Biggest threat to Trophy Catfishing

[flathunter]

I know alot of us here respect the Catfish and almost always practice catch and release...But with catfishing growing in leaps and bounds what to you consider the biggest threat to the future of the fishery?

[Doctor]

This is the first year that I have seen commercial fishing in the Ohio River during the winter!!!

It's in Indiana but they got the big hoop nets down in an area that I caught a lot of fish in prior years, they can clean out an area in a very short time, over the past couple of years they have been above Cinncinatii and have wiped out good Flathead areas in one season.

I realize that most of these fish go to paylakes, but I don't even want to get started on that topic,but I sure do enjoy catching the same fish over and over each year so that I can see the growth rate, I put a special mark on all fish over ten pounds that we catch for reference since your not allowed to tag fish in Ohio.

Doc

[Flatheadmaniac]

I personaly think its all a combination of the first 3..Anglers who dont practice either catch & release or atleast selective harvest can damage river stretches or smaller lakes.
I think those who choose to set bank lines, limb lines, jug lines, trotlines ,ect. should have to purchase a commercial fishing license since they are NOT anglers and are using other means in which to take fish..they can destroy a med/small river system fast.
As Doc said the big rivers get hit hard by comercial fishing(how they can put a FISHING label on this term is still a slap in the face to me!)..i think its SICK and i cant wait to see the day that its out lawed along with other means of catching and killing fish with out rod & reel.
Same goes for that bow fishing? How can they say thats "FISHING"?? its a very big kick in the pants to anglers like myself that catch & release, to even include that type of HUNTING in a fishing sub-forum ....that should be put in the hunting forums!!(this is not only MY opinion..its also the opinion of many other anglers in here ive talked too personally)
Heck next sub forum i guess we will see is SNAGGING? :rolleyes:

Geez Jack, this topics more like opening a 55 gal. drum of worms instead of just a can:eek: ;)

[flathunter]

Why do they allow commercial fishing for catcfish??????? You cant put a tag on a fish, you can only use two friggin lines at ones, However you can catch them by the ton if you buy a commercial license, STUPID:mad:

[flathunter]

You know it is Like Donnie Ponder said, If us as Catfishermen who love the Sport Do nothing, then nothing will be done...They took the Bull by The horns in Texas, got the Flathead protected as a gamefish..we could do the same if we banded together, and did something..But you know us, we wont we will stand by and watch till they are gone:(

[Flatheadmaniac]

"Why do they allow commercial fishing for catcfish??????? "
Cause its a buisness that deals in MONEY..you now they'll allow ANYTHING that makes money no matter what it destroys!

Yup only two rods & reels per angler, but hey it could be worse..Minn. only allows thier anglers to use ONE pole!!
BUT then again the anglers in Ky. and Indiana are allowed as many as they can use??hmmm..plus these states are the ones that allow comercial fishing too..sad that we have to use the same rivers as them idiots!PLUS states like Ky. allow SNAGGING too..guess catfish are the lowest form of fish to them?
But again some of our OHIO catfish brothers buy thier out-of-state licenses so they too can use as many poles as they can to increase thier odds of catching cats by 5-6 times..compare to those of us that are using only TWO on the same river!!
Ky. also allows the snagging of Paddlefish, and Ohio lists it as an ENDANGERD SPECIES...HMMMMMM?

If every state that used the Ohio River banned comerical fishing, and had the same exact regs....we would have a big boost in the top end size of big cats...and the numbers of these cats would big a TON bigger too.
Atleast W.Va. and Ohio agree on a lot of things and let thier anglers fish both sides of the river bank..KY. doesnt because they want the OHIO RIVER to be thiers and think we shouldnt be allowed to fish it..even though they are the ones helping to destroy it!!

Bad topic with me..
Scott

[mrfish/OH]

Those guys remove literally tons of fish from the system. They target the big fish too. Those are probably adding their genes to the pool when they spawn, and won't contribute once removed.
Limb lines I can't see a problem where I fish in the Ohio River. I don't like to see the trot lines. A big fish will roll & get alot of hooks inbedded in them so they aren't good for the commercial guys either. I've talked to a few commercial fisherman, all the ones I've met were real nice guys, just doing a job. I don't like it, and I think the states would be much better off making a trophy fishery bringing in tourist dollars & then I could become a full time guide !!
Multiple rods, that's been debated in a thread before. Who cares so long as the regs are followed ? If there's a 6 fish limit, why does it matter if someone uses 3 or 7 rods to catch them? I use up to 7 rods at times( KY license), I'm not in competition with anyone, I'm not trying to "take an advantage" over anyone. I compete with the fish. Can't use more than 2 rods alot of times anyway- depends on the conditions. Most guys wouldn't be able to run more than 3 rods as it's alot more work. You know what it takes for 2 rods, now triple that ! All my fish are C & R...
Most guys who claim to use 2 rods use more, they'll have 2 out & then use a 3rd for bait catching anyway ! I know I've done it myself trolling 2 rods, hit a school of WB breaking surface & I'll cast a spinner to them. Now the 2 rods are out of commision as the boat is stopped while casting.

[Wise1]

Heres my Opinion on the biggest threat to trophy catfish


MR Fishohio of course !!!!!, the slayer of 62 pound blues !! Heck he probably caught the biggest fish in the river LOL :D :D........................Just kidding.........I now you guys are refering to fish that die or are taken from the water.............

Heres a thought to ponder...........If a TROPHY fish is taken say, in a net, by a "commercial fisherman" and then Transported to a place like Catfishermans Paradise.........Is it still a Trophy fish when they let it go? I would say yes...even tho 90% of the guys on this site HATE paylakes LOL....these Commercial fisherman surely arent selling anything from the river as tablefare are they?.....So they must be "transplanting" them...........Im sure there is a Mortality rate for these transplanted fish too.........some bigguns are lost for sure........

Until I read this thread, I didnt know that guys trawled the Ohio for paylake fish..Interesting.

[MISFIT]

but someone else seemed to get off the topic anyway so i have to respond.Heck next sub forum i guess we will see is SNAGGING?to coin another phrase from the same post,the above quote is in my opinion, a "slap in in the face" to this site and the person who invited us here.steve put a forum on this site that has a lot of interest for lots of other people.he did the same when asked for this forum.i don't see anyone blasting him for the catfish forum,so how about we just stick to what's relevant,and not attack others,or slam this site.nuff said
:mad:

[Doctor]

I've seen a couple of different kinds down on the river, most were the hoop nets which are wire mesh, they have a crane built on the boat to lift them out of the water, they have several chambers in them so the cats are sorted by size, normally they have white jugs floating above them, I have also seen them use the orange barrels on the shoreline to mark them.

I have only seen the guys harvest during the daylight hours, the nets are always against the shoreline in deep enough water so that the net is fully submerged, maybe 6 foot of water or more.

The guys that do it are nice as I have met sevral, and like the others have said, it's a job good paying at that but you have to work hard to get them.

Larry and I observed them a couple of years ago above the New Richmond ramp, at the time I was not aware that the jugs were marking there nets, I assumed it was a drop off that somebody had marked so we were fishing it. fellows came along and asked us if we had caught any which we had and then asked us if we could pull or boat so they could get to the nets, felt kind of stupid I'm parked right on top of there spot, we moved back, these guys had a flatbottom boat that was better than 30 foot in length and over 10 foot wide, they tried pulling the net and was straining to do so so they grabbed the end of it, man there were some big Flats in that net, no wonder we weren't catching any flats, they had them all.

I've been trying for better than five years to get regulations set forth on catfish, Frank VanWinkle has been doing it almost his whole life, bottom line is there is major bucks in this business, and I don't have the backing or the dollars to put the regulations in place.

