12-07-2012, 03:41 PM
Gill netting is a science. It is a valuable tool to determine the health of a fishery. Nets can be floaters or sinkers, depending on what kind of sample is wanted. The mesh size of the net also determines the size of the fish sampled. If the mesh size is to large, they swim right through, if to small they are unable to get larger fish. Most of the nets the DWR uses are graded in size so that they can sample all sizes of fish.
In Deer Creek, they used nothing but floating nets for years and were not sampling the bass and walleye. Charlie Thompson began putting in some sinkers and that is how he was able to sample the bass and walleye populations and determine what was going on with them.
While it looks bad, the number of fish sacrificed in the nets is very small in comparison to fisherman take natural mortality. The information they collect will be analysed and collated to give the managers a very good picture of what is going on in the fishery.
To get a better picture of the process, go spend a day or two helping. You will get a better appreciation for the process.
In Deer Creek, they used nothing but floating nets for years and were not sampling the bass and walleye. Charlie Thompson began putting in some sinkers and that is how he was able to sample the bass and walleye populations and determine what was going on with them.
While it looks bad, the number of fish sacrificed in the nets is very small in comparison to fisherman take natural mortality. The information they collect will be analysed and collated to give the managers a very good picture of what is going on in the fishery.
To get a better picture of the process, go spend a day or two helping. You will get a better appreciation for the process.