Lake conway / yo-yo's / if this don't make you mad, then nothing will !!!!!!!

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I took this picture today on Lake Conway. Seen this several times in different locations around the lake. I simply despise yo-yo's, I really despise people who do not take care of the yo-yo's they put out. Not only were these yo-yo's not being taken care of, they were not properly marked as to who the owners were. I don't want to step on anyone's toes but I wish that they would outlaw the use of yo-yo's and limb lines in the state of Arkansas. The few bad people will eventually ruin it for everyone. I am a avid fisherman for both crappie and other species of fish, and I fish with a rod and reel, fishing and having success with a rod and reel requires a person to have skill and experience. Fishing with yo-yo's requires little to no skill. I do not see the sport in fishing with yo-yo's. I am sure this is going to upset some people. I just hope that it makes people mad for the right reason. If someone would start a petition to outlaw yo-yo's I would sign it for sure. I seriously thought about calling the game and fish commission about the yo-yo's however they did not have the proper identification on them so I ain't sure reporting them would have done any good, even if the AG&FC came out and cut them down they would not be able to issue a citation the owner because they were not marked with the proper identification, and if the AG&FC did remove them the person or persons who owned them would just buy more to replace them. What can we do as fisherman to help curb this problem with yo-yo's? I can't come up with but one solution and that is for the AG&FC to outlaw the use of yo-yo's. I also saw plenty of yo-yo's that were properly marked but there was no one around watching them. These yo-yo's are a serious problem for the fish and for other wildlife on the lake. I have seen ducks hung on unattended yo-yo's, and big cranes hung on them as well.

We have fished for and about every method within the law.Use to enjoy Yo-Yo's have a dozen never been used on the shelf.But wasting game fish as this pic shows should not happen!! Thanks for post and pic's maybe a step in the right direction!!!!

Aaammmmeeeennnn!


$hanes Tapatalk

There needs to be a law like there is on deer stands on public land. They should have to be picked up every 7 days or everyday and move so many yards, which would force people to move them. I don't think any law except banning them outright would do any good. Even then, game and fish would have to police the lake everyday which would never happen unless they hire more help and get out on the lake in a boat. I've never seen game and fish crusing around Lake Conway in boat. Personally, if they have no ID, I either sink them or if they are in good condition, I keep them. Same with limb lines. I fish the same place most of the time so I know what was where and how long it's been there. I ain't bought yo-yos or made limb lines in a while now.

That really stinks. I know some folks enjoy using them legally. But really how many need fish that bad? If you want this looked into go to the Arkansas Game and Fish Facebook page and comment.

If they ain't marked, I cut em down. That is a total waist of a resource.You are totally right.If used legally, I have no prob.,but this is a shame.Thanks for the wakeup call!

That sucks. But im afraid outlawing them would only hurt the ones that use them legally and would require enforcement. If they dont enforce the laws now...........anyway, I find it hard to believe that this even comes close to the over-harvesting done by pole fishermen on the lake. What you are proposing requires enforcement, why not push for a more attainable goal, enforcement of the laws that already exist? Enough complaints to the right people may get them moving? :dono


C.J.

If yo yo's were banned, how would that be enforced?
I don't fish with yo yo's and I don't like to see fish, ducks, turtles or anything else hanging on them when they are unattended.
I'll go back to the question of enforcement. If AGFC does not get on the water and police the yo yo's now, I don't think they would if they were banned. Enforcement will spend hours watching a duck hunter why not get on the lake and watch yo yo's?
I fish Old Town quite a bit and I see the same problem there with unattended yo yo's as well as people running too many , etc. unless the law has changed, 20 yo yo's per person and the person using them must be within sight or hearing of them from sunrise to sunset. That should be easy to enforce and should be. Who knows, the AGFC might even catch one if those folks that fly by you wide open and less than 100 feet from you (I see those no wake signs are all over lake Conway)
I'm not against a person using yo yo's but I think they should use them and abide by the rules.

Cut them and let them sink to bottom

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They nail a lot of people for yoyo violations on Conway. When you see one hanging like that there's often a truck with binoculars on one of the hilltops watching for the culprit. I know because my place is one of their favorite vantage points. NEVER take an unmarked, unattended yoyo and put it in your boat, no matter how new and shiny it is.

I understand your frustration, but you gotta realize something, there are 25 trotlines in Black River for every yo-yo on Conway, and lots of them are left for the fish to get hooked on and rot. I"ve seen it more times than one. There are hoop nets that get left for the fish to get trapped in and waste. There are people who catch 8 or nine crappie and decide that they wanna take a nap when they get home instead of cleaning them. There are folks who keep way over their limit only to throw them away after getting tired of cleaning em. What I"m getting at is that there are people who are gonna waste fish, and to single out the yo-yoers, (and I really ain't one) is unfair, because most folks are doing it legal. Its a shame, but lots of yo-yo's get lost and forgotten, and I'm gonna guess that was one, unless they were lined up down a row of trees.

