01-19-2011, 01:55 AM
I suppose that we are about to find out. FWIW, I don't think it will make a big difference on most lakes, may have some mild effect on some fisheries like Jordanelle, where 1 big fish may be kept for the first time, and very few, if any, waters will see any significant improvement.
The reason I doubt there will be much positive change is that none of these new regs encourage harvest of the small fish. Anglers seem to be of only two camps; 1) guys that can't wait to get out there and harvest a bunch of big bass and "prove" how great of anglers they are, and 2) The C&R crowd who are more determined than ever to not keep anything because they think the new regs will denude the lakes of all the fish, small and large.
Neither side seems to want to do what is best for many of our smallie fisheries. Harvest small ultraabundant bass to allow better growth, and leave the bigguns in the water for others to enjoy.
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The reason I doubt there will be much positive change is that none of these new regs encourage harvest of the small fish. Anglers seem to be of only two camps; 1) guys that can't wait to get out there and harvest a bunch of big bass and "prove" how great of anglers they are, and 2) The C&R crowd who are more determined than ever to not keep anything because they think the new regs will denude the lakes of all the fish, small and large.
Neither side seems to want to do what is best for many of our smallie fisheries. Harvest small ultraabundant bass to allow better growth, and leave the bigguns in the water for others to enjoy.
[signature]