Doc

[Erie]

:) ~ 10 4 .. Bro Rick!

In the past I've tried to wade through the one-sided deep doo-doo on gfo for Cat info ~ Steve has Gratuitously provided a clean slate/forum that will hopefully go in the right direction!!!

I've read alot of good info on OS in the short time it has been on-line from highly respected Katfish, Doc & other CatMen that have open minds, true proven skills & methods to share .. let's hope it continues.

:)

PS .. even though I'm a old troller, Doc has provided me with some great recorder info in the past, along with info from him & others that I adapt to my brand of fishin' ..

[Wise1]

So the guys with the net full of flats was no doubt heading to the paylakes? sorry if thats a dumb question............

[Flatheadmaniac]

I'll take that one...
First Ohio Sportsman is the site right?..SPORTSMAN..correct?
Now this topic was meant to bring up whats the biggest threat to trophy catfish..right?
Ok then the biggest threat to ANY trophy fish is HUMANS!
Humans that catch and sell big cats to pay-lakes all over this state and others(comercial fishing).
Now another threat it the meathunters that run trotlines, limblines, ect all over the states rivers, streams and lakes..This topic is NOT only about the Ohio R.
Granted the bow hunting guys are only allowed to hunt "rough fish" but its still a senceless slaughter of "rough fish" that many anglers fish for, PLUS its a forage fish that MANY big flatheads feed on..a 50lb flathead can and does eat live fish up to 4-6lbs.
My point was there are MANY other anglers besides myself that agree that the "bowfishing" section should have been put over in the "hunting" as most of us practice catch & release or atleast
selective harvest and these guys kill for fun and dont use thier "kills" for anything wasting the fish!

Ray..yea im the first one to say im closed minded about a lot of fishing things, but thats just me...just because those other guys dont SPEAK of thier thoughts on these type of subjects doesnt mean they feel its "ok" to do..i speak my mind! So whats the point in bring up the past???

[Ðe§perado™]

I say commercial fishing for the pay lakes.;)

[MadCatter]

I voted for pollution, I know that everyone of you guys hate paylakes because they take out the big fish .. I myself feel that taking fish to put in paylakes is totally wrong, I also feel that pay lakes do some service to catfish in the fact that fisherman who.want cats for the table can go catch some farm raised catfish for the table, leaving the wild resourse alone ... That being said ... I always thought it was ILLEGAL to catch fish and sell them live in ohio ... Am I wrong here, that has always been my understanding, if it is illegal then we should start turning these people in, maybe even video taping the harvest and transport.... One thing that was not on the poll, which I feel has a detrimental effect on big cat populations is the dam systems on rivers. These dams in my opinion create nothing more than large lakes along a river system that makes it virtually impossibe for fish to move freely, I know some pass through but their movements are limited at best. Anyone that want to get a petition together to stop the sale of wild catfish to paylakes I will be more than happy to sign, I am going to read up on it and see if it is indeed legal.... I know they do it, but I can't believe its legal

[Flatheadmaniac]

It is illegal in Ohio..but it still goes on..states like Ky. are full of comercial fishing...its big business to them...so as it is in many other states all along the ole missisippi and misouri river systems.
I personally dont like the paylakes because some like the one located down rt 71 and rt 35 catch thier own cats for thier lake by trotlines..this way they dont BUY the fish from other comercial fisherman making the stocking of thier lakes legal!!
Also i dont see how any catman can say hes caught a trophy cat out of a pay-lake? That angler caught it out of its NATURAL enviroment and wouldnd stand a chance at finding, hooking and landing it where it originally came from(the river), like shooting fish in a barrel..so to speak!
A guy i work with grew up with the owner of catfishermans paradise..he told me the owner also runs trotlines and has a big holding pen on his land on the banks of the ohio r. and keeps his fish there. This guy has had some monster blue cats in his pay-lake before..a 112lb blue cat(thats of course dead now), another blue cat that was 100lbs, after being caught 7 times in two weeks, it died too!!
I hear he has a few flatheads over 70 lbs in there now!!
These fish are put in a 4 acre lake..nothing more than a mud hole..he has to run a fountain in the middle to create enough oxygen to keep the fish alive..i heard that if that lake was drawn down about 4 ft you could probably walk accrossed it on the backs of fish!!
Makes me sick!

[MadCatter]

I looked it up .... commerical fishing license for ohio is 72 bucks, 125 for indiana and you can sell live fish with these licences, that is sickening... Anyone that wants to form a little group of paylake fishermen to ... kinda ... catch and release back into the wild, I would join ... I know that it is technically stealing and against the law, but hey Greenpeace does it all the time:D :D I never thought it was legal .... Guess if you want to pay $72 you can basically do anything you want...:mad: :mad:

[Flatheadmaniac]

its a cheap price for them to pay to destroy our fishing resource isnt it?
makes me illl to even think about it.

[mrfish/OH]

I think they show how to snag flatheads on an In-Fisherman Video ?
Paddlefish might be endangered in OH, but they are plentiful in the OH river & so are bluecats.
The only way to catch paddlefish is in a net(commercial only) or snagging ( KY license) from the bank only. Highly regulated. Season is from Feb1 to May 10th. I've tried it, it's not easy at all. I have to give those guys credit for hard work to get a few paddlefish. IN limits it to 2 fish per day- no culling. In other words, the first 2 fish you catch, you HAVE to keep, and then you are done for the day also. If the game wardens checked all year like they do during snag season there would be no poaching of undersize & over limits. A few years ago I was checked twice by wardens on the land, and once by some who came in by boat. They are tagged in the bills, so they look for those to keep track of the populations.
I think it would be nice if paylakes had to raise their fish, or buy them from a farm and not take them from the wild & transplant them.
Paylakes make alot of money for the operators, etc. Don't think they will be going away anytime soon.
Flats, you got the facts wrong, KY allows all the rods you want, but IN allows only 3.
As for off-topic, I'll refrain, but I don't troll for catfish, I've caught alot of them while trolling for eyes. That was my referance to using more than 2 rods. I didn't know bowfishing was a threat to trophy catfishing :confused: :eek:

[flathunter]

I am going to say this and leave this topic alone...We could stop Comercial fishing for cats, we could make the flathead a gamefish...Bottom line is we wont do it...It would take us guys going straight to the dnr, straight to legislators, it would take alot of time and effort..They did it in Texas we could do it, but we wont...And I am just as much to blame as the next.........I cant stand reading stuff like this it makes me so mad..I am sorry I started the thread...TAKING WILD FISH, putting them in pay ponds is wrong no matter how you put it......If someone wants to run a paylake let them breed and raise there own giant fish..Or better yet Farm raised channel cats????????Dont steel them from us!!!! Arggggh:mad:

[mrfish/OH]

We share the same thoughts. Maybe we could shanghi someone with alot of money & days off to spearhead the movement......:confused:
Maybe someone could start a website just dedicated to that cause, then link it to all the catfishing & fishing sites in general. Get a ground swell going, get a writing campaign going to the DNR & legislators. Surely there must be a few lawyers or paralegals who could get something (a petition) drafted and submitted.
Seems like the tackle & boat manufacturers & fishing magazines would help back it too. It's their future livelyhood also. Hate to see in 10 more years people are talking about 20# fish like they are so rare & huge ! Even then, you have IN & KY to contend with on the Ohio River. ( commercial fishing)
I bet if properly managed, the Ohio River could become a huge draw for people to come from all over the country for big cats, just like Cumberland is for stripers, Erie is to walleyes, smallies. Similar to how Santee Cooper is known for their catfish.
Have a catch & release only on all fish over 20#( commercial fishing too) and you would see a big change quickly.

