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Post by 2 oars & a trash can on Oct 12, 2014 6:47:58 GMT -5
For those of us that are relatively new or just generally naive but have a deep care for the lake and the fish/fishermen can you quickly list what different things we can be doing to help the cause? I do not get to fish very often, but I keep up with what is going on and would like to make sure that when I do I'm helping to contribute to the greater good rather than contributing to the problem without knowing. Thanks for the efforts you guys put in helping keep SML a great destination. Don't prolong the fight. Nets damage scales so lip if you can. Keep the fish in the lake, remove the hook, pick the fish up and torpedo it to depth. In winter it's not such an issue. In summer, especially for fish brought up from 30 plus feet, sometimes nothing will save them. Smaller fish survive better. |
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greg
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Post by greg on Oct 12, 2014 7:49:31 GMT -5
BentRod says.... "I mean if you think 79 stripers is anything, you need to look around. The guides kill more than that on a daily basis."
Gator says.... "Problem is that too many people do not give a damn (guides included)."
The guides make a living from striper fishing, you would think they would be the ones most concerned about the future of the fishery.
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BentRod
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Post by BentRod on Oct 12, 2014 8:15:54 GMT -5
BentRod says.... "I mean if you think 79 stripers is anything, you need to look around. The guides kill more than that on a daily basis." Gator says.... "Problem is that too many people do not give a damn (guides included)." The guides make a living from striper fishing, you would think they would be the ones most concerned about the future of the fishery. Some of them are very concerned - I can't speak to them all but I know Theshadtaxi, CatsNstripers, and Bert have all had in depth discussions with me and others over the future of the fishery and were/are very concerned. I know those three in particular care more about the fishery than they do their own income. I have a lot of respect for some of the things they've said to me about and things I've seen them do over the years to protect the fishery. They don't just take anybody's money. |
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Post by mwardncsu on Oct 14, 2014 0:29:15 GMT -5
For those of us that are relatively new or just generally naive but have a deep care for the lake and the fish/fishermen can you quickly list what different things we can be doing to help the cause? I do not get to fish very often, but I keep up with what is going on and would like to make sure that when I do I'm helping to contribute to the greater good rather than contributing to the problem without knowing. Thanks for the efforts you guys put in helping keep SML a great destination. Cane - good question - and perhaps something we should "sticky" - but let me throw some thoughts out there and others can add to it.... - keep an angler log and turn it in to DGIF at end of each year - you can get a log-book from DGIF or at the Striper Club meetings - also, I've posted a spreadsheet here in past threads that can be used and e-mailed to Dan Wilson. This angler log captures info on catch-rates which is useful in understanding the state of the fishery - fish head collection - when you do harvest a fish that is over 26", cutting off the head and getting it to Dan Wilson allows him to extract the oolith bone (one of the ear bones) to then age the fish. There used to be some public drop-off points - working to get those back out again. I'm not suggesting you kill a fish just to keep the head, but if you are going to harvest one to eat, then might as well fill your stomach as well as get some important info out of the fish as well. When turning in the head you need the date, your name, and length of fish included. - participating in creel survey - if approached by DGIF doing a creel survey, be willing to take a few moments to respond - if you ignore them then your "voice" as a striper fisher-person does not get counted and they assume less folks are fishing for striper - which will ultimate result in less resources allocated to the striper fishery over others. - responsible catch/release & selective harvest - striper do not release well in hot water - the larger the fish, the less likely they will survive a release in warmer water in summer months - limit your C&R during this time - catch a limit and call it a day. Smaller fish - maybe sub 4-5 lbs, caught quickly and caught from shallow water do have a better chance of release. Catching them from deep 40-50' in warmer water, will almost certainly result in killing them. Use sufficiently stout tackle to minimize the fight if you are going to C&R in warmer months (or really most months). Lots of reading on this topic in the threads. - get involved in helping DGIF & the Striper Club with stocking & gill netting - various projects that the Striper Club assist DGIF with in the spring (stocking) and then fall (gill netting) - its in our best interest to participate with them in these activities to help keep an eye out I'm sure there are others which I'm not thinking about right now - everyone else - feel free to add - we can combine the info and put into a sticky in the "how-to" section. |
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Post by Gotcha on Oct 14, 2014 3:08:21 GMT -5
Eat more white perch!!!!!! #1. More food/bait for stripes. #2. Keep them things from stealing my bait!!!
