Saw SOmthing Yesterday That Fires Me Up!

[Wiskers]

Yesterday Big Willie and I went fish'n. As I came into the bay I hit something with my lower unit. I stopped and looked back and saw a float. Went over and asked a buddy of mine if it was what I thought it was. He confirmed my fear. A DARN GILL NET!

What in the heck is the KDFW doing letting nets in the bays this time of year???!!! They caught a guy out here a couple years back with illegal nets! Now I'm not saying these nets are illegal. I realize commercial fishermen work hard and have to make a living too but... It is absolute ignorance to allow nets in the bays this time of year!

I call KDFW and check on if the nets should be in there right then. They told me that there was a special netting season that ran thru Mar. 31st. I said "do you realize these bays are full of crappie and bass right now?" He told me "we don't make the laws we just enforce'um." Or something to that effect.

I just went to a meeting in feb. of 2009, that the KDFW put on, that addressed the declining crappie populations in Ky and Barkley Lakes. They just had an artical in the local paper about poor crappie seasons ahead.

Makes me wonder what kinda idiots we got run'n this show. They'll tell ya "Oh these nets have to be a size that won't hurt the crappie." "They have to release all game fish." I told them at the meeting about me going over to commercial fisherman pulling nets to warn him about jigs hung in his nets and seeing the bottum of his boat coverd up with BIG crappie a couple of years ago. I asked the guy if he was keeping crappie. He said "no we gotta throw them back." And then tossed 1 over the side. I said "You need to throw them back before they die!" Paul Rister asked if I reported it. I said "you darn right I did." Ask anybody that was at that meeting. They'll back me up.

BS!!!!!!!!!! They can say what they want to. I've been around nets all my life and I know what gets caught in'um and they don't live after they get caught!!!

We need to raise some hell about this! Those nets need to be out of the bays by the last of Feb at the latest.

Call or Email Paul Rister (Ky fishers Biologist) and raise hell! I did! If we don't speak up it will keep going on!

What in the Heck are they think'n?!!!

[JTMavs]

One of those nets tears up my motor and I'm not gonna take it too well! That's just a side point to your more important point of fish populations. Allowing nets at the busiest time of year when the sport species are moving into the bays is the most absurd thing I've heard! I'd say one way to get things started is to circulate petitions at the various marinas and resorts in the coming weeks. Then someone can take them to the KDFW. Just a thought. I'm from IL but would support your efforts any way I can!

[Wiskers]

Here's Paul Rister's email adress.

[email protected]

[Lykins tr21]

saw some guys pulling up a net in duncan today

[Wiskers]

saw some guys pulling up a net in duncan today

They're all over the darn lake!

[M R Dux]

I used to troll for sauger a lot on KY Lake. There was a bar just north of Blood River that was good but it had a hang-up that ate several of my baits over time. I thought it was a trotline since you could feel some give just before the line would break. I was in a sporting goods store in Murray one day and they had a display of a tangled gill net and over $600 worth of baits hung in it (this was when the average crankbait was less than 3 bucks). Seems somebody else had lost several baits to it so they took a chain and grappling hook and ripped the whole deal out of the lake.

I don't begrudge the commercial fishermen making a living but the late nets should not be allowed in bays.

[howferg]

I will send an e-mail ,and if there is anything else let me know .

[JTMavs]

I just sent my e-mail! Hope it helps.

[Kentucky Lake]

I wish they would stop people from keeping crappie,during the spring time.

Only on certain parts of KY Lake.

They should stop people from keeping crappie, in places like blood river, big sandy, and big bear bay. [B]During the spring spawn[/B]

But only during the months of march, april, and possibly early may.

That would allow the crappie to spawn, and lay their eggs, without getting caught.

Or maybe just make a length reguirement or something.

[chuckauten]

I am a little dense. Never have seen crappie on the menu of a resturant in KY. Where do the crappie go? Cat food.

Curious

Chuck