04-06-2013, 09:33 PM
[cool][#0000FF]The ban on corn (and corn products) goes way back to the olden days on Strawberry. Whole armadas of boats would anchor up in some of those bays and everybody would be chumming with "Niblets hackle". The bottom became covered with inches of corn and (supposedly) this befouled the water.
Another excuse for the corn ban was that trout could not digest it and it would clog them up...until death. Strange that no other state in the union has found corn to be indigestible to fishies and banned its use.
My personal belief is that a lot of our silly laws harken back to the trout-oriented beginnings of our fisheries folks. Hatchery darlings needed protection from the evil anglers who would kill them and take them home. So...no corn...no live bait, etc.
Granted, there used to be whole families and large groups that would descend on Da Berry (and other waters) and would use any and all means to make sure that everybody left with a full limit. But that is the exception rather than the rule these days.
Still...I have heard of overzealous COs issuing tickets for an angler having an unopened can of corn in the cupboard of their motor home. And another for using Procure corn scent.
As for DNA tests for species identification...when cut fish pieces are being used as bait...well, that is another area subject to abuse. That is why it is always best to leave skin attached to any legal bait...like perch...when using it on waters with restrictions against other fish parts. Again, I heard tell of a BFTer who was busted for fishing with CRAPPIE pieces when he was just tipping his jigs with tiny pieces of perch meat. No DNA test and no way to prove or disprove. Another guy I know got busted for fishing with store-bought smelt at Willard Bay. He was cited for using shad...and he still had the labeled package of smelt.
The laws are there to protect us from ourselves. We need to be very careful that we don't leave any room for misunderstandings or errors...on either side. Study the proclamation (Fishing Guide) and know the regulations on whatever waters you are fishing and on the species within those waters. And if there is any question...JUST SAY NO.
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Another excuse for the corn ban was that trout could not digest it and it would clog them up...until death. Strange that no other state in the union has found corn to be indigestible to fishies and banned its use.
My personal belief is that a lot of our silly laws harken back to the trout-oriented beginnings of our fisheries folks. Hatchery darlings needed protection from the evil anglers who would kill them and take them home. So...no corn...no live bait, etc.
Granted, there used to be whole families and large groups that would descend on Da Berry (and other waters) and would use any and all means to make sure that everybody left with a full limit. But that is the exception rather than the rule these days.
Still...I have heard of overzealous COs issuing tickets for an angler having an unopened can of corn in the cupboard of their motor home. And another for using Procure corn scent.
As for DNA tests for species identification...when cut fish pieces are being used as bait...well, that is another area subject to abuse. That is why it is always best to leave skin attached to any legal bait...like perch...when using it on waters with restrictions against other fish parts. Again, I heard tell of a BFTer who was busted for fishing with CRAPPIE pieces when he was just tipping his jigs with tiny pieces of perch meat. No DNA test and no way to prove or disprove. Another guy I know got busted for fishing with store-bought smelt at Willard Bay. He was cited for using shad...and he still had the labeled package of smelt.
The laws are there to protect us from ourselves. We need to be very careful that we don't leave any room for misunderstandings or errors...on either side. Study the proclamation (Fishing Guide) and know the regulations on whatever waters you are fishing and on the species within those waters. And if there is any question...JUST SAY NO.
[/#0000FF]
[signature]