08-22-2006, 12:30 AM
If the minnows are already present it isn't bad. Snagging the breeding individuals in any given water isn't good. And, unfortunately, I've witnessed it enough to know it happens all too much. The entire issue with minnows is the transportation. End that, and I believe it could be done safely. Either way a lot of places are still going to get new fish species. Just last week I found White bass at the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon. I'm not too happy about that still.
One reason why I'd like to see live bait legalized is that it would make it easier for younger anglers to catch larger fish. I know without my dad I'd be out catching little planters now and calling them huge. Not all kids are privilidged enough to be able to fish all that much. And any way to get them into a few more fish, and keep the funding going for every water around the state, is worth it.
Plus it would be a pretty good management tool. I wouldn't recomend it at every water in the state, either. Just waters where there are already large fish numbers, like Starvation or the Flaming George, where there is a need for additional pressure. I know if fish numbers were lower in both of those lakes their fish quality would get better, and species like Kokes would make a comeback in FG.
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One reason why I'd like to see live bait legalized is that it would make it easier for younger anglers to catch larger fish. I know without my dad I'd be out catching little planters now and calling them huge. Not all kids are privilidged enough to be able to fish all that much. And any way to get them into a few more fish, and keep the funding going for every water around the state, is worth it.
Plus it would be a pretty good management tool. I wouldn't recomend it at every water in the state, either. Just waters where there are already large fish numbers, like Starvation or the Flaming George, where there is a need for additional pressure. I know if fish numbers were lower in both of those lakes their fish quality would get better, and species like Kokes would make a comeback in FG.
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