Thread: Need input

Originally Posted by mrdux

I guide on KY and Barkley Lakes in KY. I pay the state of KY $150 for a yearly guide license PLUS I have to buy a separate fishing license, guide license doesn't cover that. I have to carry guide insurance, essentially the same policy pro anglers carry. It covers damage/theft to my equipment, liability to cover my clients, all kinds of stuff about clean-up and pollution fees if my boat goes down and pollutes the water. Believe me when I say it's not cheap. It is painful.

Now the topper---since KY and Barkley Lakes are part of the inland waterways system, I have to be certified as a U.S.Coast Guard Captain. My license is called OUPV or "6 pack". It took me several months of bureaucracy and over $2000 in fees, schooling, testing, drug tests, eye tests, you name it to qualify to get the credentials. If I choose to guide without it, I'm subject to up to $25,000 fine and forfeiture of all my equipment (boat, tackle, truck at the ramp). Am I happy that I have to go thru this? No, but I see no way around it that I could deal with. The 6 pack is good for 5 years. I won't have to retest as long as I have a certain number of hours on the water each year (not a problem).All the other stuff has to be renewed.

I was not aware that MS didn't require a guide license. There may be other states that don't also. I never had to have a MO waterfowl guide license in all the years I guided/outfitted over there. I'm not going to throw my hat either way in this debate.

Carry on.

I

only input I will put in this post is pay a real close attention to mrdux post what is hi-lited in RED !!!! its the same in South Carolina but the fines are much higher !!! I think John (aka ReesGuide) said it best "be careful what ask for" !!!

Originally Posted by torch

You can spin it any way you want but where else can you profit from public resources

You can't guide a deer hunt on public land

You can't guide a duck hunt on public waters

All I'm saying is it needs some oversight


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What about navionics, lakemater, and other map companies? They are making money on public resources.

Originally Posted by bandchaser

As a out of state fisherman, and I love visiting down there as much as I can, Lake Washington is very much need of assistance. The quality has gone way down over the past 3 years for sure. The changes made last year were very much needed, but I agree with lowering the creel to 20. Possibly moving the minimum up to 12", but completely remove the option of keeping 5 short fish, period. Way too much wiggle room there for abuse.


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If it's like ky lake bad spawns can make you think you need mew regutions.Big fish run in cycles in on KY lake,biologist say drought years hurt the spawn more than anything,but on the bad years the locals act like the sky is falling,lol

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Originally Posted by blueball

If it's like ky lake bad spawns can make you think you need mew regutions.Big fish run in cycles in on KY lake,biologist say drought years hurt the spawn more than anything,but on the bad years the locals act like the sky is falling,lol

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Yep, same thing here on the big four except here the sky is always falling!!!!

The biggest thing that bumfuzzles me about this whole ordeal is the self imposing of more regulations on ones self. In my small business I'm required to have several different business license (being on the state-line and all), pay out the ying yang for liability insurance, workman's comp, auto/ trailer, safety training, drug test etc. Funny thing is if something MAJOR ever happens the insurance company probably will sue me, the one I'm paying huge premiums to. Insurance is a license to steal, period. A pencil pusher will eat this up, so sure the petition will be noticed, but hope logic prevails. Too dang many rules and regulations now, I believe in free enterprise, don't tread on me and the less government rules and regulations the better. Yep, if this go thru a guide will probably need to bring in $1,000 or so a trip just to cover overhead. True, it is a public resource, but the gubment is getting it's fair share already. They love the hype on the MS lakes, I would like to know what MDWFP grosses yearly on out of state license, not to be mention all the local owned baitshops, hotels, restaurants , etc. I agree with Rees also, be careful what you ask for. I wish you well in all your endeavors, you obviously feel strongly about this and hopefully we can see the petition after it's complete. Y'all have a good evening..

Originally Posted by Rees Guide

There's a catch 22 in the 5 under rule, if someone is satisfied to keep 5 under on a good day that 5 goes toward their 20 fish limit so they can only keep 15 over, aren't the bigger fish what we are trying to preserve? I think we are all caught up in trophy fish and are forgetting the sportsmanship and our responsibility of be good stuarts to the outdoors. If you need fish keep em if legal if you don't there is nothing wrong with catch and release. I have not put up any fish this spring, we have eaten fish a few times but I put mine up in the summer.

Rees, I agree with you.....mostly! But, think about it this way. Say, a fisherman keeps 5 unders, and let's say they are all 10". And the current minimum size is 11".
Now, those 5 unders, if you could not legally keep them, would be returned to the lake. These fish will and have a better opportunity to be in their prime longer than say legal size crappie. These age classes are the bulk of the lakes future population. If you continue to short live your future population, then eventually the overall population is going to decline.
With Lake Washington, this is sadly where we are at. I am not nor claim to be a biologist, but have had several lengthy conversations with our regions state biologist Paul Rister about the topic of increasing KY Lake and Lake Barkley size from 10 to 11". We don't have the growing season that Mississippi has, but we don't keep unders either. The key is balancing regulation with mortality, either natural or thru fishing, and having the wardens there to enforce.
I completely agree with protecting the resource, but it comes a moment in time where all people have to be held accountable including the states DNR. If they are not out doing their end of the bargain, it's not the position of the sportsman to carry on two-fold without being compensated.
Just an outside view looking in. And we all need to get back on the water before be explode this site up with bickering!!
Tight lines guys!!

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Just my opinion but if guide fees go threw the roof because of new regulations. What's that going to cost the small businesses in your community. How much will the state loose in tourism.Look at what an out of town guist spends food lodging gas and a lot more Something to think about.

Originally Posted by Rees Guide

Yep, same thing here on the big four except here the sky is always falling!!!!

And they want the regulations changed even if the creel data looks good,biologist reports.Thats what gets to me,if the biologist data shows we need change,make a change.If it dont leave it the way it is,just my opinion.And I will also say this,everyone has there own adjenda when it comes to regulations,let the ones hired do there job and change them as needed.We went from a 30 keeper a day to 20 cause everyone was crying they couldn't catch a fish last year,this year everyone has tore them up from what I hear