|
|
Post by mwardncsu on May 14, 2014 19:04:39 GMT -5
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 15, 2014 16:48:46 GMT -5
No use in letting the dgif have all the fun.  What is every ones thinking on this now that we've had time to get out and fish and 3 months to think about it?? We've had 20lb. plus fish in the lake for several years now, but pure and simple the big fish are not here. Heck, there aren't as many 20lb. plus as there was 4 years ago. Also, it appears the numbers are way down too. What are your thoughts....and no arguing just for the sake of arguing...ok, I know i'm the only one who does that. I have no problem with raising the slot, but as many people that are keeping there fish, I am really worried about the numbers. I saw no where in the proposed changes about reducing the stocking numbers....are they going to, and if so, how much?  ? After going back and re-reading the striper growth thread (twice) and some time to think it I am about to swallow my pride (if I don't choke on it first) and agree with BentRod. Mward, move my post somewhere else if you don't want it cluttering up your thread on this.  |
|
Gator
New Member
Posts: 1,534
|
Post by Gator on May 16, 2014 8:50:56 GMT -5
It is a shame we can't read the responses on the VDGIF site. I still stand by what I said in the Striper Growth thread by BentRod. Instead of a slot I think we should not allow the harvest of 30" or bigger. No need to kill 40"+ fish. A photo, proper measurements and a good taxidermist will replicate your trophy and someone else has the opportunity to catch that fish. One more thing is if you are not going to practice catch and release it doesn't meaan you have to catch your limit. We can limit our catch.
|
|
|
|
Post by mwardncsu on May 16, 2014 9:15:02 GMT -5
This is an important topic and it is important that you let your views be heard to DGIF. And I personally have no issue with the discussion being raised again here in this thread. More folks need to get a s*it about this stuff and take an active part in it - or, you can just sit around and b*tch when there are no fish - which unfortunately seems to be the way too many folks deal with too many issues these days.....
When the discussion on these regs started about a year ago, the concern was that on growth rates against the "norm". However, since that time I know there are a lot of us that are having an increasing concern about overall numbers. I still support the higher-end slot and feel that given the data we had at the time and the goals that were going to be acted on that the proposal was the best possible outcome around that - but will say with the increased concern over what seems to be reducing #s, I'm less supportive of shifting the lower-end of the slot too.... and really hate that the slot start moved to Nov 1 and we lost protection during Oct.
Regardless of your opinions on the issue - make sure you take a few minutes to comment on the proposed changes.....
|
|
|
|
Post by ready2fish on May 16, 2014 10:08:25 GMT -5
I just submitted this comment to DGIF and don't mind sharing to the forum. "Since this change has been under discussion for over a year, I personally have experienced a dramatic reduction in both the size (length) and numbers of fish caught in primarily the Roanoke arm of the lake. While the data supports fish hitting a "wall" at 27" to 30", I am not seeing this in my catches this year. I am not catching fish over 25", most fish are 20" - 24" and these numbers are down from previous years. I fully support changing the slot to protect the larger fish. I also recommend extending the lower end of the slot back to 24". My concern is to address both the declining numbers of fish overall and protect the larger fish. I also recommend moving the start date of the slot from 11/1 to 10/15. My personal logs show low to mid 60 degree water temps in the upper Roanoke portion of the lake in mid October. I believe fish will survive releasing in these temps. The upper Roanoke experiences heavy fishing pressure in Oct & Nov and large numbers of fish are caught & removed. This is contributing to fewer fish overall. Changing the slot start date and slot lengths will give these otherwise keeper fish more time to live and grow."
|
|
|
|
Post by jrv on May 19, 2014 22:25:06 GMT -5
We all know the Striper problem at SML revolves around catching not keeping fish in the hot days of Summer. For example, assume there are 20 experienced anglers who catch 20 fish a day and we know there's far more than 20 who regularly catch that amount.
