Idnr changes

[HoosierDon]

This appeared in the Evansville Courier on Thursday:

The Indiana Dept. of Natural Resorses has proposed changes that will replace the minimum size limit of 12 inches for black bass taken from rivers and streams with a requirement that black bass taken from rivers and streams must be less than 12 inches long or more than 15 inches long, with not more than two being greater than 15 inches long. The bag limit of five in aggregate per day will remain the same.

There will be two hearings on this matter, the first hearing will be at 6 pm EDT Oct. 11 at McCormicks Creek State Park in Spencer, In. The second will be at 6 pm EDT Oct. 17 at Miami County Fair-grouinds in Peru, In.

Online comments regarding these proposed changes can be submitted to the NRC at www.in.gov/nrc/2377/htm. Click on "Comment on Proposed Rule" next to the "Smallmouth Bass (Black Bass) Amendments." The deadline for comments is Oct. 18.

This is the nuttiest change I can imagine. This will kill out tournament series. Please, please send these people an email objecting to the proposed rule changes.

[LJP]

You'll just have lighter weigh-ins

[Embrey]

i dont see the problem here

[fishassasin]

i think it would be a great rule change in as starting a bigger fish population

[Moveon]

Don: You fish that River a lot and know more about the Bass Population that most guys on here. I'd like to hear your reasons why this rule should not be implimented.

How healthy is the Large Mouth Bass Population in the Ohio River in the Evansville area?

Note: this is not just about LM bass. It's sounds like it's more about protecting the small mouth bass and the spotted bass than LM bass. That's how I read it the first time around.

Perhaps IDNR should regulate the sm bass population by each individual stretch of river instead of generalizing about Rivers as a whole? I think that would make more sense if they are trying to protect SM bass populations in some rivers.

Does the Ohio River have a lot of Small Mouth Bass in it in this area? I would not think so but I really don't know. I thought that small mouth bass preferred cooler waters that were clear vs the Muddy and Thilthy Ohio River which is pretty warm during the summer months.

I don't fish tournaments so I have no comments about that aspect of this issue.

This appeared in the Evansville Courier on Thursday:

The Indiana Dept. of Natural Resorses has proposed changes that will replace the minimum size limit of 12 inches for black bass taken from rivers and streams with a requirement that black bass taken from rivers and streams must be less than 12 inches long or more than 15 inches long, with not more than two being greater than 15 inches long. The bag limit of five in aggregate per day will remain the same.

There will be two hearings on this matter, the first hearing will be at 6 pm EDT Oct. 11 at McCormicks Creek State Park in Spencer, In. The second will be at 6 pm EDT Oct. 17 at Miami County Fair-grouinds in Peru, In.

Online comments regarding these proposed changes can be submitted to the NRC at www.in.gov/nrc/2377/htm. Click on "Comment on Proposed Rule" next to the "Smallmouth Bass (Black Bass) Amendments." The deadline for comments is Oct. 18.

This is the nuttiest change I can imagine. This will kill out tournament series. Please, please send these people an email objecting to the proposed rule changes.

[fishassasin]

the population down river is not great more or less i catch only a hand ful a year... but on the northern portions that catch a few more... LM is pretty good but few and far between on the bigger ones... i would recommend it on the lakes as well especially with large mouth..

[HoosierDon]

I don't fish the river much above Rocky Point. From there to the Smithland pool you will catch very few LM as compared to Spotted bass. As tournament director for the American Legacy Ohio River Series I can show you our records that will convence you that Ohio River bass fishing is getting better every year. In my opinion if it isn't broke, don't fix it. You can bet when the government gets envolved things seldom get better.......

[SteveM4A1]

I don't fish the river much above Rocky Point. From there to the Smithland pool you will catch very few LM as compared to Spotted bass. As tournament director for the American Legacy Ohio River Series I can show you our records that will convence you that Ohio River bass fishing is getting better every year. In my opinion if it isn't broke, don't fix it. You can bet when the government gets envolved things seldom get better.......

Couldn't agree more

[skeeter sf150sx]

How can this law affect the ohio river? Wouldn't Ky laws have to be in agreement? Much of the Ohio river is technicaly Ky Property.

[Bandit1]

Seems to me like if one state done this then the whole river & all the creeks weather Indiana, kentucky or Ohio would have to be the same or its going to be a pain in the butt to try to keep it all straight. Then being the game warden that pulls a boat over to check his or her fish would be a whole new ball game. The reason I say this is if I put in at Rocky point & go to Clover & catch a limit that is all 13- 14 inches then go back to Deer to weigh these in, & a game warden is sitting there, will I get a ticket for having fish in the slot? Seems like more of a head ache than what they are thinking.

Just my 2 cents I reckon.

Jason

[JustinM]

Let's hope this gets put in.

[SteveM4A1]

Let's hope this gets put in.

With exclusions for catch and release tournaments. It will then both upgrade our bass fisheries and draw more tournaments to the state because of the higher quantity of large black bass.