To target them spawning or not??

[BLKBEARKLR]

Discussion Topic: Is It Okay To Catch Spawning Bass?

It is according to the latest University of Florida study, whose author says that states currently closed to bass fishing during the spawn may want to give their bass anglers more time on the water.

From the University of Florida News:

[Spawning bass] are easy to catch, but it’s commonly believed that spawning-season fishing reduces bass populations. [University of Florida fisheries professor Mike] Allen’s latest study suggests that notion is rarely true….

“We found that in most cases, spawning area closures won’t improve bass populations, for a couple of reasons,” he said. “One is, there’s a lot of catch and release nowadays. The other is, if you lose some nests, the ones that are left have higher survival rates….”

The study used mathematical models to predict changes in two types of bass populations. One was typical of southern states, with fast growth rates, early maturation and high natural mortality. The other had the opposite qualities, typical of northern states….

The results showed that prohibiting bass fishing during spawning season would only boost populations in waters where very high percentages of spawning bass are caught. “Those conditions are pretty rare,” Allen said.

To test his findings in the field, Allen is collaborating with researchers from the Illinois Natural History Survey. They’ll catch nesting bass in two Florida lakes and four Canadian lakes to see if it influences the number of young that reach adulthood.
 If there is no decrease, some officials might want to reconsider their policies, Allen said.

[Holg3107]

Great Topic BlkBear, I have somewhat mixed feelings on this one. While we all love catching huge bass and the spawn is the best opportunity for that i think that overhandling the fish can be detrimental. I LOVE fishing the spawn but was told to handle the fish as little as possible, if its a monster get it out of the water get the photo and release it. The worst thing someone can do is sit there and pull the same fish off their bed multiple times (i see this more than i would like), it just seems stupid, catch the fish and move on. I also dont think there should be tournaments durring the spawn since that requires the fish to be relocated to the weigh station and off of their beds for an extended amount of time. Do not keep spawning bass!!! (unless you are going to mount it) go catch some perch or crappie, and let the bass spawn. 

[wastickslinger]

Great Topic BlkBear, I have somewhat mixed feelings on this one. While we all love catching huge bass and the spawn is the best opportunity for that i think that overhandling the fish can be detrimental. I LOVE fishing the spawn but was told to handle the fish as little as possible, if its a monster get it out of the water get the photo and release it. The worst thing someone can do is sit there and pull the same fish off their bed multiple times (i see this more than i would like), it just seems stupid, catch the fish and move on. I also dont think there should be tournaments durring the spawn since that requires the fish to be relocated to the weigh station and off of their beds for an extended amount of time. Do not keep spawning bass!!! (unless you are going to mount it) go catch some perch or crappie, and let the bass spawn. 

Its funny that the tournament guys will complain if someone is keeping thier limit of bass during spawn yet they always have their tournaments on those lakes at that time. They catch the haul them around all day, weigh in, then release all in the same bay no where near the original bed. Yet the guy who kept a few fish to eat is the bad guy.   

[C-Money]

I dont care ether way, but I guess I will leave them alone for a few weeks.

[Viszla]

I'll catch and kill them anytime I can.  No need for bass up here in the Northwest.

[Ripper]

Insert Quote
I'll catch and kill them anytime I can.  No need for bass up here in the Northwest.

I hope your kidding.  Or are you one of those that is intolerant of anything that you don't like?

I like to use the newly stocked 11" hatchery rainbows as bait to catch those big spawning bass. Nothings more tempting to momma bass than a crippled rainbow!

[Huntbear]

Great Topic BlkBear, I have somewhat mixed feelings on this one. While we all love catching huge bass and the spawn is the best opportunity for that i think that overhandling the fish can be detrimental. I LOVE fishing the spawn but was told to handle the fish as little as possible, if its a monster get it out of the water get the photo and release it. The worst thing someone can do is sit there and pull the same fish off their bed multiple times (i see this more than i would like), it just seems stupid, catch the fish and move on. I also dont think there should be tournaments durring the spawn since that requires the fish to be relocated to the weigh station and off of their beds for an extended amount of time. Do not keep spawning bass!!! (unless you are going to mount it) go catch some perch or crappie, and let the bass spawn. 

Its funny that the tournament guys will complain if someone is keeping thier limit of bass during spawn yet they always have their tournaments on those lakes at that time. They catch the haul them around all day, weigh in, then release all in the same bay no where near the original bed. Yet the guy who kept a few fish to eat is the bad guy.   

I fished bass tournaments (small club stuff, in modified jon boats) in Georgia. We fished the spawning season.  The studies all say the same thing, that fishing the spawning bass, off the beds does not hurt the population.  Also, taking the bass to another locale at the lake for the weigh in does not harm them either.  They tagged some of the bass.  Within 3 days, they were within 50 yds. of where they were caught, almost like homing pigeons.  Tournament bass fisherman take great care to make sure the fish do not get harmed.  They do not get to count dead fish.  They have to be released alive.  And yes, there will always be people that take some to eat, but I do not think they should be keeping prego females. 

[BLKBEARKLR]

I'll catch and kill them anytime I can.  No need for bass up here in the Northwest.

Wow, good thing you are not on the fish and game board,

Joe

[Okano-gun]

The steelhead up here in the Methow have been spawning the last two weeks and guys are targeting them like crazy.   

[BigGoonTuna]

I'll catch and kill them anytime I can.  No need for bass up here in the Northwest.

Wow, good thing you are not on the fish and game board,

Joe

that's sort of the way F&G manages our lakes, though.  they'll kill a good bass and perch fishery to stock a bunch of 8" slimer trout.

[BLKBEARKLR]

I'll catch and kill them anytime I can.  No need for bass up here in the Northwest.

Wow, good thing you are not on the fish and game board,

Joe

that's sort of the way F&G manages our lakes, though.  they'll kill a good bass and perch fishery to stock a bunch of 8" slimer trout.

BigGoon, totally agree with you there, was just stating glad we did not have one more with that mentality up there...

Joe

[teal101]

I'll catch and kill them anytime I can.  No need for bass up here in the Northwest.

 

And why not?

[KimberRich]

I'll catch and kill them anytime I can.  No need for bass up here in the Northwest.

Wow, good thing you are not on the fish and game board,

Joe

that's sort of the way F&G manages our lakes, though.  they'll kill a good bass and perch fishery to stock a bunch of 8" slimer trout.

x2

[woodywsu]

I don't know how many tournament guys do it, but I know quite a few who do. But that is to return the bass back to their spawning beds. We go out and fish for the day, weigh in that night and return the fish. Makes a nice boat ride and your not making the bass swim miles back to its bed to finish its spawn. If tournaments could push this it would help out.

[Holg3107]

 

I agree, i would definetly be in support of that. I dont think it is a horrible thing to fish the spawn, ( i know it is one of my favorite times of the year) just try and reduce the handling of the fish and try and release them near their beds. It discusts me how many people I have heard that share the same point of view as Visla here in western washington, its just rediculous. I yelled at a guy down at lake union who I wathced kill 3 1.5-2 lb smallmouths. He said the same thing, needless to say he got an earfull but took off right after so no ticket.

[MtnMuley]

There are tourneys where the fish are barged back to the general area.  We often return ours anyway if the rules permit. 

As for the harvesting of bass during the spawn or anytime, there are always those who will eat their catch.  To each his own.  There is a slot limit preventing the over-harvest of the big gals, which I closely watch.  I don't hestiate to report those to WDFW that are keeping more than one of those over the slot.   It's no different that shooting 10 chuckar or 15 quail in a day.  It's illegal.