[mrfish/OH]

I'm pretty sure it's illegal everywhere, except if you have a commercial license. Then you can sell the fish where you are licensed. That's in OH, KY & IN. I could be wrong, but I don't think so. They just did a sting/bust in OH, and it was because the paylakes were buying fish & bait from guys without the commercial license.
I see alot of illegal harvestiing of skipjacks going to paylakes every spring too. I think there should be some regulations on those too. Maybe a 100 fish limit ?

[MadCatter]

I wouldn't know where to start either, a website would be a good start I think. I would love to see a catch and release for all trophy fish .. (fish over a certain size). I am with flathunter about not getting anything done, we are a minority and it would take some doing to get the lowely catfish some protection .. I do have one thought though ... The bluecat is protected in ohio is it not? Then there should already be some law on the books about buy/selling a protected animal without a permit even if they are not taken from ohio waters. Commerical fishing on the ohio river is big money and creates jobs so I don't know how far we would get ... I stil like the idea of an assult on some paylakes and set some cats free. Plus you add to the fact when we try to regulate catfish we are going to meet up with oppisiton from our own sportsman brothers that feel we are trying to take their sport away. I don't really know if there is an answer to the problem, we would need to back up our complaints with some facts, I have tried to look up some commercial fish numbers on the web ... I can't seem to find any, probably a closely guarded secret.. If anyone has any suggestions I would be willing to do what ever I can ....

[flathunter]

Mad Catter you crack me up with your assault on paylakes:D I can see some of us guys sneaking in with rods in hand trying to catch and free the cats:D :D :D :D ..Many years ago I used to fish paylakes, I could not catch a paylake cat if I tried:D


I have asked Donnie Ponder to comment on this he knows first hand how texas got it done!

[flathunter]

Another thing why is a commercial license so cheap??????


75 Bucks and you can net all the cats you want??? Here I go agin:mad:

[DonnieP]

Well, I don't know how I got dragged into this one BUT, i will say that ya'll are doing things backward! Here in Texas we raise the catfish to sell in farm ponds and leave the wild ones alone... Sure we have commercial fishermen BUT, they are governed closely, and can't keep flatheads.. Nets of any kind are illegal, only fish taken on trotlines are kept commercialy!

You guys gotta do this yourself, only you can get it done! A petition would be a good start, one letter don't mean crap but a few hundred names on a petition will. Go to your elected officials, thats what they are there for right...

The hoopnets and gillnets are the culprets, get rid of them and half the battle is done!

Next, make the flathead a gamefish and the rest will follow suit..

How long do you think the commercial nets would be allowed to take Black Bass? Why is the catfish not allowed the same respect? Bet you can't take crappie commercially either huh? Why not?

These are the things you need to ask your ELECTED OFFICIALS, who elected them? The commercial fishermen, not likely..

You don't have to stop all commercial fishing to solve this problem, you just need to stop the nets, stop the sellers to paylakes, and regulated trotlines, in that order, the nets are most important..

Let me give an example: Before nets were outlawed in Texas, it was almost impossible to catch a flathead over ten pounds at my favorite fishin spot.. Now after several years of no nets, there are plenty of big flatheads, enough that we can keep one now and then if we want without impacting the supply...

One net in one night can take more fish than ten anglers can in a month.....:eek:

If all else fails, at least try to get a slot limit on all catfish, under so big illegal, over so big illegal..

Well, I was asked, this is just my opinion!!!!!1

[Flatheadmaniac]

Your opinion is valued here a lot!

Well guys..the game is set before us..we know what we have to do, we know already it wont be easy..so who wants to play?

I know im not as big a catfish angler as some on this forum..but one things for sure...i can help spread the word through my many connections to pull others to join in the fight..so where do i sign??????????????????????????????????

[flathunter]

Well I think someone has to get a petition up, and we all have to sign it, and spread the word to get others to sign it...After we get all the signature we can someone must take it to a law maker???? Heck I will do that.....They dont commercial fish for flatheads on my watersI dont hardly ever fish the Ohio River..But I am willing to fight for the Ohio River guys all I can....So do we get a online petition, or a handwritten petition...Maybe a hand typed petition..email it to all on here who want to help, and we print it out and go from there???? Someone smarter than me will have to type it out and get the proper wording on it?????

[Flatheadmaniac]

Everyone knows i cant keep me mouth shut and keep my cool..plus i cant spell for crap!!!
But i tell ya ths much..if we get this thing rolling..i can help put a TON of signatures on that petition thats for sure!
I might be the #1 most hated catman on the net, but guys know me..and they know that i want to protect the fish as much as anyone else and i DONT lie..i shoot straight from the hip.

So let me know if you guys get a line on what type of petition we need and i'll start lining up signatures, if ANY other help is needed, please PM or E-mail me and i'll do all that i can!!!!

[DonnieP]

One of you guys has to have a friend or neighbor thats an attorney! If you're gonna do it, do it right, have an attorney make the petition so its all legal, this will get more attention than some thing thats just concocted on the net...

[Flatheadmaniac]

I'll make a few calls..i know a few that are!

[cwcarper]

We're talking about stopping (or limiting) commercial fishing on the Ohio River, right? The biggest problem I see (and this has already been mentioned) is that we aren't only dealing with Ohio, but the other states bordering the river. This complicates things, since it wouldn't do as much good to have Ohio restrictions when Kentucky would still allow commercial fishing. Need to put pressure on both states, which is a little tougher to do. Not sure how you would go about dealing with any of this either, but I'd be willing to help out in any way.

[MadCatter]

Getting anything done on commercial river fishing is going to be tough ... ohio has neighbors across the river that really don't care how we vote or what we think ..... They are going to do as they please regardless. If something is going to be done .. there first must be an agenda made up of exactly what we want, and what is practical. I personally think making size limit regulations is more practical, I don't think it is the best, but I think it is more likely to find support. You just can't go off halfcocked and try to get commercial fishing for catfish banned, its not going to happen .. there are too many economic pressures on politicans for them to act on the whim of a few hundered catfishermen.. Maybe we need to step back and look at what we want to do as a whole, run a poll or something, come up with an agenda, then get a petition started. .... Then we will have to get someone or some place to go so we can sign the petition .... I think petitions have to have an unbroken chain of circulation or something like that .. someone to swear that they were with it all the time and all signatures are in fact legitimate

[flathunter]

Probably to much to ask for, but if we got the catfish classified as a game fish, would not the other things fall into place?I dont think you can commercially fish for a game fish?

[DonnieP]

Game fish is good Jack! A good place to start but, The nets, you guys gotta remember, the nets are where you're fish are being slaughtered, you gotta get rid of the nets, a fish on a hook, even a trotline has a fighting chance but one in a hoopnet is doomed, get rid of the nets...

[mrfish/OH]

I just saw where they are writing the governor of SC trying to get the catfish protected at Santee Cooper also. They know they lost the big stripers there & want to begin to control the harvest of the big cats.
I think getting them classified as gamefish is the 1st priority for us, then impose a slot limit. That would need to be thought out, but maybe only 1 fish per day harvested between 15-25#. anything over 25# must be released.......probably have to be a length limit so anyone could measure a fish as scales vary.
There's a web site for petitions, but it seemed complicated to me.
I have to admit, it does frighten me to see the hoop nets going in this winter where I like to fish....:( :mad:
One of the arguments they are making at Santee Cooper is that once the fish are gone, it will really hurt all the towns there who cater to the fishing crowds drawn there. They are asking everyone to write their governor as it's a fishery that everyone, not just the residents use. We could have an entire industry built up on a great fishery. Catfish & stripers. A big tourist trade, tackle, marinas, guides, restaurants, etc.
I've argued for years the nets in the Ohio River is why there's never any stripers over 20# caught there. They get trapped & die in those nets. The smaller ones get thru, the big ones don't.
I still thing the manufacturers of tackle have a big interest in this. if there's no fish, who's going to need their tackle? Cabela's, BPS, they have $$ and lawyers who could get this thing rolling. Publish it in their adds, in their stores, etc.

