Quote Originally Posted by kygorski View Post
There are only two fish I put in the first category, the musky, and the northern pike. Why? because they are so darn boney they aren't worth eating, plus all my musky that I ever caught were put back, by choice. when I'd fish dale for crappie and bluegill, that slot limit SMB would go into the frying pan. In three years, I have never caught a legal size SMB out of Dale. And that included FNF, and fishing alewives. Cumberland is all rfelease on SMB but an occasional spotted bass will be kept.I've seen places in door couty where SMB were considerd almost a nusance.
Just to be CLEAR.........those fish in the slot at Dale Hollow are PROTECTED..........so I'm hoping you don't keep those.

And with regards to nuisance fish......they are considered a nuisance in Canada and Minnesota...at least the Boundary Waters. The out compete the walleye and lakers in lakes where they were stocked. In some of those waters, the walleye fishing has all but disappeared.

I understand the locals hating smallies, but I suspect the secretly respect the fact that a few hundred thousand visitors to the area TARGET smallmouth during their fishing trips, and without a fantastic fishery, they'd have NO other economy.

Places like Ely, MN are TIED to the tourism, and that tourism is tied to fishing. And that tie to fishing is generally around the smallmouth fishery......



Later,

Geo