09-21-2014, 05:39 AM
Please enlighten me as to what has happened at fish lake and jordanelle. I've seen no studies on it published by biologists, I've only heard opinions. Are you suggesting that a handful of divers were able to shoot all the big bass out of jordanelle? I am no math scholar, but I can't see how they could reach the numbers necessary to clean out the trophy population given the small numbers of spearfisherman. I've done plenty of bass fishing on jordanelle up till about 4 years ago and I've only once seen a couple of guys spear fishing. Hardley enough pressure to make even a tiny dent in the population. I've dived around smallmouths just to look at them (I don't spear fish), and it's very challenging to get within what I assume is shooting range.
Nope, I'm afraid I don't buy into the argument that it is affecting the population of big bass, there is probably a real reason like over population, stunting, prey base, etc....
I also don't think because other states do something or have their own regs on spearfishing that we should let that affect the way OUR state fisheries are handled and managed. Our biologists are well educated and know their craft, but unfortunately the squeaky wheels in our state won't get the heck out of their way and let them do their jobs, which is to provide and manage a diverse fishery that the greatest number of people can enjoy and not bow to the will of the redneck biologists that many of us certainly try our hands at becoming on this forum.
I, for one, am thrilled that the chance to spearfish for gamefish exists in our fine state and that it can provide quality fish for the spearfisherman. My hat is off to the DWR for the job they do. Its a thankless job for most of them and they seem to catch a bunch of guff for doing it. There are still big ones to be had by the angler, but the easy days of jordanelle went with the mentality of not keeping bass. Too many fish means not enough room for the big ones. Pretty simple really.
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Nope, I'm afraid I don't buy into the argument that it is affecting the population of big bass, there is probably a real reason like over population, stunting, prey base, etc....
I also don't think because other states do something or have their own regs on spearfishing that we should let that affect the way OUR state fisheries are handled and managed. Our biologists are well educated and know their craft, but unfortunately the squeaky wheels in our state won't get the heck out of their way and let them do their jobs, which is to provide and manage a diverse fishery that the greatest number of people can enjoy and not bow to the will of the redneck biologists that many of us certainly try our hands at becoming on this forum.
I, for one, am thrilled that the chance to spearfish for gamefish exists in our fine state and that it can provide quality fish for the spearfisherman. My hat is off to the DWR for the job they do. Its a thankless job for most of them and they seem to catch a bunch of guff for doing it. There are still big ones to be had by the angler, but the easy days of jordanelle went with the mentality of not keeping bass. Too many fish means not enough room for the big ones. Pretty simple really.
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