[Flatheadmaniac]

This whole topic was to get rid of comerical fishing and get the flathead catfish on the game fish list to protect it!
We start talking about how to do it..try to get the ball rolling and heres how it ends....

Now i know this was'nt meant for the OPEN forum..but im really mad now, seems that there are so called catfish anglers who fish the ohio r. that wants this topic closed and to be forgotten.... they say leave the comerical fishing ALONE???? yup from guys who's waters and areas they fish being raped and pillaged..they want them comerical fisherman to continue!!!
I just dont get it at all:confused:
Well heres the deal...all the info. Jack and myself were gathering and lining up..just came to a screaching halt!
Hey i DONT fish the southern part of the Ohio r....they DONT comerical fish the local river i flathead fish, or the section of the Ohio r. i DO fish, if and when they do start comerical fishing these areas then WE wil do something about it (and you can bet we will!)...so you guys got it your way..we will not try to stop any of the wrong doings in your area..your on your own!!!

To think we were going to try to do GOOD for all the flathead anglers in the great state of OHIO!!

Jack has a relative thats a laywer and i contacted my brother who works with a TOP lawyer in ohio for his Arson investigating, i had already talked to Fishermans who was ready to back us and spread the word through all their contacts and other shop owners they know too!!!

I still might see what I can do to get the Flathead listed as a gamefish, NOT for those other anglers who want comerical fish left alone, but to insure that my boys and thier children will beable to enjoy the same great flathead catfishing that i have grown to love and is a passion on mine!

[MadCatter]

Where are you seeing people wanting to give up ... all I read is people saying they will help if they can:confused: :confused: In any battle you have to realize your strengths and weakness'. You just can't go bull rushing in and expect to get results, sooner or later you are going to meet some with facts that you are going to have to dispute with facts of your own ... We have to find a way to link the commercial fishing with a decline in population. We need a credible study on the Flathead showing the average age to reach a certain weight, to show just how long it takes to replace one of these fish. I am not backing down, I will support the effort in anyway I can. But there has to be a plan implemented and that is the first question a lawyer is going to ask is what do you want to see accomplished. Has anyone ever read how long it takes for an ohio river flathead to reach 20+ pounds ... cause I don't know ... I can guess but I don't know ... Does anyone know how many 20+fish are being taken out of the river each year ... I think flathunter is right .. first we have to get the Flathead some protection ... not only here but in Indiana and Kentucky. We need to contact some other people in these states that are trying to do the same in their state. I would like to see all commercially taken fish over a certain length or weight be released ... but that might be a double eged sword, because now the commercial guys will be taking 2 ten pounders instead of 1 20.. I don't have any answers, I am willing to help... I guess there are going to be pros and cons with any desicion made ... Flatheadmaniac ... I hear what you are saying, I know for a fact that you have access to many more catfishermen that most of us.. I am sure you have the support of everyone on this thread:D :D

[DavidWS10]

I believe that all catfish should be listed as game fish and that commerecial fishing, especially with nets, needs to be ended. I've only fished on the Ohio three times in the past year, but in my opinion, it is a fantastic fishery in need of protection from the commercial fishing industry. If we can get a petition going that would change the classification of all catfish to a game fish status and the elimination of commercial fishing, I'll sign it. Jack, Donnie and FM are right, we have to do something or we will all lose out in the long run. Let's not let this thing die. The Big 'O' is an important part of the whole Ohio fishing sport.

[Flatheadmaniac]

What im talking about is "behind the scence" here..not being posted in the open forum..sorry!

My reply was to the ones that sent the messages to a certain person whos trying to HELP...
David..you are very right...but have you guys noticed the POLL thats at the beginning of this thread lately?? two have voted that there is NO threat and catfish will be around forever...thats probably TRUE..catfish will be here long after many other species as they can adapt top many types of water and pollution levels..BUT were are talking TROPHY sized cats..not just cats in general.those wont be around forever if we just let MANY abuse the resource!

Im done with this thread.see ya!

[DavidWS10]

Flatheadmaniac, I realize that I have never met you personally, although I would like to, you don't strike me as being a person who would back-down from a challenge. I don't know what has been going on behind the scenes, but I don't believe this is a cause you, I or anyone else should abandon. I don't speak for anyone else but me, but I would greatly appreciate your input, advice and enthusiasm in this endeavor and in this thread.

[flathunter]

Ok guys what Scott is talking about is I sent him a pm..And I told him that I had gotten several Pm's and emails from River catmen wanting this topic left alone..Stating that commercial fishermen need to make a living also..So I said the heck with it, i dont fish the Ohio but I was wiling to help, but now I dont care let them take all the cats out, life will go on...Please dont get into an argument over this, I dont want to delete the thread:confused:

[DonnieP]

Hell no jack! You aint deletein this thread!!!!!!!!!!! You asked for my help on this endeavor and by golly you gonna carry it through this time, it aint gonna be like last time..........So your river friends don't want to see you finish, big deal, you can't be a popular fella and get something done at the same time, dont work that way!!!!!


I'm glad I aint got you guys negotiating with the north Koreans, Geeeez,.....

Now, forget this I can't do it cause ya ya don't like it crap and continue on with the petition..

If you drop the ball again this time, DON"T ASK FOR MY INPUT again, excuse my french but down here in TEXAS where the flatheads ARE protected, you fellas are lookin like a bunch of whiners and sissies, all but Flatheadmaniac anyway, looks like he needs to carry on....:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :confused:

[flathunter]

Donnie thanks for the words of encouragement, why dont ya move to Ohio....Check the other thread:D

[DavidWS10]

Donnie, fear not that this endeavor will die. The torch that was lit by both Jack and Scott will not be extinguished because they don't fish in the Ohio. Commercial fishing for the support of paylakes is abhorent to me and I will fight it. I don't care if commercial fishermen on the Ohio need to make a living. They can go get a real job. A great natural resource needs to be protected from their excesses. And if I have to go this alone, I will.

[MadCatter]

Flathunter ... I can't believe people are backing down on this issue already ... Commercial fishermen need jobs .. well I am sorry but I don't feel their job entitles them to take fish in a manner that harms the species and depletes the population of the very fish they depend on ... If the commerical fishing industry had any outlook toward future of the industy they would be in the fore front of the battle to protect the future of the fish they harvest.. I don't feel that paying $75 dollars for a license gives anyone any right to exploit a natural resourse that belongs to each and everyone of us.... I you feel something is wrong then you owe it to yourself as a SPORTSMAN to stand up and say something... Before I was disgusted in the commercial industry .... now, we have a chance to unite and attempt to get something done to protect this fish not only for ourselves but for every catfishermen from this point on ... DonnieP ... there is no reason to excuse your french .. you are right 100% .. I don't fish the river that often myself but I recognize a problem when I see it ... If these people back down from this issue now then they will get what they deserve.... There can be compromises made between commercial fisherman and sportsman .... But before any of that can happen the SPORTSMAN has to stand up and let it clearly be known that he/she represents the vast majority of the population and that a few people can not and will not be allow to ruin our resource for their own personal gain bottom line...... What they are doing is wrong ... everyone knows it ... now its time to put up or shut up .. Ask yourself .. which are you going to do ...

