New Regs to Be Proposed Today

At one time the MDWFP had fisheries that were for maintaining the fish populations in lakes and state waters. There was one in Meridian,Ms. and they closed it a few years ago as a department cut back. I don't know why they should be cutting back as they are more people buying licenses now than ever. Most all of us by the sportsman version that's more expensive. Sounds like there is a problem with too many bosses and not enough workers now days or the money being used wrong.. Why can't they(MDWFP) knowing x number of fish taken out x number need to be replaced with state owned and operated fisheries. They do this with fisheries up North for salmon and trout that I have seen on TV.

I dont see the problem with the 3 pole limit its been that way on grenada for a while.

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Originally Posted by Missouri Bushwhacker

So in a nutshell, there are only two new changes one is a 3 pole limit and the other is bumping Sardis back up to 12 inches correct?

Illinois has a 3 pole limit. Missouri actually has pole limits as well but spider riggers use the trotline regs to allow more poles by labeling their rods and not exceeding a 33 hook per man total. Won't be long before they take that away from us tho. This loophole is really dumb in my opinion but I too label my rods and take advantage and hope they never change.

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Grenada and Sardis are already 3 poles per person, the new reg would just make them all the same. I fish by myself a lot of the time and going for 5 to 3 sux, period. We started the MS Fisherman's Asso a couple of years ago when they changed Sardis, the poles WERE NOT in the intent and the folks that trolled had no problem with the new regs proposed, when the new regs were posted after the 30 day period the cut in the poles at Sardis was there. A lot of folks POed about it and it was backdoored. We, Jigflanger, Major, and myself, went before the Commission the next month but by then it was too late. since then I have been checking on the possability of new crappie regs every spring so we would not be caught off guard. Larry Pugh is the State Biologist and a stand up guy, along with Keith Mills, the biologist over the Big Four they make the proposals for the Big Four to the Commission.

Like Rees said once a new regulation is started it is hard to undo even if the fishing gets better and will even be imposed on the whole state's fishing waters (lakes and rivers)eventually. Was not many years ago that 50 crappie was the limit on crappie now 30 and some lakes (like those mentioned) less than that. So it is best to make sure we need these rules first before they become law. All fishermen need to band together where you fish 1 pole or x number as the worst thing is to be divided on this issue.

Biologists should make the decisions based on their observations of each lakes fish population's overall health. That being said, length limits and bag limits directly correlate with the biological management goals. Pole limits have nothing to do with the biology. Pole limits play more into personal sentiment. If the biologists say a 5 or 50 fish per person limit is whats needed to protect the resource, so be it. If a biologist says a 10" or 12" length limit will benefit the fish population most, so be it. BUT biologically speaking, there is no different effect on the population if I catch my 5 or 50 fish limit on 3 poles, 5 poles or 25 yoyos!!!

I go fishing to fish and enjoy myself,it's not a matter of how many fish I get to keep or how many poles I get to use.I don't keep a lot of fish to bring home anyway so as for me I'll take what ever they choose to do as long as the same rules apply to everyone.[guides,out of staters,and locals who know how to abuse our resources.

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Originally Posted by Speck

Biologists should make the decisions based on their observations of each lakes fish population's overall health. That being said, length limits and bag limits directly correlate with the biological management goals. Pole limits have nothing to do with the biology. Pole limits play more into personal sentiment. If the biologists say a 5 or 50 fish per person limit is whats needed to protect the resource, so be it. If a biologist says a 10" or 12" length limit will benefit the fish population most, so be it. BUT biologically speaking, there is no different effect on the population if I catch my 5 or 50 fish limit on 3 poles, 5 poles or 25 yoyos!!!

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Very well put my friend!

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Originally Posted by Speck

Biologists should make the decisions based on their observations of each lakes fish population's overall health. That being said, length limits and bag limits directly correlate with the biological management goals. Pole limits have nothing to do with the biology. Pole limits play more into personal sentiment. If the biologists say a 5 or 50 fish per person limit is whats needed to protect the resource, so be it. If a biologist says a 10" or 12" length limit will benefit the fish population most, so be it. BUT biologically speaking, there is no different effect on the population if I catch my 5 or 50 fish limit on 3 poles, 5 poles or 25 yoyos!!!

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Not necessarily disagreeing with you. I think the 15 might be a compromise so to speak. Thinking that they believe it should actually be less and limiting the poles might actually get it down to what they really think it should be. Seriously, if they say 5 or 10, how many people would drag out the boat, pay gas etc. set up 15 trolling poles for 5-10 fish--if they were really into it just for fish/food? I'm sure that would make plenty folks mad. Anybody on here saying they just like to fish and outdoors really shouldn't care outside of the fact they want the lakes managed so they can catch and have some fun.

i`ll say one thing,if its like the meeting i went to in tn people dont care about the population data or the biologest opinion.What the majority of the people there think is all they listen too,if all single polers where at the meeting there would probally be a pole limit in tn,but it was about half for and half against so there was no change.

One thing I can promise you there will be a lot more single polers there than trollers.