Guru. Enforcement starts with us fishermen,,,in a situation like that, I would have cut everyone in site and let em sink. That starts to get expensive for the whoever hung them.

I fished them in the past and they are great to use with kids too. I have to problem with yo-yo fisherman. I understand your frustration. I see the same with deer season just the back strap taken from a deer. Doesn't mean we should shut down gun season!!! There are always gonna be the slobs in any sport. It is up to us to monitor them and help the game and fish by being an extra set of eyes and ears. The state is way to big for the amount of enforcement we have but that is what it is in every state and Officers are stretched thin. In my opinion you should have reported it because how are they gonna know a problem is occurring if they aren't there and nobody speaks up. I understand you are frustrated and venting. Doesn't matter what method we anyone uses to legally obtain fish as we are all sportsman and need to stay united!!

I say outlaw them Guru I'm with you a lot of these guys don't spend the hours on the water on Conway like we do and they don't understand. With that said the real problem is the game and fish they don't as much as come out on the lake. I have been fishing Conway since 94 and I've been checked one time that's the truth.
There is one more thing that I would like to add. We have a lot of hunters on this forum and I know some of you are aware of the rules. If you cut even a small limb in Bayou Meto duck hunting its a large fine. If in Camp Robinson you put a screw in step in a tree it's a fine, so why can you go out on Lake Conway and drive nails in live cypress trees to hang trot lines on, trim limbs up to put limb lines on or hang yo-yos on, and my favorite drive rebar in stumps to put these T hangers on so when they get tired of using them they stab a hole in your boat. I would like to have an answer from on of our game and fish guys. I do realize they are hard at work right now with the oil situation and I appreciate there efforts. Because this land is our land and I want my kids and your kids to be able to fish just like we have.

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Originally Posted by Cmj

That sucks. But im afraid outlawing them would only hurt the ones that use them legally and would require enforcement. If they dont enforce the laws now...........anyway, I find it hard to believe that this even comes close to the over-harvesting done by pole fishermen on the lake. What you are proposing requires enforcement, why not push for a more attainable goal, enforcement of the laws that already exist? Enough complaints to the right people may get them moving? :dono


C.J.

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If they would get out in a boat and police the lake, they will find some violations. They write some tickets and word spreads they are out on the lake checking now, then the people who are not abiding the law will either get their act together or get themselves a few tickets. Usually a few tickets get written and word of mouth takes care of the rest.

I don't have anything against yo yo'rs... I'm one of them, but I don't set them ans leave them either. The law is that you cant leave them during daylight hours but you can at night and thats the problem... if you had to run them 24 hrs a day it would cut back drastically on w waisted fish

I was out there learning some new areas of the lake and riding around when I wandered through the thick grove of cypress that is east of gold creek and I bet there were 30-40 in there...all unmarked. I won't say that it should be illegal bc I know a lot of people truly enjoy it, It's just not my cup if tea...I enjoy the fight of the fish or the disappearing of a bobber way too much.

I agree with all of you...
I hate yoyo's !
But, the folks that use them properly should not suffer...

Say they outlaw them... Then what?
If they don't enforce the laws now why would they then?

As Conway said... I have been checked once!

I would assume Mayflower is understaffed?
Maybe we should propose a new tax to staff more personnel!
Oh... I bet you all would vote against that ?

So... As others have said.. "I" am an enforcer..
I see a yoyo during daylight hours and see no boat.... I take it. I used to sink them but I see that causing a problem too, plus I have friends that love to yoyo responsibly!

As for skill...
I say the same about these so called "Skilled Spider Riggers"
And it causes an uproar...

The yo yo problem is not being enforced hardly at all. I see them hanging unattended at the lakes around Bald Knob and Augusta. The smaller oxbows are bombarded with yo yo's. I wonder too if these people are that hungry. Unattended limb lines hang from trees so thick at some lakes in the state making it hard for single pole jiggers to fish around the tree. I fish a lot and have all my life and I have never been checked for a license. Rarely see a game warden fishing. Not the case in duck season. It might open up a can of worms about other multiple pole fishing methods. But I would like to see a crack down on the yo yo's and limb lines.

Lake Erling is wrapped up with them and old trotlines.

I'd like to see them banned myself.

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Originally Posted by baldeagle

I'd like to see them banned myself.

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And then what?!?!?

What if these people still choose to use them?!?!?

A ban is not the answer...

Folks must be held accountable for their actions! That's what's wrong with our country!

