the 60's, in the spring when the crappies were going strong there was a man named Squirrely Maynor that fished everyday for crappie and his boat looked like a trawler. everyday 100 was taken home and cleaned and they used to brag about the numbers... and that went on till they went on the bed... but there wasn't that many people fishing back then... most folks had to work to put food on the table and only fished on vac. or weekends... and I know all the folks you were talking about.. good folks, too, I might add.
The very first tournament I ever fished was Tims Ford in 1971 with The Chattanooga Bass Club. After the weigh-in, Someone said, "Who wants the fish?" half of them were dead already. I took 30 or 40 bass home with me in a cooler.
It's like Carl; said, "It's time for another change." I haven't noticed much resistance to taking a limit of spots out of the river from our particular group. I think a slot limit would catch on if it's properly communicated. That's where we come in. From us as CFF, through our members to many bass clubs across the region.
Bass Fishermen are not stupid, They realized "catch & release" made sense. so does selective "catch & release".
It's like Carl; said, "It's time for another change." I haven't noticed much resistance to taking a limit of spots out of the river from our particular group. I think a slot limit would catch on if it's properly communicated. That's where we come in. From us as CFF, through our members to many bass clubs across the region.
Bass Fishermen are not stupid, They realized "catch & release" made sense. so does selective "catch & release".
Fshnman
Member
MadBomber, you are right-on again. The proper way to manage a body of water when it comes to the fish population is by "selective" catch and release. You must have been a fisheries biologist in your former life. Have a great Turkey Day!
FISH HAWK
Member
nothing but great stuff has been said about this thread. but what if we had a slot limit on chick and nickajack. maybe the quality of fish would get better. if us anglers were to take small amounts of smaller fish out of the lake there would be more baitfish for larger fish to prey on. it very well could help or lake to produce bigger fish.
Bassallday
Well-known member
More bait fish? I have never seen more minnow's in my life!The bass are feasting down here,I just moved here from wis as you know and I've never seen bass schooling before, and this summer you could see hundred's of school's of shad or whatever they are swimming on the surface.The best bass lake back home has ton of weeds and northern pike and muskies and they love bass.And yet that lake has a ton of bass in it.My opinion is,you want a lot of great fish then you want a lot of weed's.That's my stand.I have been fishing nickajack and you will have no problem catching a limit of whatever you want,and guess what lot's of weed's.
Bassallday
Well-known member
More bait fish? I have never seen more minnow's in my life!The bass are feasting down here,I just moved here from wis as you know and I've never seen bass schooling before, and this summer you could see hundred's of school's of shad or whatever they are swimming on the surface.The best bass lake back home has ton of northern pike and muskies and they love bass.And yet that lake has a ton of bass in it.My opinion is,you want a lot of great fish then you want a lot of weed's.That's my stand.I have been fishing nickajack and you will have no problem catching a limit of whatever you want,and guess what lot's of weed's.
Louie B
Well-known member
I'm glad this thread got brought out of the archives, I somehow missed it last year.
I don't fish Nickajack so I have no opinion on it. But I started fishing Chickamauga 5 years ago. When I started fishing Chick I fished the lower end (WolfT up to Soddy) I had no trouble catching fish but like many others had trouble catching quality 15+ inch fish..... Fishing remained this way for me for the better part of 3 years, lots of fun but no big catches. I've since fished a little of everywhere from Dam-Dam and about 2 years ago I started noticing more and more grass, especially on the lower end of the lake. Places that had no grass were loaded the past couple of years.
There will always be locals and ledge beaters that catch big sacks on Chickamauga, but for it to go to the next level and consistantly produce year after year the "powers to be" need to leave the grass alone. In my opinion this is the MOST IMPROTANT part of growing Chickamauga Lake into a great fishery. The 15inch size limit is fine, in my opinion.
P.S. I love stripers as much as anybody, heck I guide for them @ Carters half the year but Stripers aren't good for Chickamauga or any lake. I don't care what lake it is, they're not good for Bass or bass fisherman. But thats a hole different topic LOL.
Just my opinion, but I'm no fisheries biologist.
I don't fish Nickajack so I have no opinion on it. But I started fishing Chickamauga 5 years ago. When I started fishing Chick I fished the lower end (WolfT up to Soddy) I had no trouble catching fish but like many others had trouble catching quality 15+ inch fish..... Fishing remained this way for me for the better part of 3 years, lots of fun but no big catches. I've since fished a little of everywhere from Dam-Dam and about 2 years ago I started noticing more and more grass, especially on the lower end of the lake. Places that had no grass were loaded the past couple of years.
