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Just wonderin' why so much concern about keeping a (as in "one") bigger Mack from the Gorge. Say a 30 or 35. Seems like the people are being encouraged to keep some or all of the pups they catch to make room for others. I know it takes many years for a Mack to reach over 30 status but on the other hand there seems to be a very healthy population of young 'uns to grow in to 30 plus fish. So why all the concern?
Now, before I get hammered let me state that I am not a threat to the big Macks in the gorge. I'm a 2 or 3 times a year guy at the gorge and the fish I have caught over 20 pounds could be counted by using both hands(all returned). I am not a wanton fish killer. I know little fish grow in to big fish so it looks to me like the fishery is healthy into the future. Civil enlightenment on this subject is encouraged.[  ]
And..... check out the ugly mug below. Don't do it!! I am referring to the fish mug. [cool] Think I was the first one to hook into this old boy? Look at that knarly and scared mug. He's still out there. Always catch and release the big ones but.... if someone wanted to keep one I don't see the problem.
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I think the concern is that those fish are 30-40 years old in some cases. The reasoning there: is that it takes 30-35 years to produce a fish that size and it only takes 1 day to kill them. Especially during certain times of the year, these fish are not difficult to catch - in fact they are pretty vulnerable.
Now does that merit letting them all go? That could be debated to death. Nowadays replica mounts are so much better and cheaper I think most people would rather save the resource (the lakers) and get a replica. It is a win-win for you and the fish.
Plus there are some very strong changes going on with the lake - the introduction of burbot will really change the landscape. I don't know if it will effect the macks as most people tend to think... but it will have some impact. I think since the burbot introduction the catch and release crowd has just stepped up and become more vocal.
As long as it is legal - do what you want. We can make choices for ourselves. Right?
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Because there aren't that many of the large fish there to begin with, and the population is in decline. 4 pounders don't turn into 30 pounders overnight, so the pups do not immediately replenish the large ones. We're catching the same large fish over and over. Limited supply, increased fishermen knowledge/technology, and more anglers in general.
The direct answer to "Why all the concern?" is that nearly every lake trout angler who has any significant experience on the Gorge will tell you the numbers of big fish are dropping steadily. That's undeniable.
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Jim I totally right when I was younger my father and I had a trip with him! was 11 and hooked into a 32lb laker. That day Jim explained to me that the fish was older than me and showed me the holes in its lip where he had worn jewelery.
But Jim I dont know if you remember me but I remember you!
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If the DWR didn't want any fish caught, the limit would be zero. Still, I don't like to see the big ones killed when they can be caught over and over, giving joy to many anglers. I kept my biggest laker, which went 34-12 because my friend who owned the boat really wanted me to do so. I regretted it soon after though it was nice to show my neighbors and family the biggest trout they had ever seen. All the big ones now go back in the lake. If people start keeping too many big ones, the state could issue one tag a year or even have a drawing for a handful of yearly tags. Obviously there's no need for that now but it could be a solution. It's also a possible way to ensure that we get bigger tiger muskies.
[inline fglaker3412.jpg]
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Well i know for a fact that 5 fish over 20 lbs were killed yesterday alone!! So I don,t see the big fish in the Gorge being able to sustain a harvest like that! Do you ? and what other fish in the gorge is gonna have any impact on the burbot??? So instead of the lakers eating the kokene the burbot will eat everything! Oh and the same guy that killed 5 yesterday with his clients is out there again today!![crazy][crazy]
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It’s all about the $$$ to a very small group .01%, its business propaganda! Who wants to pay a guide to catch 20-30lb Lakers anyone can catch?? They are just trying to protect their pocket books, and it makes them feel better to post their feelings/opinions online. “By keeping one you’re not a sportsman, put the big ones back, so I can charge people bucks to catch them”, that’s sportsman like. I say it’s a free country and a personal choice to keep it or throw it back, just like anything else..
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I don't hardly know where start. That response shows very little regard for a resource that is very unique to our area and should be preserved so EVERYONE can catch those fish regardless of using a guide service our not.
Your reply is selfish and if everyone felt like you did, the big fish in the Gorge would be dead and gone. The guides are trying to save the fish so you and yes, them, can keep catching them for a very long time.
It's also pretty obvious you have little or no experience fishing for lake trout on the Gorge. I'm not a guide and I can see a significant decline in large fish on the Gorge. Anyone who regularly chases lake trout can see it and who are the most vocal about saving them? These very people of which I am one.
