Creek Spawners - Give 'em a Break

[jcb]

Don't know about your local fishin' creek, but on mine the majority of the smallmouth and largemouth bass are locking down on the beds. Full moon coming up in about a week.

Nothing helps small water fish populations like a good spawn. Creeks are very fragile ecosystems. Consider taking a couple weeks off to let 'em do their thing!

[DJD]

To many people like to fish and very few consider the spawn success to stop fishing. While i agree with your comment I doubt many will give it a second thought. I hope the fish do well with their "business" so we can all enjoy the results!!

[KyBass1]

I can remember 55 or 60 years ago there was no fishing allowed in Ky during the month of May.

[imthemedic]

This such a hot topic among anglers and really it's a personal choice. Science and research simply does not support this theory. I quick search of the intenet will show arguments for both sides. Here is an article that I came across that makes good sense to me.


http://www.greatlakesbass.com/fishin...nspawnfish.htm

[jcb]

Interesting, imthemedic, but I would point out that article is talking about the Great Lakes, not creeks.

I agree, DJD, it's a personal choice and I don't hold it against anyone for fishing during the spawn. That's why I said "consider". The one thing you can be sure of, if you don't fish during the next few days you won't affect the major spawn. There's 50 other weeks in the year.

[raincheck]

I'm in mi. & bass season is closed

[restornator]

This such a hot topic among anglers and really it's a personal choice. Science and research simply does not support this theory. I quick search of the intenet will show arguments for both sides. Here is an article that I came across that makes good sense to me.


http://www.greatlakesbass.com/fishin...nspawnfish.htm

that's because science follows population dynamics, determining which size and age most affect the population. Management protects these fish. For example, turtle populations in the Atlantic Coast are most affected from the bycatch of commercial fishing of immature turtles. The eggs being protected on the beach and people putting babies into the ocean does nothing. The population has bounced back in large part to TED's, turtle excluder devices that are mandatory equipment on shrimp trawls.

[restornator]

you have to remember that fry recruitment in fish (except sharks) is very small, say 1 in 10,000 reach the adult stage, which is why fish tend to lay 10's of thousands of eggs at a time. The recruitment rate of fry from a trophy isn't going to be any higher, and genetics are overrated in my opinion.

[DJD]

I'm in mi. & bass season is closed

Man that's gotta be tough!

[jcb]

I'm in mi. & bass season is closed

Bass season is closed whenever I go to Guist Creek.

[CreekChub]

Is there any documented negative effect if the fish are caught off the nest and immediately returned? I stood over a 1.5 lb SM on the bed in a creek yesterday, eventually caught him and returned him immediately. He was still locked down the on the nest as I waded back by on my way back to the truck 1-2 hrs later. Dont see why we shouldnt be allowed to catch em, but I wouldnt mind a 100% catch and release may for all black bass.

[smashdn]

Best thing I know to do is keep back a few of the 18" plus brown bass for a fish fry this time of year when you you should be letting them spawn. During late Feb and March when the big brown ones are easier to catch we fill a few quart bags with fillets so that we don't disturb the ones that are nesting now when we want a fish fry. Plus when you keep the bigger ones out it gives the smaller fish more room and cover to spawn in without having to worry with the big ones eating the fry.