A testamment of the affects of catch and keep

Dave Smith · 06-02-2009, 08:33 PM

Made my annual trip to a really cool gravel pit on Sunday. Have fished it five years in a row and we catch an average of right around 20 fish for the two of us every year- all big and literally most in the 4 to 7 pound range.
On Sunday Travis Reeser and I fished hard all day and only saw four fish, which we caught all four after some considerable effort. The pit was vacant!
Talked to the farmer and he said that some of his workers told him that it looked like we were really "having fun" when we fish and they wanted in on the fun so he let them fish. The rest, as they say, is HISTORY. Nightcrawlers, tons of fishing pressure, and all catch and keep and the "fun" is over for several years if not longer.
DS

Senko86 · 06-02-2009, 09:10 PM

Its a shame most people don't know the effects they have on small bodies of water I had a similar thing happen to a half acre slough where I use to fish for bass. We had caught a lot of fish every time we went but then I started seeing a kid and his dad start fishing this area and the next three times I went out they were there catching bass and keeping everything they caught. I even told them if they keep it up there won't be any fish left but they said there are plenty of fish. The next year I went out two different times and couldn't get a bite and I never saw a single fish. I think people should have to take a class on sustainable fishing before they can get their license. I think too many people are ignorant of how they effect everyone else. I think you should talk to that farmer and let him know what happened.

Twothirteen · 06-02-2009, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Senko86

I think you should talk to that farmer and let him know what happened.

fishinjay · 06-02-2009, 10:11 PM

Thats to bad, sorry to hear that. I used to fish a large gravel pit by my aunts house and catch some pigs, but more and more people started showing up and the fishing went downhill and the garbage went up and the quarry shut it down for everyone. It seems some people will never learn.

Double Stack · 06-02-2009, 10:30 PM

Man what a lousy story !. I feel your pain though Dave. I used to have to chase people off my grandmas privet communities pond all the time because of this. One time I chased two dudes down that were leaving with two 4lb bass right as I was coming to fish the pond. I chased them for a half mile yeling at the top of my lungs that they better drop the fish. They finally dropped them on some grass, so I recovered them and beat feet back to the pond to let them go. I couldn’t be there all the time though, and next thing you know the fish were few and far between.

Sorry to hear of your lose Dave- some people suck.

BassinJay · 06-02-2009, 10:48 PM

a clasic story of a few people ruining it for everyone, i have seen this happen on countless private lakes, makes me sick!!! i hate passing by lakes i know hold bass, and knowing that i can no longer fish them due to someones ignorance and disrespect!

Jellyhead · 06-03-2009, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassinJay

a clasic story of a few people ruining it for everyone, i have seen this happen on countless private lakes, makes me sick!!! i hate passing by lakes i know hold bass, and knowing that i can no longer fish them due to someones ignorance and disrespect!

I always try to do my best to educate people I see with nice size bass on a stringer. First, I let them know how old those fish are that they have kept. We have such a short growing season on most bodies of water, and those fish take a long time to get that big. Second, I ask them which is more fun.....catching fish or eating dinner? Most people say catching fish. I explain to them that if they eat that fish, they just cheated themselves and someone else out of catching a fish (which=fun) If they turn it loose, it will most likely spawn, make more and produce more opportunity for fun for everyone. I also always impress the fact that ODFW does not stock warmwater fish, it is up to the anglers to preserve our bass fishery.

Sorry to hear about that pond Dave. Sounds like you guys need to start fishing at night.

Aaron

Super Fluke · 06-03-2009, 09:41 AM

Yes Dave that is sad news. Where do people start on the education process of catch & release and that the resource is not a endless pit.All of the fun & memories are gone now and it takes so much time for it to return.Now you and your friend talk like this "do you remember when we caught such and such,oh those were the days" I feel your pain.VR

bassnoob · 06-03-2009, 11:07 AM

Isn't this why you have slot limits?

salembassin · 06-03-2009, 11:08 AM

People need to realize that bass fishing is not the put and take trout fishing that a lot of people grew up on. These bass are not planted, unless done privately, and they take a long time in our cold waters to grow to braggin size. Stories like these are too common, after your sweet spot is fished out you have to try to find the next on that no one has found out about yet.

