New laws on KY and Barkley Lakes?

[acgriggs]

Hey guys. Hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Year. I have heard that KDFW was thinking of implenting a new law on KY and Barkley lakes that would close off the back of the major bays (Sledd, JC, Big Bear, Eddy Creek, Little River etc.) during the spawn. I have asked around can't verify it. Just wondering if anybody has heard about this.

[rnvinc]

found this at ky.gov look at item VII.

Ky Dept of Fish and Wildlife Calendar of Events

also found this at ky.gov look at item 6. H.


Ky Dept of Fish and Wildlife Calendar of Events

not sure what it all means yet...I can't find anything else

[CrappiePappy]

but, I don't think it'd go over real good with the local fishing business people. KDFWR has already dropped the daily creel limit to 20/person/day, while Tenn has kept their daily creel at 30/person/day. Placing the backs of major creeks & bays, off limits during the spawn, would only serve to push more people across the border ... IMHO.

Our one saving grace is that the KDFWR has "redefined" what a "Possession Limit" means. You can have a daily limit, times the number of people fishing, times the number of consecutive days spent fishing ... as long as no more than one days limit per person is in your possession/camp & not cleaned. Once cleaned, they are considered as the sum total of your possession limit, divided by the number of anglers and the number of days spent fishing. That's a bit more lenient than some states, especially Ala ... which has a possession limit of 2days limit catch per person, that can be transported across the state line, regardless of how many consecutive days you've fished.

The only reason I can think of, where putting spawning areas off limits would be of a benefit ... is that the KDFWR wouldn't have to consider stocking these lakes. With the economy being what it is, for now, however ... I don't see limiting the areas we can fish as being a positive venture. There may be few enough people that can afford to fish these lakes, without limiting where they can try their luck.

... cp

[Rowdy]

This is a meeting with the Leage of Ky Sportsmen, Is this a Private group?
Rowdy

[CrappiePappy]

This is a meeting with the Leage of Ky Sportsmen, Is this a Private group?
Rowdy

here's the only thing I could find that specifies what the League of KY Sportsmen organization is all about :

KY: Kentucky Dept Fish and Wildlife - History of the Department from Settlement Through 1944

And even that don't really explain who/what they are. All the websites I looked at, that seem to be a part of the League or refer to it, don't really tell what their job is or what their connection to KDFWR is. I'll try and research it a little further, and see what I can come up with.

... cp

[crappiemax]

I don't know about that Crappiepappy.

Last year before I went to Ky Lake, I sent an emailed the Ky DNR asking what the possesion limit was for Ky Lake and I explained I would be there a week, the reply was 20 per day and 40 in possesion. I didn't keep the email but they indicated specificly that lenght of stay did not matter, possesion was still 40. Can you direct me as to where your info came from? If it's in the reg's I'd like to send it to Ky DNR for clarification.

I haven't been to Bama in a few years but they used to have a "no more that 1 days limit" could cross the state line, did something change? I guess I can look it up. I kind of took 'bama off my trip list, I really didn't care if my possesion limit was one or 2 days or whatever. I do feel like it should be the same for me as the next fella (resisent). I'm only going to be there a few days per year and the locals can fish every week. In a year who has the potential to over harvest the most? Most states treat non residents the same as residents, I'll spend my money there.

[CrappiePappy]

it was Rowdy that gave me that info : see this thread -- http://www.crappie.com/crappie/main-...tml#post586157

I don't have a copy of the 2009 Fishing Regs, to look for the "interpretation" change ... but, I'll get one and check it out for myself. I looked thru my back issues of KY Game & Fish, but could not find the ruling that Rowdy refers to.

... cp

[crappiemax]

I'd sure like to see it in writing.

I think I'll send them another email, just to confirm their position. I'll post what I find out.
It probablbly won't happen today, but soon.

[crappiemax]

I just took this off the FAQ section of the Ky DNR web site. It clearly states "after 2 or more days". If a person keeps 15 fish per day and the limit is 20 and does this 3 times during his stay at the lake, he is five fish over his possesion limit.

How is the daily creel limit different than a possession limit?
The daily creel limit is the number of particular sport fish species you may keep in one day’s fishing. A possession limit is the maximum number of sport fish a person may hold in the field after two or more days of fishing.

[CrappiePappy]

still has the 2008 regs listed. If Rowdy's info is correct, and this doesn't take effect until Mar 09, it wouldn't be listed in the 08 regs.
The previous regs do state that you are only allowed a total of 2 days creel limit per person, as your possession limit, even if you fish for more than two days in a row. I think it was designed to limit "meat hogs" from carrying out hundreds of fish, from a single trip.

The daily creel limit is just that ... one day's limit, for one person. The possession limit is the total number of fish that you are allowed to have, in your possession, for the duration of your fishing trip ... regardless of how many days in a row that you fish.

IMHO -
The old possession limit rule was limiting people to shorter trips, especially if they were productive trips. With the decrease in creel limit, from 30/day/person to 20/day/person ... it further limits the total number of fish one can have in their "possession limit". At least it would ... if the old possession limit rule continues to stand. If this new ruling IS, in fact, valid ... then it would be more conducive to anglers spending more days on the water, and thereby spending more time at the local businesses. That would equal more $$ in the hands of the local businesses, as well as more $$ to the KDFWR (more licenses sold). It would also help offset the difference in the Tenn limit vs the new KY limit, and may keep more KY $$ in the state (as well as draw more out of state $$).
People are going to say ... well, if anglers can keep a daily limit, times the number of consecutive days spent fishing ... what's to keep them from staying a week and taking home 140 fish (each), and what will that do to the population ?? My answer to that would be ... they gotta catch that many, first !! And while it is "possible", for some, to do that .... it's highly improbable that the majority of anglers will .... so it evens itself out. And if people think they can keep a daily limit x's the number of days spent, then they're more likely to make longer stays (& spend more $$). The daily creel reduction "may have been" done with that in mind ... considering that the old possession limit meant 60 fish/person over a 2 day stay, the reduction would mean a 3 day stay to get the same number of fish (60). Then, considering that alot of people may not want to come and fish where the daily limit was reduced, and the possession limit was 2 days creel .... the ruling was made to allow the possession limit to equal a daily creel limit times the total number of consecutive days spent fishing. That would create a more promising outlook, in the minds of those who might have second thoughts about making the trip, in the first place, because of the tighter limit restrictions.

I'm just guessing about all of this, of course ... and just stating my opinion. Unless, or until, the ruling is spelled out ... we'll all just have to speculate, and discuss our views.
Personally, I hope the regs on possession are addressed, and changed to this daily limit x's consecutive days interpretation.

... cp