Yes! A ban sounds great! I'll sign a petition right now!
But still... It would have to be inforced!

Well in Missouri there illegal and in Texas to, the lakes I've fished in Missouri have real good fishing, and the numbers are good to.
I've seen three draw downs at Conway and it looks awful all of the trot lines and limb lines and yo-yos that people leave behind. One of the main problems is for every one good yo-yoer you have three bad ones. Boys just drive around the lake and look at the houses if they won't clean up the trash out of there yards what makes you think they care about the lake. Don't take this the wrong way there are a lot of nice places on the lake and people that care about it.

Forgive my ignorance. My 15-20 minimum hours spent on the lake every week doesnt give me the right to have an opinion, im sure. My infinitesimal brain cant formulate an opinion about the millions of limblines that wrap around your pole while trying to fish a tree. Or the trot lines that hang up in your trolling motor every few minutes. Then there are the unattended yo-yos.....even a moronic rookie like myself can understand that the devices are not the problem, but the lack of enforcement. Just my opinion by the way.


C.J.

Joe, by your logic we shouldn't have any laws...

Just like gun control the Feds and local law enforcement must enforce the laws. I believe this is what joe and Cmj are implying. More laws will just hurt the legal guys as we loose another right. If you see a problem report it. If you see unlabeled yoyo's cut em down. If you see legal yoyo's and folks watching them tip your hat an roll on down the lake.

Better yet report the unlabeled yoyo's, request wardens to watch them, hope law enforcement tickets the individual responsible for putting out unlabeled yoyo's. If you cut em and put them in your boat your claiming them and if a warden shows up you will get the ticket. What do you think the illegal person would say if they were putting them in their boat when they finally checked them. Honestly officer these aren't labeled properly and I am a good citizen takin them down.

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Originally Posted by baldeagle

Joe, by your logic we shouldn't have any laws...

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Why make a new law ?
Why not enforce the ones we have?

Banning yoyos is not going to solve the problem if the law is not enforced...

I have a buddy that likes to go camp at Dix or Greens, take his boy and run yoyos all night. This is what they enjoy..
Spend all night by the fire running them every so often..
I'm sure he and others would have a few words to say...

The limb lines are a problem as well..
But... I like to limb line flatheads!
I set my hooks out for a couple of days and pick em up.. I have nice hooks and would hate for someone to steal them!! So I refuse to leave them long!

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Originally Posted by JigginPoleJoe

I agree with all of you...
I hate yoyo's !
But, the folks that use them properly should not suffer...

Say they outlaw them... Then what?
If they don't enforce the laws now why would they then?

As Conway said... I have been checked once!

I would assume Mayflower is understaffed?
Maybe we should propose a new tax to staff more personnel!
Oh... I bet you all would vote against that ?

So... As others have said.. "I" am an enforcer..
I see a yoyo during daylight hours and see no boat.... I take it. I used to sink them but I see that causing a problem too, plus I have friends that love to yoyo responsibly!

As for skill...
I say the same about these so called "Skilled Spider Riggers"
And it causes an uproar...

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I been checked bank fishing several times. Fishing from my boat, never been checked. Been checked at the boat launch during duck season, but never on the water. We have 3 game wardens in Faulkner county, that I know of. I don't think three is enough, personally.

More law enforcement on the water is not the answer. The only answer to this issue is banning limb lines and yo yo's. if they ban them then there should not be any yo yo laws to enforce. I called the game and fish today to report them and the dispatcher taking my report said that this is a ongoing issue and that they have had numerous calls about the yo-yo's on Conway. Do away with yo yo's, and make it a law that if a person is going to run limb lines and trotline then they buy a regular fishing license and also have to buy tags for each line they intend to put in the water at a cost of 5 dollars a tag. And on these tags that have to be purchased the proper identification be put on them at the time of purchase and require them to be attached to the lines.

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Originally Posted by Lkconwayguru

More law enforcement on the water is not the answer. The only answer to this issue is banning limb lines and yo yo's. if they ban them then there should not be any yo yo laws to enforce. I called the game and fish today to report them and the dispatcher taking my report said that this is a ongoing issue and that they have had numerous calls about the yo-yo's on Conway. Do away with yo yo's, and make it a law that if a person is going to run limb lines and trotline then they buy a regular fishing license and also have to buy tags for each line they intend to put in the water at a cost of 5 dollars a tag. And on these tags that have to be purchased the proper identification be put on them at the time of purchase and require them to be attached to the lines.

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Ok... And then I don't abide by these laws.....
Now what? Your going to slash my tires? Lol

Really...
You think they are going to enforce those laws?
What good is a law with no enforcement?

I am all for that proposal if that's what they choose to do.....thumbs up!!

But if there is no enforcement.... It ain't gona work!

