12-07-2006, 02:34 AM
Thanks for your insight tybugs. I would agree that if conditions are right there will be some damage done by ice fishermen. I don't think the November season will ruin the fishery though. If it was open all winter I think it would be a different story.
I don't really think that treble hooks do much damage but then again I don't fish bait with treble hooks and pinch down my barbs 95% of the time.
The hooking mortality could certainly be an issue. Some anglers just don't take as much care when releasing fish as they should. Trout in cold water don't build up lactic acid like they do in 70 degree water. I think the hooking mortality of a conscientious ice fishermen using bait would be lower than the hooking mortality of a fly fishermen during the summer catch fish in 70 degree water. I don't have any numbers to back this up, I'm just drawing from personal experience.
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I don't really think that treble hooks do much damage but then again I don't fish bait with treble hooks and pinch down my barbs 95% of the time.
The hooking mortality could certainly be an issue. Some anglers just don't take as much care when releasing fish as they should. Trout in cold water don't build up lactic acid like they do in 70 degree water. I think the hooking mortality of a conscientious ice fishermen using bait would be lower than the hooking mortality of a fly fishermen during the summer catch fish in 70 degree water. I don't have any numbers to back this up, I'm just drawing from personal experience.
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