20 X 20 = 400 fish per day, x 7 days per week = 2800 fish per week, X 4.3 weeks/month = 12040/ month X 4 months of hot water and consequent low survival rate for Striped Bass = 48000 fish that are probably not going to survive. Now add the occasional fisherman, the dock fisherman, and the tourist, not to mention the other 20 experienced striper fishermen who catch a lot of fish and it's very easy to understand why we have a problem.
The problem can only be solved with a catch limit not a keep limit, although a catch limit may be hard to enforce, it does make sense.
Also, the numbers of harvested fish, in all probability, are very close to the number of stocked fish with the reduced number of fingerlings stocked.
|
|
Gator
New Member
Posts: 1,534
|
Post by Gator on May 20, 2014 7:14:23 GMT -5
I have found that I keep very few fish during the cold months and that's when I do the majority of my fishing. I am not catching huge fish ,but it sure feels good to watch them swim away. When the heat of the summer gets here I will hit the lake very early, catch a few fish for the table and get home before the crazies wake up. Wish I was one of those 20 anglers that could fish 7 days a week LOL. Heck, I wish I was just a good angler!!!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 20, 2014 11:39:31 GMT -5
We all know the Striper problem at SML revolves around catching not keeping fish in the hot days of Summer. Not trying to be disagreeable, but I feel the term "fishing summer months" is a misnomer. In my opinion, surface temp has little to do with whether the fish survives or not. I feel that water temps in relation to depth is the key. Fished all last summer and never caught a fish deeper than 30'....which I feel can be released without much harm. If the water temps get to where it forces the fish deep and you start pulling them up 50,60, 70 feet, the majority are not going to make it when released. I also feel that with the way the water temps are setting up thus far this year, this summer looks like it is going to set up about the same.......again, just my opinion........ |
|
|
|
Post by striperjohn on May 22, 2014 14:28:36 GMT -5
The thermocline depth has much more to do with this problem then most people realize. The lake has turned over and thermocline was at 18 most of last week. Thats where the bait and fish reside during the day. If it dips deeper in summer then so will the fish. O2 content is always richest in thermocline. When you see bait at 25-40 feet in summer thats where the fish will be as well. B&B's
Sent from my SCH-R760 using proboards
|
|
|
|
Post by mytoyzfishing on May 22, 2014 23:27:07 GMT -5
Here's another twist to the theory. What has modern day communications done in relation to this issue? Meaning things such as forum's, Facebook, and such. 15-20 years ago when some of the old timers say was the hay day of the lake for striper fishing and catching a lot of big size stripers there was no forum, no Facebook, no twitter. You had to rely on actually getting out on the water and figuring out how to fish for the them. Not a lot of people I'm sure back then knew about striper fishing on SML unless you were local. Now we read reports of guys traveling to the lake from the Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, Pennsylvanian, and all over Virginia. Did folks coming from such far away know about the striper fishery on SML without finding it online? I know when I moved to the area 6 years ago I never knew about what SML had to offer in regards to fishing opportunities until I went online and just started searching. Today if you do a google search for "striper fishing, Virginia" this forum is third on the list. Even above a lot of sites for the bay and beach.
People posting pictures of their catch's on Facebook ads to it. How many fisherman have become interested in striper fishing because they saw pictures on Facebook of their friends catching fish and in turn wanted to try themselves? I know I am guilty of this.
Information on how to fish for them, where they are at at any given time, what to do and what not to do can all be found online easily. Where is years ago you had to just get out there and figure it out or know someone personally who would be willing to tell you in person the info to get you started.
Has the problem become that the lake's striper fisherman population outgrown the lake's sustainable population?