Joe you have gotten to a good point, BAN THE YO YO'S and then there should be no law needing to be enforced. If the yo yo's are banned the only enforcement needed is making sure that they are not put out on any lakes in the state of arkansas. Like Conway stated earlier Missouri and Texas has banned them and they are having success, there will always be your outlaws that just refuse to abide by the law.

I get it... Ban em'...
But
Who's going to enforce that law?
Who's going to check limb lines for tags?
Who's going to "Stake Out" limb lines to catch the out laws?

I hear folks brag about having their wife come take their fish home so they can catch another limit...
Many days I could catch over my limit if I was a POS, I'm sure many many folks do...


We need more enforcement.. IMO.
I don't mind to be checked... I like Mr. Wallace...

Give it up JPJ, you are wasting your breath. Your point is an obvious one, but not to everyone.


C.J.

Ok I have been checked by the warden on Conway more times than I can count, and every time he has checked me he always had a pile of yo-yo's, limb lines, and trotlines in the bottom of his boat. This has not deterred the problem with the yo-yo's, limb lines and trotlines, me and Mr. Wallace have talk extensively about the yo yo's, limb lines and trotlines when he has checked me on the lake. Now I can speak up in defense of the game and fish because Mr. Wallace checked me at least a half dozen times last year on different occasion on Conway. I still stand firm about banning yo-yo's. Hey Joe did you know Wallace is retiring in the next couple of months.

I've been hearing that for the last couple of years yet he is still here! Lol

This is Beating a dead horse, no one likes any one else's fishing method is obvious on this site. Everybody has there way to fish and thats the only way. Bash every one else's way seems to be a trend.

Good points can be brought tonlight such as the nails and screws and tbars. I would agree that those are not healthy for the lake. Would be nice to see the use of cotton line or some biodegradable for the trot lines and yo-yo guys so if left they would rot away. Just another thought not to say leaving them is the right thing to do. Look how many people chunk fishing line out and it gets caught in our tm prop. Lets ban fishing line now!

Glad you finally called about the dead fish and yo-yo! That is what needs to happen to bring more attention to the area.

Stay united or we all fall as sportsman and quit beating each other up!!

I was going to leave this thread alone but I recieved a request to put my 2 cents in. So here is goes. I personally dont like yoyos and limb lines because they are a boating hazard for us when we are electrofishing the lake at night and because I have personally seen them abused way to much for my liking. As someone pointed out earlier, a few bad apples can ruin it for everyone and this is unfortunate. I personally do not have a problem with these fishing methods if the regulations that dictate their use are followed. From a biologist perspective, the number of crappie harvested by yoyos and limb lines pale in comparison to rod and reel. I dont have the report in front of me but I beleive that our crappie exploitation study concluded that 75% of the craapie that were harvested were caught with a rod and reel and only 10-15% were harvested with yoyos or limb lines. These numbers may be a little off, but the point is that from a biological perspective, rod and reel anglers have a greater impact on the population than yoyos and limblines. I, like many of you, remove unattended and unlabled yoyos while fishing or while working. I feel that it is my job and duty to do so as an angler of Lake Conway and as the biologist who looks after it. Everytime I do this I also report it to the wildlife officers in the county. I recommend you do the same thing. I beleive that the enforcement officers are aware of the problem. Like someone else pointed out there are three of them for the county and they are still spread thin at times. This is just a reality of the situation. Every other county that is in my district has the same issues.

If someone were to have strong enough feelings against yoyos and limblines, they could formaly propose that a regualtion be made that would ban this type of fishing method be made illegal. If someone wanted to send me an email ([email protected]) with this request I will pass it on to the appropriate people. However, be warned that this issue has people that feel strongly about it both ways and the commision is not in favor or limiting the publics choices when persuing fish and game. I can only pass on a proposed regualtion from the public. This does not ensure that the regualtion will be passed, it only means that it will be considered and debated within the fisheries division in the game and fish. The current reguation process has already began so, it wouldn't be until next spring that it would be brought up.

Matt Schroeder

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Originally Posted by Lkconwayguru

Ok I have been checked by the warden on Conway more times than I can count, and every time he has checked me he always had a pile of yo-yo's, limb lines, and trotlines in the bottom of his boat. This has not deterred the problem with the yo-yo's, limb lines and trotlines, me and Mr. Wallace have talk extensively about the yo yo's, limb lines and trotlines when he has checked me on the lake. Now I can speak up in defense of the game and fish because Mr. Wallace checked me at least a half dozen times last year on different occasion on Conway. I still stand firm about banning yo-yo's. Hey Joe did you know Wallace is retiring in the next couple of months.

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Last time I talked to him in January, he said he had like 3 months left. He may already be retired now and I haven't seem him lately.