[flathunter]

You know if it was not for the great fish I am holding below, I might not be fishing anymore, yes they ARE worth fighting for!



http://www.thefishfinder.com/members/jack/50-lb2.jpg

[DonnieP]

So whats happening with this action fellas, IT DEAD IN THE WATER? Get all pumped up over nothing AGAIN?:mad:

[mrfish/OH]

It's moving right along.....check out the "Would you Donate & How much ?" thread. Thanks for asking. This will take time, there's a procedure. Not just alot of emotion & hollaring. Now that we've done that, it's down to the work. Where the rubber meets the road.

What were some of the things done in TX to get it changed there?

[DonnieP]

Mostly just sportsmen speaking out... The biggest thing to get it started was Yo-Yo's, Fishermen got tired of seeing Crappie and Channelcat hanging out of the water on these mechanisms! I remember articles being written in our local newspaper about these things and how cruel they were..

The rules really got changed when the TP&W dept. started having open hearings where sportsmen could add their input...Once you get an open dialog with someone that counts, the rest falls in place...

If your DNR has open meetings, get a group together with facts and attend the meetings... Once you get their attention, you can lay out what you want...You need to be able to show where your fishery is being harmed... In lue of this, try to force the DNR to conduct their own study...

In Texas, our Biologist conduct krill studies year round to determine how our fishery is doing, I have been interviewed numerous times in the past few years...

If your DNR is not doing studies, you should ask why..

Sorry I can't give better details but its been many years since our strict fishery rules came into play, its been 20 years since the TP&W outlawed snagging, another killer of big flatheads and Blues...

I have personally witnessed the disappearance of Paddlefish from my fishing waters, these were protected to late to save them,,They are being restocked but I think it is a lost cause mainly because of the special requirements for them to spawn have disappeared with the building of impoundments and dams..I'm afraid this species is gone for good here and I remember when they were a nuisance....

[atrkyhntr]

DonnieP

So whats happening with this action fellas, IT DEAD IN THE WATER? Get all pumped up over nothing AGAIN?

Take a look around.. we've been THERE and ARE doing THAT:

http://www.ohiosportsman.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=759

http://www.ohiosportsman.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=730

http://www.ohiosportsman.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=668

http://www.ohiosportsman.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=729

I have yet to see any useful information from your post that we, as a group, have not already mentioned to some degree...

We can and will except any information that will lead us to that promised land of restrictions on catfish and flatheads in particular... New info PLEASE not some jawing about topics we have already touched on... very counter productive :(

What we can use is any information you guys used to turn the tide down Texas way... Do you have old drafts of what you went to the elected officials with? Websites you used/are using? Things in those areas and others is and will help us get that much closer to our goal :D

UPDATE on our website template:
http://www.geocities.com/beardbuster2k/cats.htm

We could use some info there to fill in the blanks LOL ;)

[DonnieP]

Lighten up atrkyhntr
I was not aware of the other posts on this subject! I don't visit this forum much...From looking at the other threads, it looks like you guys got it going on!!!!

My comment was refering to events that took place on the GFO a few months ago and nothing ever came of it..

Hey, i live and fish in Texas, This is all behind us, you guys keep at em..:)

[atrkyhntr]

I'm pretty light only going around 160-165 LOL

I bet the growing season on cats down in Texas has to be 4-1 compared to ours ... WOW Warm weather = fast growing fish!!!

THANKS for the support ;)

[DonnieP]

I posed that question to one of our Biologist awhile back and according to his info the growth rate of northern flatheads compared to southern is about the same.. I guess while ours are running around looking for dinner and looseing weight, yours are dormant and conserving fat, anyway, he says that a ten year old flat here is about the same as a ten year old flat there, imagine that...

Think of it in terms of a Deer.. Whitetails up your way are twice the size of ours, whats up with that? Sure ours have big antlers because of the minerals in the ground but you would think warm weather, more to eat= bigger Deer but it don't work that way... Mother nature is kinda strange huh..:confused:

[atrkyhntr]

Well ain't that something LOL... I did read somewhere that fish have a faster growth rate in southern states... can't belive everything you read ;)
Now deer are another story... up north there are variables that can go into the equation... deer here in ohio for the most part are much bigger then deer in states that border our own... Something to do with deer managing maybe ?

[katfish]

I believe what Donnie is referring to is the Bergmann rule.

[atrkyhntr]

I believe what Donnie is referring to is the Bergmann rule


A scientific theory which states that the further away from the equator an animal lives, the larger in body it will be. This is true because in the colder climates away from the equator, an animal needs a larger body with less relative surface area to help it stay warm in winter. Conversely, smaller animals with a relatively larger surface area can dissipate body heat easier, helping them remain cool.

[DonnieP]

Sounds like a winner to me, thanks Robby.

[DavidWS10]

Donnie, in regards to the whitetail deer population, when I lived in Kingsville, Texas, I was fairly good friends with a biologist who worked on King Ranch. I asked him why the whitetail deer were so much smaller in Texas than in other states. He told me it was a competition problem. Meaning that whitetails were having to compete with other species for food and habitat, and that competition had more or less stunted the growth of the whitetail deer. He said that the Nellguye (sp) imported by the King Ranch and the Mule Deer population that was growing in West Texas were both over-powering the whitetail deer for both food and habitat. He also said that another problem with the whitetails in Texas is that at that time (back in the early 80's) were suffering from an over-population problem of their own. So... I don't know if this is still the case or not, but it certainly made sense to me back then, and still does if the same problems still exist.

Now, about the sizes of our respective catfish populations, looking at the state records for Southern states in comparison to Ohio records; Ohio's records are relatively old records while most of the Southern state's records have been established in recent years, and with the exception of the channel cats, the southern records are of larger fish. I can't explain that difference. Could it be the abundance of baitfish? I don't know. However, I do think that despite having some pretty good fisheries here in Ohio, the sizes of fish seem to be smaller in overall comparison.

But anyways, I'm starting to ramble.

[DonnieP]

David
Sounds pretty good but I see no competition for food between species here in east Texas where I live, there is plenty of food and no high overpopulation of Deer...The average size Deer here is much smaller than the Deer up north..I have hunted Texas whitetails for over fourty years and have witnessed over and under population with no effects on the average size... I know of several deer fenced empoundments that have been operating for several years with plenty of food and a close buck to doe ratio and the body size of these Deer are no bigger than the wild ones, so i would have to dissagree with your friend..

As for Catfish, Other than the Texas record, most of the records are pretty close in comparison...The world record being from Kansas kinda puts it midway...

[DavidWS10]

You definitely have a greater experience in the hunting in Texas. I only had a handful of years of hunting down there, and some of it also in East Texas (Anderson County - Palestine area to be exact). I'm wondering if maybe what my old friend was talking about pertained more to the south and west Texas areas.

Now, I'm not sure if you took a look at the dates the catfish records were established, but that is what I was partially basing my opinion on. Because Ohio considers the Blue Cat an endangered species, we have no record here. However, the flathead record in Texas is both larger and more recent. Yet the Channel record in Ohio, is both an older record, and larger than the Channel cat record in Texas. I guess what I'm saying is that because of the ages of the two records here in Ohio, the decline in trophy cats is readily apparent. At least to me, this is an easily visible indicator that we definitely have a problem here.