There will always be locals and ledge beaters that catch big sacks on Chickamauga, but for it to go to the next level and consistantly produce year after year the "powers to be" need to leave the grass alone. In my opinion this is the MOST IMPROTANT part of growing Chickamauga Lake into a great fishery. The 15inch size limit is fine, in my opinion.
P.S. I love stripers as much as anybody, heck I guide for them @ Carters half the year but Stripers aren't good for Chickamauga or any lake. I don't care what lake it is, they're not good for Bass or bass fisherman. But thats a hole different topic LOL.
Just my opinion, but I'm no fisheries biologist.
G
Guest
Guest
The best solution would be to scratch it all and start over. However, that's such an outlandish solution for this circumstance, so it can be thrown out the window. And, you will never fully get 100% of the spotted bass out of lake without drawing it down and hand picking them out. That will cost valuable man-time and tax dollars.
While I like the idea of a slot limit. However, tournament anglers will claim that they can't be as "competitive" with the limit in place. Say you catch 4 spotted bass, all over 15". In a normal tournament, they would be legal. However, with the slot limit you talk about, it would be a decision on which to keep, especially if they are close in weight. Also, they will complain if they have to throw back a spot that weighs 4-5 lbs., in favor of the regulation, and has to take a spot that is 12" long and only weighs one pound. Personally, I believe that recreation anglers are the strongest component of any fishery movement, and tournament anglers are including that category. With your proposed slot limit, you would be dividing the group into two seperate groups.
I think that a slot limit is the answer, but you have to be careful about what boundaries you set. If you go for the 12'-15" as you proposed, you would have to put it as 5 of either, or any combination there of. Or, set it at one length size............say 13" and let it sit there. Personally, spaaats are spaaats to me, and if they are 12" they are fair game. Tournament or table fare. You decide.
I also think that the DNR and fisheries biologists input should be heavily weighed into any decision. My faith in these people has been shaken of lately, due to the ignorance that some have displayed in the state of Georgia. However, I do believe that they know, for the majority, what they speak. If they say that 12" is the limit, then that tells me that there is an over abundance of spaats and that the harvest limit needs to be increased. (Please read the post that MadBomber posted about this very decision). However, if they agree that a slot limit can be implimented and it benefits table fare anglers and tournament anglers, then it should be done.
You are looking at a double-edged sword. On one hand, you are looking at possibly upsetting the tournament anglers, which are a huge ally in decisions such as this, but on the other you are looking at basically trying to wipe out an entire species of fish for the benefit of having bigger size. It would be nice if you could have both numbers and size, but it seems with spaaats, that happy medium is difficult to find. Carters Lake and Lake Lanier are the only two lakes that I know which have that happy medium, and even they are pushing the boundaries with it.
So, for right now, catch all the legal sized spaaats you can, eat them and share them with friends, and be happy.
Have no worries.
While I like the idea of a slot limit. However, tournament anglers will claim that they can't be as "competitive" with the limit in place. Say you catch 4 spotted bass, all over 15". In a normal tournament, they would be legal. However, with the slot limit you talk about, it would be a decision on which to keep, especially if they are close in weight. Also, they will complain if they have to throw back a spot that weighs 4-5 lbs., in favor of the regulation, and has to take a spot that is 12" long and only weighs one pound. Personally, I believe that recreation anglers are the strongest component of any fishery movement, and tournament anglers are including that category. With your proposed slot limit, you would be dividing the group into two seperate groups.
I think that a slot limit is the answer, but you have to be careful about what boundaries you set. If you go for the 12'-15" as you proposed, you would have to put it as 5 of either, or any combination there of. Or, set it at one length size............say 13" and let it sit there. Personally, spaaats are spaaats to me, and if they are 12" they are fair game. Tournament or table fare. You decide.
I also think that the DNR and fisheries biologists input should be heavily weighed into any decision. My faith in these people has been shaken of lately, due to the ignorance that some have displayed in the state of Georgia. However, I do believe that they know, for the majority, what they speak. If they say that 12" is the limit, then that tells me that there is an over abundance of spaats and that the harvest limit needs to be increased. (Please read the post that MadBomber posted about this very decision). However, if they agree that a slot limit can be implimented and it benefits table fare anglers and tournament anglers, then it should be done.