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cane
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Post by cane on Oct 18, 2014 13:44:30 GMT -5
Thanks for answering my questions! Have a great day everyone.
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Post by jrv on Dec 9, 2014 23:56:09 GMT -5
Numbers:
Hypothetically, 10 very good guides who catch 25 fish during their morning trip and half of them also have an evening trip and catch 10 during the summer and each keeps a mere 8 fish for their clients and out of the other 17 only halve survive. That's 16.5 fish per day per guide or 165 fish per day, or 1155 fish per week, which relates to about 5000 per month. Now we know there are far more than 10 very good fishermen fishing for stripers each day other than the 10 very good guides, which is vastly understated, there are another 100 fishermen taking 5 each week, or 500 per week or another 2150 per month. Now add it up and there are about 7000 fish per month going away based on the every conservative figures above
The point is the 78 caught in the creel nets are nothing, and the problem is simply the lake is over fished. Want to fix it? Install a 2 per person catch limit then you quit.
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Post by ridge runner on Dec 10, 2014 14:21:58 GMT -5
Everyone, I cannot fish as much as I like at SML. I have also never fished for stripers until 2 years ago. I do follow the boards and by far the most frequent issues are the declining fish population, fish mortality, bitching because someone keeps a citation fish etc.
If this is such a huge issue, why don't we just outlaw the use of live bait or as a compromise limit the number of active rods being used. On more than one occasion I have not been able to get into the cove where I live because a boat has 8-10 lines out. down lines, light lines, planer boards everywhere.
Just a out of the box recommendation. Alright I have my armor on so begin tossing arrows at me.
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Post by yellowdog on Dec 11, 2014 8:54:40 GMT -5
I would like to say thanks to guys like Mike and Tyler who get involved in the issues relating to the fishery at SML. It takes a lot of time and effort to make your voice heard in todays fishery management decisions. Sounds like they have a good relationship with Dan which always helps. I fished the lake in the "good old days" when Sutton Spoons were the rage trolling and Cedar Key was where the fish went to false spawn. Spent many a nite in Cedar Key chasing the big fish. Not as much pressure back then and no place like this to share info. Count ourselves lucky to have guys like them looking out for the future.
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Post by jrv on Dec 14, 2014 17:26:52 GMT -5
10-4 on your post Yellowdog,I'm sure it involves quite a commitment to keep up the forum not to mention the research to produce the up to date regulations and the informative info.
Keep up the good work,I appreciate it.
JRV
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Post by mwardncsu on Dec 30, 2014 14:57:50 GMT -5
Just bumping this to the top - along with a link to the overall regulation set for 2015 www.dgif.virginia.gov/fishing/regulations/Reminder the Striper slot rules change on Jan 1. "On Smith Mountain Lake and its tributaries, no striped bass 30-40 inches from Nov. 1 - May 31." |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 30, 2014 18:52:29 GMT -5
So MWard. Why is it I feel it necessary for me now to keep fish 26-30? It almost seems that if I throw back a 28, then I'm not helping "thin the herd" for the big boys. Not sure how to feel on this.
I figure your response to be "just fish the way you always fish and throw back whatever you want." But.... Maybe we should "thin the herd"?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 30, 2014 22:38:10 GMT -5
Yam, just keep fishing the way you have been........I'll take care of thinning the herd.  |
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Post by mwardncsu on Dec 30, 2014 22:49:08 GMT -5
Yam, just keep fishing the way you have been........I'll take care of thinning the heard. The only thing I'm concerned about thinning in 2015 is my waistline. And trying to figure out how to avoid my thinning (and greying) hair..... |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2014 9:04:51 GMT -5
Yam, just keep fishing the way you have been........I'll take care of thinning the heard. The only thing I'm concerned about thinning in 2015 is my waistline. And trying to figure out how to avoid my thinning (and greying) hair..... Waistline? Throw a heavier net into water with no bait until you get a tank full. Hair? Shave or get a wig. I think the wig option would be awesome. Get one that won't blow off when you are on plane. |
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