Cullin on Boom Lake

Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers wrote:

snip
Can you imagine the furor and public outcry if a regulation was set in place
that allowed the general population to cull, providing they had a boat with
a functioning livewell?

Yeah, Wisconsinites are serious as a heart attack about their
fishing and hunting. If I were running tournaments in Wisconsin
I'd have to wonder if having preferential regs is worth the bad
PR it generates. I mean, just how onerous are the current regs
anyway ?

--
Ken Fortenberry

"Ken Fortenberry" wrote in message
m...
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers wrote:

snip
Can you imagine the furor and public outcry if a regulation was set in
place that allowed the general population to cull, providing they had a
boat with a functioning livewell?

Yeah, Wisconsinites are serious as a heart attack about their
fishing and hunting. If I were running tournaments in Wisconsin
I'd have to wonder if having preferential regs is worth the bad
PR it generates. I mean, just how onerous are the current regs
anyway ?

For other fish and game activities, sometimes you need a team of lawyers, a
nun and a supreme court justice to figure them out. Some of the walleye
bag/size limits, trout stream regs and deer hunting regs are confusing to
say the least.

For running a tournament? Personally, I don't think they're all that bad.
The only thing is "No Culling". That means you have to decide as soon as
you land the fish, is it going in the livewell or can I do better? It makes
it a head game and one of confidence in your abilities.

The main reason why they're (bass tourney directors) trying to get the
Culling regulation set aside for tournaments is to level the playing field
among the other states that do allow it. Wisconsin has some fantastic bass
fishing, only the rest of the country rarely hears about it because none of
the large events want to come to this state because their bag limits won't
be as big as they could be if allowed to cull.

Personally, to me it really doesn't matter one way or the other. Sure, it
would be nice to have the ability to do so, but so far, as Charles has
pointed out, it hasn't been an issue in the Northwoods Classic.
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods
http://www.herefishyfishy.com

Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers wrote:

For other fish and game activities, sometimes you need a team of lawyers, a
nun and a supreme court justice to figure them out.

The lawyers and the judge I can see, but what does the nun
do ? On second thought, never mind, I don't think I want to
know what the nun does. ;-)

Some of the walleye
bag/size limits, trout stream regs and deer hunting regs are confusing to
say the least.

The trout regs aren't that bad. DNR does a good job of
putting signs up at all the obvious access points and
there's really only 4 different sets of regs anyway.

--
Ken Fortenberry

"Ken Fortenberry" wrote in message
om...
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers wrote:
For other fish and game activities, sometimes you need a team of
lawyers, a nun and a supreme court justice to figure them out.

The lawyers and the judge I can see, but what does the nun
do ? On second thought, never mind, I don't think I want to
know what the nun does. ;-)

Some of the walleye bag/size limits, trout stream regs and deer hunting
regs are confusing to say the least.

The trout regs aren't that bad. DNR does a good job of
putting signs up at all the obvious access points and
there's really only 4 different sets of regs anyway.

I don't trout fish any longer, but I have some friends that do. I
constantly hear them complain about the regs, especially where the streams
change to Artificial Only. I guess some of the transition zones are "open
to interpretation" and not clearly defined. Again, I don't know from
personal experience, just what I've heard.
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods
http://www.herefishyfishy.com

Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers wrote:
"Ken Fortenberry" wrote:
The trout regs aren't that bad. DNR does a good job of
putting signs up at all the obvious access points and
there's really only 4 different sets of regs anyway.

I don't trout fish any longer, but I have some friends that do. I
constantly hear them complain about the regs, especially where the streams
change to Artificial Only. I guess some of the transition zones are "open
to interpretation" and not clearly defined. Again, I don't know from
personal experience, just what I've heard.

Ah, I wouldn't know anything about that aspect of it.
I use dry flies no matter where I'm fishing so I don't
really pay attention to where live bait is legal.

--
Ken Fortenberry

"Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers" wrote in
:

For running a tournament? Personally, I don't think they're all that
bad. The only thing is "No Culling". That means you have to decide as
soon as you land the fish, is it going in the livewell or can I do
better? It makes it a head game and one of confidence in your
abilities.

The fly fishing tourney of the ESPN outdoor games is entirely catch and
release. Each participant has a tournament monitor with him. When you
catch a fish, you decide on the spot whether its the one you plan to count.
If not, you release it. If yes, they measure it up, the fish is released,
and you're done fishing for the day.

FWIW, New Yorks regs on bass are changing, opening up the closed part of
the season to "catch and immediate release".

--
Scott
Reverse name to reply

On Mon, 14 Aug 2006 10:30:34 -0500, "Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers"
wrote:

Wisconsin has some fantastic bass
fishing, only the rest of the country rarely hears about it because none of
the large events want to come to this state because their bag limits won't
be as big as they could be if allowed to cull.

Personally, to me it really doesn't matter one way or the other. Sure, it
would be nice to have the ability to do so, but so far, as Charles has
pointed out, it hasn't been an issue in the Northwoods Classic.

Rather than bag limits not being as big...I would think that most
tournament fishermen wouldn't want to go there bc the rule could be
extremely frustrating to their fishing. How many mornings..have we
had...when we got a small early limit...and used the rest of the day
to improve our limit? That's a very important part of tournament
strategy that is taken away by this no-culling rule. Being able to
"better our catch" is a fundamental precept of fishing, IMO. This is
especially true since we're spending so much money and valuable time
in pursuing this sport.