You are looking at a double-edged sword. On one hand, you are looking at possibly upsetting the tournament anglers, which are a huge ally in decisions such as this, but on the other you are looking at basically trying to wipe out an entire species of fish for the benefit of having bigger size. It would be nice if you could have both numbers and size, but it seems with spaaats, that happy medium is difficult to find. Carters Lake and Lake Lanier are the only two lakes that I know which have that happy medium, and even they are pushing the boundaries with it.
So, for right now, catch all the legal sized spaaats you can, eat them and share them with friends, and be happy.
Have no worries.Louie B
Well-known member
I don't like Slot limits, I think the grass is the answer. The lake didn't need a slot limit to be great years ago when there was an abundance of grass, it didn't start going down hill until the grass was killed. Does Guntersville need a slot limit?
Most REAL fisherman know that the grass is good for everything, oxygen, baitfish, shade/cover, etc, etc...... Heck it even keeps the pleasure boating down which is good for everybody.
As far as the Spots and being a "happy medium" of spotted bass as to numbers and size in the Tenn lakes. The Spots up there aren't Coosa spots like in Lanier and Carters, they're Kentucky's. Totally different fish. I'd want rid of them too.
LB
Most REAL fisherman know that the grass is good for everything, oxygen, baitfish, shade/cover, etc, etc...... Heck it even keeps the pleasure boating down which is good for everybody.
As far as the Spots and being a "happy medium" of spotted bass as to numbers and size in the Tenn lakes. The Spots up there aren't Coosa spots like in Lanier and Carters, they're Kentucky's. Totally different fish. I'd want rid of them too.
LB
Grass or not, the 15" limit is working just fine! I fish this lake more than any other. The average size fish is getting bigger and bigger each year. The 3 fish limts out weigh what was winning the 5 fish(Harrison Bay) dog fights 3 years ago.
Grass will only magnify what is taking place as the bait fish have more cover and the predatory fish (LM Bass) have another place to eat. Grass is good! Chickamauga is in great shape and I am not sure what a slot would do, but I would think keeping fish that are 13-15" would result in less 15" fish in the long run.
Grass will only magnify what is taking place as the bait fish have more cover and the predatory fish (LM Bass) have another place to eat. Grass is good! Chickamauga is in great shape and I am not sure what a slot would do, but I would think keeping fish that are 13-15" would result in less 15" fish in the long run.
Dropshot
Well-known member
I have not had the issue with as many small spots this year on the river as in the past. One thing that has helped me was moving from a dropshot and small baits such as creature baits, tubes, and finesse worms to Jigs and Spinnerbaits. I also spent more time looking for big fish ambush areas, where my chances of catching bigger fish increase. My overall fish size went up, and my tournament weights more than doubled. The big advantage I see to the spots is that you can take a young kid fishing and get them involved and keep them interested. This is a difficult thing to do in the age of the video game system.
I guess I would be more for increasing the limit but the last three months have been very good to me on the river in terms of Largemouth, Smallmouth, and Spotted Bass size. I have also been able to take kids fishing and watch them catch fish the entire time. At their age, they are not as enamored with huge fish as much as staying busy.
I guess I would be more for increasing the limit but the last three months have been very good to me on the river in terms of Largemouth, Smallmouth, and Spotted Bass size. I have also been able to take kids fishing and watch them catch fish the entire time. At their age, they are not as enamored with huge fish as much as staying busy.
xroadsbasser
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 27, 2006
- Messages
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Amen Bassallday......preach on!!!!!!!!!!!!!
G
Guest
Guest
You have to fish for big bass, they aint gonna jump in the boat with ya.....I fish EVERY weekend with about 40+ of those being TX's and it takes a big sack to win. There isnt a shortage of 15" fish, I promise you. It took 15#'s + to get a check in every CBA, and usually over 20#s to win, and the same on Nickajack....besides other than TX fishermen, nobody is going to take time to determine if a fish meets those slot limits, crap they keep everything with fins on it now, and NOBODY Police's it, so whose gonna Police a slot limit?
G
Guest
Guest
Like Churly said, some of the Txs went to 3 fish this year, and I saw plent of 14-15# sacks of just 3 fish...thats a 3# average guys.emoSmile