Donnie, seeing as how you are from the East Texas area I feel fairly confident in believing you are familiar with the Neches River between Jacksonville and Palestine. Here in Cincinnati I mostly fish the Great Miami River, a river very similar to the Neches in all aspects. Because of my experiences on the Neches I expect to be catching more and larger cats - both flatheads and channels. However, I don't catch as many, and with the exception of the one channel I caught this past Fall (approx. 22#), I haven't been catching as many nor as large as what I believe I should be. Now, the GMR doesn't receive any sort of commercial fishing pressure, so the decrease in what I expect to be catching is unexplainable. And by the way, I'm using proven techniques with baitfish that are native to the GMR. Got any ideas?

[DonnieP]

David
I wish I could help ya out but I don't fish the rivers much, I fish mostly below dams in the tailrace and whats left after the tailrace is gone (calm water)...I fish a couple of lakes like Monticello but not often...I do know that we have gotten off the subject of this thread and we might get chewed for it so I'm outta here...:eek:

[carpwarrior]

flatheadmaniac, first of all i am a cat man as well as a bow fisherman and this pole is about cats and not giving your cheap 2 cents worth of an opinion about bow fishing , due you relize that carp eat other fishes eggs? and do you relize that carp were put in to are water systems by the goverment, so you could look at bow fishing as doing the rest of the fishes a favor at spawn time that there fry has some what of a better chance to survive.
IT boils down to some opinions are like farts some smell and some are justs LOUD AIR:p

[mrfish/OH]

Don't you know ??Whitetails up your way are twice the size of ours, whats up with that
Haven't you heard the expression ?
EVERYTHING in OHIO is BIGGER ?!?!!:D

[atrkyhntr]

LMAO

GOOD ONE :D

[DonnieP]

Seems like I heard something like that before:D :p

[Erie]

"The biggest threat to the future of flatheads is water pollution and lack of understanding for this truly great predator. We are not focused on over zealous legal fishermen."



CATCH AND RELEASE

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Catch and release, selective harvest, or fish mongering often are the choices of the modern catfishermen. Some fishermen are blindly convinced that releasing all fish will guarantee flatheads forever. Others believe that some fish can be harvested for table fixings and some fish released to repopulate. And, there are those fishermen who keep every flathead they catch.

There are places that can withstand huge amounts of fishing pressure and not threaten the future of flatheads. However, there are other places that should have strict catch and release laws. Most states do not recognize flatheads as a true game fish, so they don't spend much time or money on flathead catfish habitat studies. The most important thing that the flathead enthusiast can do is to convince their local fish and game law makers that flatheads are important. By changing their perception of flathead catfish, they spend time and money on important research. This research will lead to an understanding of habitat requirements, feeding needs, understanding growth rates, improved cull limits, understanding what affects flathead populations, and improved flathead fishing regulations. These are only some of the benefits from research that will insure healthy flathead populations in the future.

Catch and release in some places is a good method for maintaining acceptable populations, however, there are situations where catch and release can lead to potentially terrible results. The predator nature of flatheads makes them a threat to game fish (bass, crappie, walleye, sunfishes, etc). When flathead populations get too large and game fish populations decline sharply, a local war against flatheads can be the result (http://www.wildlife.state.nc.us/pg11_CommInfoContacts/pg11d4h.htm) Often fish and game officials use electro-shocking and netting methods to eradicate the flatheads. When one of these situations occur, flatheads and catmen are the losers every time.
Selective harvest is our choice for maintaining good populations of flatheads in the lakes and rivers we fish. We love the flavor of flathead catfish fillets, so we are definitely going to skin some fish. Typically we don't skin any fish under 25 pounds, but we won't turn loose any badly hooked fish that won't survive. There are different opinions as to keeping small fish vs. keeping large fish for table fixings. Some catmen preach keep smaller fish for catfish dinners, and some, like us, keep the largest fish for cooking.

Fish mongering has occurred with catfish for decades. I once heard an old catman say "That river has so many flatheads in it that you can't catch enough fish to hurt the population." We don't promote fish mongering, however commercial fishing is a form of fish mongering. And, states that allow large cull limits and no length limits are promoting mongering.

The biggest threat to the future of flatheads is water pollution and lack of understanding for this truly great predator. We are not focused on over zealous legal fishermen. Instead, We are more focused on improved flathead fishing regulations, increased flathead habitat studies, and cleaning up our rivers!!

http://www.flatheadcat.com/stories9.htm

[flathunter]

You done it agin Erie, great post!

[atrkyhntr]

Nice post yes but nothing that has not been covered somewhere or to some degree in this ongoing thread.... ;)

[atrkyhntr]

BTTT

[george tinkham]

good post.if i keep a catfish its a small channel obout a pound.but i usually release all fish even bluegill.i have not kept or put on a stringer afish for about 10 yrs.i eat mrs. pauls or long johnsliver.or even red lobster.i have never foul mouthed a catfish since using circle hooks but in that case i give the fish away.one 4# bass i caught with a rubber worm(5/0 worm hook ),i give away an the guy went an got it mounted...heh heh heh

[DavidWS10]

This past weekend, I received our tax exempt paperwork back from my cousin who is a lawyer in Mississippi and it will be submitted to the appropriate agencies (state and federal) next Monday after my Eagle Creek camping trip with my friends and family.

After looking through all this legal mumbo-jumbo, I now understand why my cousin took so long to make sure it was right. Boy am I glad I'm got some legal eagles in my family.

[atrkyhntr]

GREAT NEWS David
We're on our way and well prepared too:D

THANKS from us all to your cousin :cool:

[george tinkham]

putting the word trophy in there does not help matteres eather

[atrkyhntr]

hmnmnmn point taken... We'll all need to talk about that one for sure...

[flathunter]

I thought evryome had given up, or forgot about this.

[atrkyhntr]

Finsih your website flathunter ;)

No we were just waiting for the non-profit papers to come in and be completed:D
Could say we're closer now then before:cool:

[atrkyhntr]

Sign-up PLEASE no matter where your from...They won't know anyway and it'll help a just cause:D
http://www.petitiononline.com/cat1fish/petition.html

Posted here incase someone misses the first post;)

[Jim Bream]

I am not a catfisherman. But I totally sympathize with there cause. I have never fished a pay lake, nor do I ever intend to.
Flathunter, someone with the testiculars has to band the catfishermen together. That could be you. I know it is going to take a lot of work, but is has to be done.
Commercial fishing reg's have been implemented for Lake Erie. Now it's time to put them in place for the Ohio River.

I signed the petition.
Make sure you contact your state rep's. and let them know how you feel. The time has come to act.

[Duffy]

I signed, too. And I agree with Jim, organization is key.

[CritterGitter]

It's good to see this thread come back. It would be great to see a LOT of the great guys that posted on it a few years ago come back as well.

CG

[bill dowler]

i know im not supose to stir crap up on here, but havent you guys ever tasted a catfish they are good.......i can understand putting some regulations on the ohio, but in some of the lakes, i disagree with the new limits, they just arent right

[atrkyhntr]

...pretty simple comment from someone who has not read this whole thread to become familiar with what we're talking about...

:rolleyes:

[jody]

catfish are good eatin. putting a daily limit on them is really a bad idea. saugeye fisherman cant get away from them because they are so over populated. if you do not take enough of them out of there there will never be any monsters. for example crappie, and bluegills they are stunted in growth be cause of over population. i love catfishin as much as the next person but putting a limit on them is crazy. and for all you die hard catfisherman should think about that.................... people will start catching them and throwing them in the weeds........................ if you cant go to senneca or peidmont and catch 30 to forty catfish in a day, you have had a bad day because the saugeye fisherman do... people who do catch big flathead catfish usauly sell them to the pay ponds............

