Emergency Regulations Lake Cumberland-Striper

[GeoFisher]

Okay, so here's my question:

New reg says: "Anglers must not catch and release striped bass over 22 inches, as these released fish are likely to die."

I don't eat these things. I catch and release. So if I'm out striper fishing, and 2 boards go down, and both fish are 28 inchers.....I HAVE TO KEEP THEM??????? I guess I have to run around from dock to dock hoping to find someone to take the two fish I won't clean and eat. Or since I don't clean fish, do I just back to the dock, and dump the fish in the garbage can? I guess so, cause KDFWR doesn't want me to let them go and have them floating on the lake.

What kinda a perverse logic is that?
a. If I keep them, and don't eat them, they are dead anyway, no chance to survive.
b. If I did keep them, and did eat them--THEY ARE STILL DEAD
c. If I do let them go, while odds are against them, but they still have a chance to survive. ......RIGHT?
d. I catch a 22 inch fish, I can release it, but if its 22.5 inches I have to MAKE DARN SURE IT DIES BY KEEPING IT......HOW DOES THAT ADD TO THE POPULATION?

And the part that's really looking out for the health of our citizens: " net or hand grab three additional striped bass over 22 inches that are floating on the surface. ". HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE THE MEAT IN A DYING OR DEAD FISH TO GO RANCID? Especially in 90 degree water that we all know holds more bacteria than cold water.

"Although a number of factors may contribute to meat spoilage, the most common cause of meat spoilage is the deterioration of meat caused by micro-organisms (bacteria, yeasts, and molds). Beware! Foods can contain dangerous bacteria and microorganisms but still have a normal appearance."

So the KDFWR, to help clear dead fish off the lake, think its a good idea to encourage (raising the limit to five encourages collection)....encourage people to pick up dead fish that might be DANGEROUS TO THEIR HEALTH AND EAT THEM.

What next? "The KDFWR this week , as a reult of a recent oil spill on the Ohio River, are recommending people take towels to the river and collect oil to use in their lawn mowers".

And the real charm: "If you catch and keep 2 under 22 inches, stop fishing for Stripers." Does that mean I have to now put out lures I HOPE A STRIPER WILL NOT BITE AT? Does that mean I take off the planer boards, because only Stripers will bite a bait, and only if its under a planer board?

Come on KDFWR, make it clear and simple:
1. Bad conditions, to many fish dying, so STRIPER FISHING IS BANNED TILL FURTHER NOTICE. We'll tell you when you can do it again. If you accidentally catch one while fishing for other species, let it go and hope for the best.

2. DON'T EAT DEAD FISH! THEY GOT BAD STUFF IN THEM.

3. Do more water skiing. Fish with nightcrawlers for bluegill. Go swimming, but DON'T Striper Fish.

AND YOU GUYS THINK I'M WACKED OUT? Nope, I'm just obviously working for the wrong agency. Looks like my weird ideas would fit in well at KDFWR.

My answer.....and you WILL NOT like it..........

Don't fish for them during times when you KNOW the mortality rate is high. If you know a fish has a 50-60-70 percent chance of dying then ethically, you should not pursue them. I think that is a absolute WASTE of the resource.

It is like Laker fishing in Canada. I know BEYOND a DOUBT they will not survive being pulled from 90 ft of water to the surface. They are usually dead when they get up to the top. There is a 2 fish limit, and when I'm laker fishing, I'm NEVER just fishing.......I'm food fishing, and once I have my limit........I'm DONE.

Take this how you want......I'm not judging you, but I'd personally NOT fish during times I know what I'm pursuing will die.

Later,

Geo

[HURRICANEBOB]

My answer.....and you WILL NOT like it..........

Don't fish for them during times when you KNOW the mortality rate is high. If you know a fish has a 50-60-70 percent chance of dying then ethically, you should not pursue them. I think that is a absolute WASTE of the resource.

It is like Laker fishing in Canada. I know BEYOND a DOUBT they will not survive being pulled from 90 ft of water to the surface. They are usually dead when they get up to the top. There is a 2 fish limit, and when I'm laker fishing, I'm NEVER just fishing.......I'm food fishing, and once I have my limit........I'm DONE.

Take this how you want......I'm not judging you, but I'd personally NOT fish during times I know what I'm pursuing will die.

Later,

Geo

Thank you. We're all refreshed and challenged by your unique point of view.

[HURRICANEBOB]

Thank you. We're all refreshed and challenged by your unique point of view.

OH, BTW, Haven't been to Cumberland since 21 Aug, well before the announcement.

Food fishing? Hmmmm.....I guess bass tournaments are real unethical. Cause we all know everyone of those caught and weighed bass survive.....right?

[Bass_King2007]

I would say that 95% of the bass caught in tournaments live.. Any bass fisherman that fishes tourneys and knows how to take care of fish while their in their livewell know that!!!

[apb]

Jbyrd

I have very little experience with Dale, so really cannot comment on that lake. As Geo noted, several other species in the lake that use the open water like Stripers do at Cumberland.

In all the years that I downrigged at Cumberland I never caught a bass. Yes, I catch smallies or LM from time to time striper fishing. In all cases it is when I am casting the banks or running planers close to shore. I think part of the trouble that bass fishermen are having on the lake right now is that with the lake levels down, and mostly stable, the bass have changed their habits some. Same reason that striper fishermen, myself included, are having troubles catching stripers in spring. One change to the lake is the increased numbers of Threadfin Shad in the lake. Threadfin will look for shoreline cover at night (where the bass can eat them) and then hit the open water at dawn (where the stripers eat them).

When I say that the stripers don't complete for the forage I mean that there are plenty of shad in the lake, therefore, plenty of forage for both species. No competition. Bass eat plenty of other things in the lake: sunfish, crappie, shad, alewifes, crayfish, lizards, other bass, etc. Stripers eat shad, period.

On the Norris study, NO bass showed up in the belly of a striper. Same deal for the other studies I have seen on this (Boone posted a link to a number of these). Conversely, striper fry do show up in the belly of bass (Smith Mtn Lake study). If you are really worried about the bass, stop fishing for them. ONE catch and release angler will kill more stripers in the lake in a year than ALL of the stripers in the lake.

Stripers travel in schools. During migration periods (fall) very large schools. They all feed at the same time and continue to feed until they are stuffed. They don't feed again until their stomachs are empty. They also travel in schools of the same age class. When you see those massive schools, you may be seeing a good portion of the population of that year class.

Andrew