I rarely become involved with this conversation because this topic has been beat to death a million times but your reply show a particularly selfish disregard for a resource and situation you obviously know nothing about.
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[font "Calibri"]Lol, just what I expected out of typical Bft poster calling someone out! You don’t know anything about me, you don’t know how many days my boat is on the gorge, or my experience! The gorge doesn’t revolve around Laker Fishing. Just like your post, you “assume things”, show the data they are in decline? “My original point exactly” it’s called “hype”, this subject has been beat to death by the same few people that make $$$$, crying foul if someone chooses to keep a big one. If it wasn’t for the BOR, DWR and sportsman like myself funding the gorge, there would be Laker or a dam! Thank you for telling me what a great uninformed sportsman I am and gauging my experience in just a few sentences, its people like you that keep good folks from posting real fishing reports. I needed a good laugh today, so I turned up the heat first thing this morning. I think I got a boil, poster on…lol[/font]
[font "Calibri"]P.S [/font]
[font "Calibri"]I will be up there over the fourth with the family reeling in whatever bites, hopefully kokes[/font]
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Well, I don't believe I'm the typical BFT poster but if you wish to assume that, than so be it and to assume I believe that Flaming Gorge revolves around Lakers is naive of you. Don't we all have a way of assuming things... This post was specifically about lake trout not all things related to the Gorge.
As for data, you are correct, there is none because no one specifically targets the trophy size lake trout numbers and tries to count their numbers or monitor their increase or decline. Be glad there are sportsmen who give a darn to try and spread the word based what they have seen through the years.
Stick around, pal. This board could use a few more just like you to keep it interesting. Have a fun trip on the Gorge!
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[quote sunplay][font "Calibri"]If it wasn’t for the BOR, DWR and sportsman like myself funding the gorge, there would be Laker or a dam! [/quote]
FYI, BOR didn't build the dam for you to fish or DWR to stock. They built it to store water for the generation of electricity. So yes the dam would be there without you or the DWR. As wasteful as our government is they didn't spend over a $100 million 50 years ago ( probable like a billion dollars in today's dollars) so we could fish for kokes and macs. Be glad it's that way or the fees would have to be a grand a day[laugh] to be on the water.
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[font "Calibri"]Are u kidding me? Were paying off that $100mil right now, they didn’t have that $100mil 50yrs ago, just like they don’t have a $billion today.[/font]
[font "Calibri"]FYI, the government wouldn’t build anything without taxpayer money$$!! Charge us? Don’t even get me started on usage fees. They’ve already post dated a check my Grrrrreeeeaaatt grandchildren won’t pay off and I’m young. I tried to boil some lakers today, “that backfired”…lol, all kidding aside, it’s all worth it so see my kids rip lips, for that I’ll pay$$[/font]
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Why keep a big one they taste like $h!t and if the truth was known I bet 50 out of 100 get left in freezers for years until someone throws them out... I don't think it is all about money as I like to go And try to catch a big Mack up there and I never have used a guide then again I have never caught anything big... You got to admit it is cool knowing there is some really big ones there and if they was gone it would suck.... Eats the young ones if you like them better yet find a way to catch buret in the summer now there is some good eaten......
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+1 UT, I bet it's more like 90 out of a100, people don't realize it costs $500 bucks to get a skin mount on on of those big lakers, plus they don't now they can just get a few measurements and some pics and have a repo made, and let the fish go for someone else to enjoy. and the big ones don't taste as good as the little pups do anyway!
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It not about the money lmao its about the future and if a 5yr old can have the brains to do whats rite I would sure hope that more than .01% could figure it out! check out this pic from today and yes he kissed it and tossed it! and he aint even a guide!
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WOW! That thing is huge!!!
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Good to see you and your boy are fishing still fishley.. I thought maybe after you landed that 50+ you gave up fishing or something...
JK I knew you'd never do that[ ]
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That's a beauty Ash! Thanks for keeping the faith and doing the release!
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It don't take a rocket scientest to figure it out. If most of the lakers that were killed we the small ones, then the biguns are what would be left crusing the waters for us to catch and experience.
On the other hand, if most of the lakers that were killed were the big ones, we would be left with just the little ones to boat.
Which size would you rater catch?
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Man, there's still a TON of snow on those mountains eh?[ ]
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