[Redhunter1012]

I signed the petition too. I've never trophy fished for cats, But some of my fondest memories growing up are catching cats on the Maumee river with my dad. I think it's great you guys are fighting for this cause and I'm behind ya' all the way.

[jody]

i have catfished several places i have not seen one place were ther was not a good number of catfish so why put a limit on them

[jody]

any good recipes

[Redhunter1012]

What's wrong with specific regulations for different bodies of water?

[jody]

what was wrong with the way it was, ulimited limit.

[Redhunter1012]

Because it's human nature to be greedy. This thread was started because people are worried about the trophy aspect of these fish. And the fact that out of state commercial fisherman found a loophole to take our fish that the taxes on our licences help manage and sell them back to pay lakes in this state. Call me crazy, but it seems a lttle unfair to the fishermen that put forth the time and money to catch and release these trophy fish for some out of state commer. fisherman to make a buck off of.

[Redhunter1012]

Seems to me you might be a lttle angry that a few cats disrupt your day of fishing for saugeye.lol

[jody]

but that does not mean that they should put a limit on them in the lakes. the lakes that are stocked with saugeye are polluted with catfish, and imagine that they get stocked with catfish so why the limit

[jody]

a few no. but 30 of them yea. hell yea. i cant wait untill they get so over populatd and then the bass fisherman start haveing problems with them or better yet they get so thick they start stunting in growth. and them killin off every thing else

[Redhunter1012]

But regulate them where it is appropriate. Yhey do the same for Saugeye, Walleye, Bass, et. You could do it for catfish to protect them for overfishing the trophy fish, I think that's the main issue here.

[jody]

many of the lakes and rivers have a slot limit regulation, only keep certain sizes of diffrent fish. why wouldnt that work for catfish.. 20 ingh and bigger release un harmed and anything under 10 a day limit. it would not be worth the time and money to travel 60 miles to your favorite lake just for 4 catfish. i catfish for the to eat any more because they are good eating fish. if ther were not very good them why do tje dnr stock them every year.....

[Redhunter1012]

That's what I'm saying. Regulate them appropriately

[Jim Bream]

I agree with Redhunter.
Saugeye may be in abundance because they are not fished for commercially. Jody says he can catch 30 catfish a day at Piedmont? We need to hook up dude.
That is unless your counting 10 inchers.

[jody]

throw crankbaits for bass or saugeye, you cant get away from them....... if there should stiffer limit laws it should be on saugeye, something that can not reproduce..................................... cat fish in those lakes are as easy as bluegill.... lets hook up. any time..........................

[jody]

like i say i like catfishin as much as the next guy, but they do not need a limit on them. as far as trophy fish who would want to kill a fish over 20 pounds. especialy a flathead.... i can understand people getting ruflled about trapping or netting ...

[atrkyhntr]

I have a $1000.00 thats says Jody cannot catch 30 keeper flathead<---- catfish in a year let alone each time out... Like I said earlier read this whole post your replies/comments have nothing to do with what we are trying to do.... :confused:

[bill dowler]

hey atrkyhntr, we arent talking only about flathead catfish........ we are talking about all catfish........and jody is true, catfish are abundant ........... now if you want to talk about trophy flatheads.....we will take u on any time..... just let us know when u want to meet us at willow island or devola and we will be there.... we are not argueing with u guys about protecting trophy fish....we are argueing about the limits on the smaller fish...... get that throuygh your heads ...just because you want to protect the trophy fish doesnt mean that you cant keep a good mess of eaters..............:D :D :D :D :D :D :D

[bill dowler]

and just to let u guys know, i believe in your petition, i didnt sighn it though, the reason why? because if it would pass, they wouldnt do anything about size limits, they would only pass something reducing the limit less than what it allready is.....im sorry that some of you guys dont see it the way that i do..... but hey some of the fish that u guys use for bait, is the fish that i fish for.....and i know that is just asking for a smart remark, but before anybody says anything, if you want to fish for big cats in my area, as a challenge, let me know.... i know alot, and plenty of ol timers are willing to help me......:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

[WVcat]

I can not see how the ODNR can do any thing about the Ohio River when OHIO does not own the entire Ohio River. Ohio only owns part of the river. WV owns most of it.

I can fish 1 mile up any Channel in Ohio that connects to the Ohio River with any WV fishing license. and you guy can do the came thing in WV.

[atrkyhntr]

Not one of you have read this whole post... UNREAL then you talk like you know what we are trying to do...
We want the commercial fisherman banned from catching then selling live trophy catfish to paylakes that make a profit from our natural resource PERIOD... One way to do that is to protect them by limits and Wv Ky and Oh would profit from a greater fishery...
If we were talking about game farms takiing deer and turkey then more would become involved but since it is just catfish many think it is not worth the effort... Anyone who also thinks the fishing is as good as it ever has bee is wrong and needs re-educated...
Check out how Tenn has turned their trophy catfishing around then lets talk...

You guys want to start a thread on other catfish then have at it but do not try to change this post inot or about something it is not...

[Redhunter1012]

I understand what your saying. I couldn't agree with you more. It might take more than just Ohio to help this situation. It seems from what you guys are saying though that Kentucky would have no interest in stopping commercial overharvest of trophy flats.

[WVcat]

i have read your petation. i know what you are trying to do. you well need to get WV and Ky. into you petation. ohio will not be the only you will need to get that passed.

[atrkyhntr]

Yes you are correct but we need to walk before we run... It is easier to work on one state and get them on board before trying to convince the others... Wv has strong ties with Ohio and visa versa Ky will be the problem since it is their commercial fisherman who do the most damage. Thus if we get Ohio to stop allowing river caught catfish to be used at paylakes then Ky's commercial fisherman will be hurt enough to stop the slaughter...
By slaughter I mean huge trophy catfish caught over and over with no available food sources till they perish and are tossed away like yesterdays trash...

[bill dowler]

hey atrkyhntr, we know what your petition says, and i agree with it, but i just wanted people to see my point also........protecting trophy fish from com fishing is a good idea, but the odnr will probabally just tighten down on all fisherman instead.....now if they would just make it illegal for paylakes to use wild fish, it would solve the problem.....because its just not commercial fishing....we have see many a trophy cat taken at willow island by anglers that then sell the fish to a local pay pond.....thats not right either.......i know what you are trying to do and i agree..........but it would be a lot easier to just stop the paylakes from using wild fish...........

[atrkyhntr]

Originally posted by bill dowler
but it would be a lot easier to just stop the paylakes from using wild fish...........

thats where we're headed now... Baby steps 1st then we'll walk a little ;)

[CritterGitter]

Stopping the paylakes from using wild fish sounds great in principle, but it seems like that would be difficult to regulate?

CG

[bill dowler]

that could be easy to do, they could make the hatcheries use a certain tag in the fish

[jody]

the more you argue about this commercial fishin the worse it gonna be. the harder you fight the more paylakes are gonna pay people to catch trophy fish and sell them to them. but puttting the heat on them will hurt us in the long run.for example putting a limit on bluegills, or bullheads,yellow bellied catfish or other great cat baits.......

[205]

Regs, Regs, Regs! We need more Regs! Geesh:rolleyes:

[bill dowler]

lol:D

[atrkyhntr]

..funny stuff eh?

In this case more regs are needed... What if we were talking about game farms that allow hunting to trap deer or turkey to use for their profit only? That is what hap's to trophy catfish and that is what this is all about trophy catfish and to help keep and create a great fishery for same...

[jody]

i think 205 hAs a point regulate it why not, everything else is. fishin has to many politics anymore i say catch and release


in a pan full of oil!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!





what do you think of that 205 if i catch it i release it in a pan full of oil!!!!loolololololololo!!!!!!

