Thread: Article: The Live Bait Industry – What are they doing for the sport of Crappie Fishin

In your article you clearly state that: "let's show them that we don't need their product". That seems to indicate that you are calling for a boycott of the minnow farms. We have enough opposition now from the libs.
You should come over to some of the minnow farms and see for yourself just how many minnows they produce. In the millions. Pike and Musky fishermen/women still use large shiners. Also many places in Texas buy all the really large shiners they can get for trophy bass. And as mentioned earlier, the trophy bass hunters in Florida pay several dollars each for the 8-10 inch golden shiners. The farms sell shiners and tuffies in all sizes. The real small ones are sold all over the country as feeders for larger tropical fish. While a boycott of minnows by crappie fishermen/women would be somewhat problematic for the minnow farmers, it would not have a long term effect.

Originally Posted by BassCat21

I apologize for not being as clear in my article as i intended. I tried to make two points.
1. Tournament fishermen should not use live bait. It takes (in my opinion) the sport away.
2. The Live Bait Industry should promote the sport of crappie fishing.

I'm in no way trying to tell Crappie Fishermen what bait to use. If you're fishing for food or fun, use whatever you wish. Young kids should be introduced to crappie fishing in any manner their parents wish to use.

If we're going to enjoy this fantastic sport we need all the help we can get to keep it going. I'm so glad to get you thinking of it as a sport. I enjoyed the comments and opinions.

I'm not trying to bash anyone or any business big or small. I'm only suggesting that they put something back into the sport. They should be crappie.com's NUMBER 1 SUPPORTER.

Let me get this straight, your product cannot be used in this "Sport", buttt, I expect you to support this "Sport" with some of your profits. Is that about right?

Sir, your business acumen is severely flawed!

As for tournament fishing, anything beyond the local club having a friendly contest on local waters, I consider bad for the fish and the waters they are in.

Nothing I dread more than seeing a fleet of rigs that look like rolling billboards pull into town. The local waters are beat down, the fish population is subjected to extreme pressure
with a higher mortality rate than tournament folks let on, an very few of the people who actually supports the fishery (you know taxpayers and anglers who buy licenses and tackle which has hidden taxes
on it) receive anything from it other than a crock of dung from the local Chamber of Commerce about what a great event it was.

Tournament fishing as far as I am concerned is an exploitation of a resource that is not supported by those exploiting it. Please do not quote me numbers about positive economic impact, etc, etc. I know BS when I hear it.

If fishing is a sport, it is a competition between you and your quarry. As soon as you make it between two or more people it is no longer fishing.

I fish to enjoy the outdoors and challenge myself on occasion to sort out what I need to do to fool the fish. Most time I really do not care how many fish I catch, I do it to refresh my soul. Dang, getting all Izaak Walton on ya'.

I'm not a tournament crappie fisherman, I just enjoy catching pan fish. I must say I do get a lot of enjoyment from using soft plastics/artificial lures to catch them. Here is South Louisiana it's a little difficult to routinely get shiners but when I can I try to carry a few with me in the boat. Common sense tells you that OVERALL live bait is more natural than artificial. I think the article was a good one as everyone is entitled to their opinion and it does make you think.