MXRacer105 · 06-03-2009, 12:00 PM

Sorry to hear that Dave.... that is a real shame. Unfortunately those guys probably would have taken all those bass even if they did understand the consequences

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jellyhead

I always try to do my best to educate people I see with nice size bass on a stringer. First, I let them know how old those fish are that they have kept. We have such a short growing season on most bodies of water, and those fish take a long time to get that big. Second, I ask them which is more fun.....catching fish or eating dinner? Most people say catching fish. I explain to them that if they eat that fish, they just cheated themselves and someone else out of catching a fish (which=fun) If they turn it loose, it will most likely spawn, make more and produce more opportunity for fun for everyone. I also always impress the fact that ODFW does not stock warmwater fish, it is up to the anglers to preserve our bass fishery......
Aaron

Great post Aaron

And Salembasser, I agree completely, most people do not understand the difference between keeping a bass and keeping a stocker trout.

1bigfish · 06-03-2009, 12:36 PM

The really sad part of this to me is that there are so many places in Oregon where keeping a few bass will not hurt one bit. Keeping a couple of 2lb bass out of the CR, Willy, Snake, Johnday, and others is fine but to a small pond even keeping the small fish can hurt it. This is why I don't mind giving out info about fishing the Willy but won't even give the name of small ponds that I know hold a few nice fish. And Keeping bigger fish from anybody of water from the CR to a small farm pond will have a nagative effect.

I know people get all upset when bassfisherman start talking about C&R or even when we talk about just releasing the bigger fish but if we don't try and educate people now then pretty soon we will be talking about bass the same way people talk about native salmon.

My

flippinbaits · 06-03-2009, 12:43 PM

Hunt'nFish · 06-03-2009, 01:29 PM

That sure bites Dave, I can only imagine your loss.
Like others have said, education of the masses is key.
But some ethnic cultures simply don't care.....selfishness seems to be common w/ them.
THAT'S WHAT REALLY SICKENS ME.
Hunt'nFish

arkansasbasser · 06-03-2009, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1bigfish

The really sad part of this to me is that there are so many places in Oregon where keeping a few bass will not hurt one bit. Keeping a couple of 2lb bass out of the CR, Willy, Snake, Johnday, and others is fine but to a small pond even keeping the small fish can hurt it.

ling killer · 06-03-2009, 05:51 PM

i can relate to this, i live in toledo and fish sturdavent slough sometimes.
usually very productive and many species, last couple of years theres been a dramatic drop in numbers in my boat.

anyways ive noticed a lot of dead catfish floating around, this is bull i know that u can catch cats without trying to chum the watter and kill all the otherones that dont bite, anyways it really makes me angry and is very sad too see

especially when u live right next to it

fgsteelie · 06-04-2009, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Senko86

Its a shame most people don't know the effects they have on small bodies of water I had a similar thing happen to a half acre slough where I use to fish for bass. We had caught a lot of fish every time we went but then I started seeing a kid and his dad start fishing this area and the next three times I went out they were there catching bass and keeping everything they caught. I even told them if they keep it up there won't be any fish left but they said there are plenty of fish. The next year I went out two different times and couldn't get a bite and I never saw a single fish. I think people should have to take a class on sustainable fishing before they can get their license. I think too many people are ignorant of how they effect everyone else. I think you should talk to that farmer and let him know what happened.

Most people just plain dont care. Its sad, of course there are some that just dont know.

bassnbass · 06-04-2009, 01:27 PM

another fish release became another people meal

Basshound · 06-05-2009, 05:44 PM

Some people need to be reminded that Bass are not stocked by the thousands several times a year like the trout are. Those trout are put there for the take. Bass are not.

hunter9 · 06-05-2009, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassnbass

another fish release became another people meal

Funny story. I was fishing with another IFISH member at a pond. I caught a 2 lbr off a senko and released it. Then he caught the same fish off of a spinner and kept it.

arkansasbasser · 06-06-2009, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hunter9

Funny story. I was fishing with another IFISH member at a pond. I caught a 2 lbr off a senko and released it. Then he caught the same fish off of a spinner and kept it.

That fish need to be removed from the gene pool. Dumb fish!

He was just asking to be a meal.