|
|
BentRod
Global Moderator
Posts: 2,252
|
Post by BentRod on May 23, 2014 5:58:20 GMT -5
Here's another twist to the theory. What has modern day communications done in relation to this issue? Meaning things such as forum's, Facebook, and such. 15-20 years ago when some of the old timers say was the hay day of the lake for striper fishing and catching a lot of big size stripers there was no forum, no Facebook, no twitter. You had to rely on actually getting out on the water and figuring out how to fish for the them. Not a lot of people I'm sure back then knew about striper fishing on SML unless you were local. Now we read reports of guys traveling to the lake from the Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, Pennsylvanian, and all over Virginia. Did folks coming from such far away know about the striper fishery on SML without finding it online? I know when I moved to the area 6 years ago I never knew about what SML had to offer in regards to fishing opportunities until I went online and just started searching. Today if you do a google search for "striper fishing, Virginia" this forum is third on the list. Even above a lot of sites for the bay and beach. People posting pictures of their catch's on Facebook ads to it. How many fisherman have become interested in striper fishing because they saw pictures on Facebook of their friends catching fish and in turn wanted to try themselves? I know I am guilty of this. Information on how to fish for them, where they are at at any given time, what to do and what not to do can all be found online easily. Where is years ago you had to just get out there and figure it out or know someone personally who would be willing to tell you in person the info to get you started. Has the problem become that the lake's striper fisherman population outgrown the lake's sustainable population? BAM. This is no doubt a factor. Not only has it increased pressure to ridiculous levels, but it has also made us all better fisherman through reading, watching, etc. How many have learned something from a site like this? I'd say we all have learned at least something and most of us have learned a ton from a site like this, myself included. Also technology (sonar, sidescan, even planer boards, bait tanks, etc) has all made us ridiculous fishermen. There's a lot of really great fishermen out there and it's gotten to the point that the fish cannot hide anymore. I think a lot of you are so good, you don't even realize what's happening because you're still catching fish. |
|
BentRod
Global Moderator
Posts: 2,252
|
Post by BentRod on May 23, 2014 6:11:44 GMT -5
The thermocline depth has much more to do with this problem then most people realize. The lake has turned over and thermocline was at 18 most of last week. Thats where the bait and fish reside during the day. If it dips deeper in summer then so will the fish. O2 content is always richest in thermocline. When you see bait at 25-40 feet in summer thats where the fish will be as well. B&B's Sent from my SCH-R760 using proboards Where are you seeing a thermocline? Just curious as I've never seen one set up this early at 18ft on SML. |
|
|
|
Post by striperjohn on May 23, 2014 6:16:28 GMT -5
Agree this site and others like it simply provide too much information. Oh for the days of my Raytheon flasher, when you marked a school of fish and couldn't be sure if it was crappie, or shad or stripers. Now I can pick out the 10lbs plus fish from the small ones, at 100yds side to side. Change sucks.
On another note, I can remember when deer hunters used to actually walk through the woods looking for sign adn spend weeks on end figuring out where that big buck would be on opening day. Now you just set out a bunch of game camera's and check and move them until you find him. Heck they even had cameras you can check from your laptop in your house. Good, I think not.
|
|
Gator
New Member
Posts: 1,534
|
Post by Gator on May 23, 2014 6:29:26 GMT -5
I think a lot of you are so good, you don't even realize what's happening because you're still catching fish. Clearly not talking about me.  |
|
|
|
Post by creeker on May 25, 2014 13:23:55 GMT -5
I hate government regs. No fan of such but from reading this forum perhaps some things need changed for a couple years. The question is: What change would help? Limit the number of poles per boat? No live bait? Limit catch? Ban any fishing in certain parts of the lake at certain times of the year?
As for us guys from WV, the coal miners like to come around April first [John L. Lewis Day]. They would fish 4 or 5 days & catch plenty of fish. Hillbilly's have known this fishery for some time. Not saying we were experts by any means but we knew our creek chubs in the S turns worked. Also at night around the Hales Ford Bridge. Take that bait away & you would save a bunch of fish from the pan & freezer.
Myself I do artificial. Not that I'm above using bait for stripers but if that technique was to stop for a couple years I think the fish numbers would have to increase. Maybe ban bait while the slot limit is in effect? Am I out of line here?
|
|
What is every ones thinking on this now that we've had time to get out and fish and 3 months to think about it?? We've had 20lb. plus fish in the lake for several years now, but pure and simple the big fish are not here. Heck, there aren't as many 20lb. plus as there was 4 years ago. Also, it appears the numbers are way down too. What are your thoughts....and no arguing just for the sake of arguing...ok, I know i'm the only one who does that. 
?