I think others would say "Avoid Wisconsin" because many just want
to avoid the hassle of going to a state that has archaic rules/laws
like this "no-culling" rule in Wisconsin. If a state has 1 stupid
rule, it's likely to have a ton of them. Fishermen really want to be
warmly and welcomely greeted. Some states (Florida, Alabama,
Tennesee, Texas) do a good job of that and other states don't.
(Wisconsion, Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Michigan, etc.)

And the negative effect is probably more than you might think.
Not only are you losing tournaments and fishermen that wont go there
(and the millions of dolllars in economic boost from hotels, gas,
meals, tackle and a ton of other sales)...but the unfriendly state is
building up a reputation that will deter fishermen for many years to
come.

And it has been an issue in the Northwoods Classic...as its one
of the reasons (other than the fact I've got 2 small toddlers and the
high price of gas), I haven't made that trip yet...

--
Dwayne E. Cooper, Atty at Law
Indianapolis, IN
Email:
Web Page: http://www.cooperlegalservices.com
Personal Fishing Web Page: http://www.hoosierwebsites.com/OnTheWater
Dog Fishing: http://www.hoosierwebsites.com/onthe...fishing040.htm
1st Annual ROFB Classic Winner

Fishermen really want to be
warmly and welcomely greeted. Some states (Florida, Alabama,
Tennesee, Texas) do a good job of that and other states don't.
(Wisconsion, Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Michigan, etc.)


Dwayne, I live in Michigan and am new to bass fishing now that I have
entered my retirement years. What rules or regs in MI makes this an
unfriendly state to fishermen? With the auto industry on its last legs in
MI, it seems as though this state should be doing all it can to attract
recreators from outside the state.

On Mon, 14 Aug 2006 20:09:59 GMT, "johnval1"
wrote:

Fishermen really want to be
warmly and welcomely greeted. Some states (Florida, Alabama,
Tennesee, Texas) do a good job of that and other states don't.
(Wisconsion, Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Michigan, etc.)


Dwayne, I live in Michigan and am new to bass fishing now that I have
entered my retirement years. What rules or regs in MI makes this an
unfriendly state to fishermen? With the auto industry on its last legs in
MI, it seems as though this state should be doing all it can to attract
recreators from outside the state.

Hi John! The first thing that jumped out to me Michigan is
its limited bass fishing season...from the Saturday before Memorial
day to December 31st (on most waters) and from the 3rd Saturday in
June to December 31st (on St. Clair and Detroit River). For bass
fishermen, it's basically a great big "No Trespassing" sign on the
Welcome to Michigan sign.

Not only do I not agree with the need for a fishing season like
that, but I also believe it increases the social problems you folks
have (ie. more kids inside smoking pot/getting in trouble when they
could be on the water fishing, more husbands and wiives arguing when
the husband or wife could be on the water fishing,etc.). Now, a lotta
folks might laugh when they read the above...but the cold hard plain
truth of it is that increased recreational activities is good for the
social welfare of people. The more you limit the opportunities...the
more people will do other things which may not be as healthy for them.
If every neighborhood had a park nearby...and/or a fishing lake
nearby...I believe you'll find a lot happier neighborhood in the long
run. (less crime, less social disharmony, etc.)

BTW, I don't envy anyone who lives in cold, harsh environments
like Michigan all too often has. I endured it up there for 3 years
when I lived in Lansing, Michigan when I went to law school. Now I
did have the good fortune to fish the Grand river quite a bit as well
as different marsh ponds in central Michigan. And I was fortunate to
get my first taste of trout fishing up there. And the bass fishing
was often excellent on the Grand for smallmouth and largemouth when
the river wasn't out of control...

--
Dwayne E. Cooper, Atty at Law
Indianapolis, IN
Email:
Web Page: http://www.cooperlegalservices.com
Personal Fishing Web Page: http://www.hoosierwebsites.com/OnTheWater
Dog Fishing: http://www.hoosierwebsites.com/onthe...fishing040.htm
1st Annual ROFB Classic Winner

Hi John! The first thing that jumped out to me Michigan is
its limited bass fishing season...from the Saturday before Memorial
day to December 31st (on most waters) and from the 3rd Saturday in
June to December 31st (on St. Clair and Detroit River). For bass
fishermen, it's basically a great big "No Trespassing" sign on the
Welcome to Michigan sign.



Dwayne, I know the season starts late, but rashly assumed it was to protect
a late spawn due to the northerly clime. I would be more than happy to be
educated further on this issue. Meanwhile, I will contact the Fishing Gods
here in MI to find out the reason for such a late start. Good point you
made. By May, there are one heck of a lot of bass caught in other places
when it is illegal to do so here.

I had to smile at your (only slightly) tongue in cheek comments on the lack
of good fishing being at the root of social disorder. Short story: I was
in Gander Mountain a month ago to buy some frogs for fishing the weeds. A
young guy followed me up to the front of the store to talk fishing strategy
and effective use of the frogs. The kid was about 20 with multiple tattoos
and all the body piercings known to man. I am 57 and look like a former law
enforcement officer. Not exactly a marriage made in heaven, but we had a
delightful conversation. All made possible by a common interest in bass
fishing.

My wife told me she thought I would rather bass fish than anything else. I
told her she was wrong, I would rather bass fish with her than anything
else.