Thread: Grapevine

I agree Rees no fish equals no pressure. Catching 100 fish walking away with 5 equals no pressure. No body wants to waste time nor money and walk away with nothing. The 11" rule was put into place to appease the masses of the dollar. This year would be another good one but from the looks of it and last fall numbers I don't think so. If anyone knows when the next meeting is post it with time date and place. I will give my 2 cents on Sardis. Honestly what people say goes on deaf ears unless you got a envelope full of money to pass around at the table. Back to Rees point the fish will dictate the pressure. It's a gamble on rules and regs and angler head counts vs fish population. Need a magic wand I geuss.

Originally Posted by macpappy

I also wish there were known spawning areas on each lake that were no fishing zones during Srping. That would at least ensure a good hatch would happen.

If you quit catching so many all year rigging, there would be more that would hit the banks!!! See, that is the kind of statement that hurts fishermen !!

How about no spider rigging when the crappie are schooled up by the thousands!

See...we can go on and on...

Maybe I'm oversimplifying things. But Less Structure, Less Water, More Fishermen, More Poles, More Technology, Year around Fishing, more Striped bass. All equals less fish. About the only thing to help are cycles in bad weather that keep people off the lakes. And/or changes in regulations. There is nowhere close to the numbers of fish in Sardis as there used to be--regardless of size. Some of its natural change in the lakes and much of it human induced!!! Social media alone (like this website) has made it more popular and just about anyone can learn quickly how to fish just searching the computer. Crappie tournaments and the like. Commercialism and $$$$. All that used to be just for Bass Fishing. Not anymore. I read an article more money spent on crappie fishing now than Bass fishing. Bottom line, this is a debate that won't end. I'm happy to get off work a few weeks and be on the lake. Catching a few fish is a bonus. But one I'd prefer to keep!

Its the Weather! I don't remember the fishing ever being the same every year? I'm just a young pup. 52 Yrs. Young. And to me the fishing and the Weather go hand in hand. Thank goodness Crappie are so prolific. I agree sound management is the key. JMO

Originally Posted by hotrod1

I don't know who would complain about quality of fish at Sardis the last 2 years. I have fished sardis for about 15 years now and the last 2 have been the best by far in that span.

i agree!!!

I personally don't care for fish smaller then like 15" . Smaller crappie are just too much bother to me when I could harvest a much larger fish that would feed more with alot less work cleaning ......it's like chosing between a hamburger or a Rib eye steak IMHO

The solution is for everyone that has birthdays in odd number months to be issued a fishing license for odd numbered years and the people that have birthdays in even numbered months get a license for even years. I would suggest it be tried on a one year basis starting now since I was born in January and it is 2015.