[Jim Bream]

jody, just looked at your profile. Nothing there. Hmmmm.

[flathunter]

I have been catfishing for 30years, and I have released every fish I have ever caught...I would be all for a total catch and release fishery on catfish, and most other fish.

[bill dowler]

think about what you just said, catch and release all fish? what would you use for bait?:) guys its good what you are trying to do, but just watch how you do it, so it doesnt hurt the regular fisherman:cool:

[atrkyhntr]

I would be all for a total catch and release fishery on catfish, and most other fish.

Nobody said all fish and Jack was simply generalizing ;)
I know what you mean Bill :D

[jody]

just amagine all the deep hooked fish that died that you have c
caught.....


jim bream, you want to know my profile,its easy i lioke to hunt and fish daaaaaaaa like everybody else in this web site.................. i dont think it requires to much to figure that one out..

[atrkyhntr]

Originally posted by jody
just amagine all the deep hooked fish that died that you have c
caught.....


jim bream, you want to know my profile,its easy i lioke to hunt and fish daaaaaaaa like everybody else in this web site.................. i dont think it requires to much to figure that one out..

Anyone who knows anything about catfishing and catching/releasing them can tell you that you simply leave the hook intact, cut the line as near the eye as you can and release the fish unharmed and the hook will rust away leaving the fish to live and fight another day... If you can't add any dialog that is constructive to this thread why reply at all?

I will have a website up shortly that will help us all have many voices acting in harmony as one...

THANKS for all the positive feedback

[jody]

why do i reply, because i am a catfisherman. if my opoinion isnt good enough why is yours so golden?? your views are diffrent from mine on this subject because i believe that a person has the god given right to do what he wants in means with any catfish that he catches. i believe thta if i catch a catfish any size, and i want to keep it i will. if you got a problem with that then tough.

[atrkyhntr]

you have showed your whole cards 'nough said...:rolleyes: I'll stick to my statement...

Like I said fellows I'll have a website very soon for our commitment to trophy catfish and their protection...

[atrkyhntr]

Hey Jack do you remember what domain name we choose to use for the website?

[flathunter]

Clyde, is this what you are talking about?

http://www.geocities.com/beardbuster2k/cats.htm

[flathunter]

Jody, I hope that in the future your right to keep any catfish you catch is taken away from you..And if you dont like that, TOUGH!

[atrkyhntr]

I was meaning as an example...
catfish.com
catfishanglers.com
I just can't recall man that braincell must have died LOL

[WVcat]

We all have our opinion on how we should do things, but they might not all be right.



i just stick with my kind of fishing http://www.dc.state.fl.us/pub/compass/0309/images/Dynamite.gif

[Redhunter1012]

Just seems to me if it was up to Jody we would get rid of the DNR and have a field day out hunting and fishing. I'm sure jody and his outdoor companions would have enough restraint to stop themselves from taking a few extra fish or just one more buck.

[atrkyhntr]

Hey Redhunter1012 nice profile signature:
Never leave the field empty handed, always take the experience

Maybe if we ignore him he'll go away ;)

[Redhunter1012]

Thanks atrkyhntr.

I like your sig. as well. Don't have any kids, but I have a couple nephews with a worthless dead beat dad that I take and educate as much as possible. I think I'll try your approach.

[jody]

i suppose you cant figure out what " within means" really means is keeping your legal amount. i hope your petition does not pass and if it doesnt it makes it easier on the cat fisherman who want to keep a mess of catfish.....the trophy catfish yea i can can see were you can gripe about but the channel cats that are stocked every year, those are stocked there for people who want to fish ffor and eat. so what are you guys fighting for the trophy fish or the stockers. if for the trophy fish fine put a slot limit on them 15 to 40 inches, but you got to leave a better possetion limit than 4 in a small lake. then i hope they get over populated and then there wont be any trophy fish and then what are you going to blame it on.......................

[jody]

i have never kept more than i could legaly. like 205 said reg,regs, why not make more. to please one you got to pi55 of another.
i understand you dont like my opinion but whats this website for?????????????/???/ if you dont like it TOUGH......... JUST BECAUSE YOU LIKE TO TROPHY FISH, DONT TRY TO HURT THE COMMON CATFISHERMAN THAT LIKE TO EAT THEM.... PAY MORE ATTETION TO THE OTHER TROPHY FISHERMAN WHO ARE HURTING YOU SO CALLED TROPHY FISHING THREAT............... ALL I KEEP ARE THE 8 TO 13 INCH CHANNELS THAT are stovked regularly.....
your trohy big fish are usually flatheads not no farn raised channelcat........................................ .....

[bill dowler]

hey guys i have seen a purpose in your petition before, but now, you just have got selfish, its not all about YOU, you guys need to think about what you are doing before you do it...........you really got me fired up now..... ive got plenty of dnr buddies that agree with what we have been saying, dont hurt the average man, hurt the pay lakes, and to think about it whats wrong with a pay lake where you can take a young angler and teach him, or her the basics, and they can catch a big fish............... whats wrong with that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! what if that is helping a young angler out? what do you say about that...... first i was sorta on your side, now you are getting crazzy for this................now i want another moderator on here besides the one before........ i was agreeing before, but now you have totally changed things...... me and jody, now all about catch and release, but when you all start wanting more laws, well do you want 4 15 inch cats, or would one 30 incher feed everybody better? i know what you are going to say, just keep what you can eat, but what happens when your grandparents cant go, you suppose to let them not have fish, the people that taught you........... sending a message to steve now!!!!!!!!!!:p :p

[bill dowler]

hey wvcat that gets them on the dinner table......lol:D :D :D :D

[atrkyhntr]

Go to the website template listed above and see what is being proposed... It is not about a slot limit or such but leans towards giving the trophy fish, like flatheads, a chance to survive in the wild and for everyones enjoyment... Paylakes can purchase their fish from fish farms or raise their own. I never said to close them down... It is in many peoples eyes wrong that paylakes can use a wild fish for profit. It is almost that simple Bill... I have had alot of catfishermen tell me how their section of the Ohio river has been almost cleaned out of what was once a great fishery by commercial fishermen who sell their catch to paylakes...
I think we should try to save them with regulations just like we have for deer or turkey or walleye or bass... I am sure you love to catfish and keeping eaters is always a reward from high quality fisheries... I am not against that either...

[bill dowler]

well once again i agree wiyh you, but you guys need to understand what i am saying, its not just the commercial fisherman that is selling them, that is why the regulations need to go on the paylakes not us the fisherman.... hope i havent pi 55ed anybody off, but i have just put my point of veiw down.....

[atrkyhntr]

I understand what your saying Bill... The proposal is well rounded and intended to help save our trophy catfish fishery with regulations that mirror those that have already helped other states...
Something along these lines:

Do Commercial Fishing Bans Help Catfish Anglers?

In 1992, the Missouri Department of Conservation banned commercial catfishing on the Missouri River. The ban was imposed out of concern that commercial anglers were catching too many big catfish. The department wanted to give recreational fishermen a better chance.

Since the ban, the catch of flathead, channel and blue catfish increased at most points on the river. The biggest change noted was in the number and size of flathead catfish. The harvest of flatheads had more than doubled at some sites by 1998, and the fish that anglers caught were longer.

Most anglers agreed the fishing had improved. In a Conservation Department survey, 87 percent of anglers knew about the commercial fishing ban, and 92 percent supported it. Of the anglers who fished the river prior to 1992, 77 percent said the angling had improved.

*******************
In Tenn ALL catfish greater than 34 inches must be released immediately statewide.

[Steve]

I think this thread has been beat to death and needs to be closed.