I've actually dove into this subject with other DNR's of various states, and
the conclusion seems to be the same in case studies. Some are inconclusive
while others show no doubt to the result. While it seems that some(Bass)
inevitably return, a lot don't, and the ones that don't can in fact affect
the watershed.
It seems that a large single system has much better results with Bass
returning than a water system with channels and connected lakes, but even
then, some still do not return, but stay in the area of their release.

Most DNR's it seems agree that there's not enough evidence yet to conclude
to what degree it effects any one body of water, hence no laws to govern
this formally yet.

Josh, I am familiar with the Calumet River, and the little, and I've fished
that often for a few years, but now it's been a few years since I've been
there. Good Steelhead and salmon run there! Or it used to be anyway. It's
funny that I've never fished for Bass there, it just never really struck me
as a good Bass hole! Now that's interesting!

No matter what the cause of the decline of fishing anywhere, it's a bad
thing all the way around when a local hole gets ate up. But it would be
good knowledge to know whether it was the fishing pressure, as Dan
suggested, or the catch and release that were the culprit for the decline.
Either way, it has been negatively impacted by the tournament, it seems.

I'm not downing the tournament fishermen, (hell, I fish a local here and
there) but maybe some rethinking can be done to minimize the impact that it
might have on a particular watershed.

Personally, I would like to think I could take my kids to some of the same
fishing holes I've enjoyed over the years, and know there's still some nice
ones in there to catch. In a single large body of water, it's not as much
of an issue, but in connected body's, it COULD be.

Kindest regards,
And as always, Tight Lines,

Doug

57 Degree's and rising today! Not much ice left! yippee!!


"Dan, danl" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 10 Mar 2008 19:35:26 -0500, "Joshuall"
wrote:

Doug,

Interesting indeed. Here's a personal observation shared by a lot of
guys in this area. We used to fish a not so pretty place called the
Calumet
River which flows out of Lake Mich. Many years ago we caught limits and
double limits of 3, 4 & 5 lb. fish. Some feel and I tend to agree, that
after the Bass Masters Classic held here (and prob one of the worst in
history) that the fish never really returned to the river. Many were
released into lake Mich and subsequent tourneys did much of the same. I
dont' know if there's any truth to it all, but it seemed the pressure got
up
after that and the release site for several tourney's even went across the
border into Ind. The fishing in the river was never the same after that
big
event and it's subsequent spotlight on the river. Just a thought.

Ever give any thought to the fact that all the publicity brought out
many more people fishing for Bass including people that eat them?

Dan