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| In preparation for an article, I have taken the time in the last few weeks to talk directly to a number of fishermen, DNR officials, bait shop owners and "industry" people and have found that the range of opinions, fairy tale and conspiracy theory type thinking I have run in to is beyond what I expected when this all started. I have also run in to people who said they had no idea about what I was talking about along with plenty of good information, high hopes and political rhetoric with a bit of finger pointing and buck passing. Posts made on another thread as to our DNR, how well we were informed and other points of importance are all good discussion. But, they are useless if the average fisherman doesn't know about or CARE about the new rules. AND, if the ones who are above average as far as knowledge, networking and time spent on the water think it's all a bunch of hooey or just like CWD, then we are all in trouble. It is important to NOT be outside the box on this one. I think it's important to be a part of the flock on the bait regs for now. At least until we know more. I mean, it's OK to gripe about it, but stick to the facts and support our DNR until we see what happens with VHS here.
Until then, join a club. Payne's Point Hook & Spear - $15 family membership and an invite to the free pig roast. Now that's positive karma.
Edited by Joel "Doc" Kunz 1/9/2008 7:15 PM
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Member
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Location: Lincoln Park, Mi | I have opinions on both sides.
What I do/did disagree with was the kneejerk reaction by, I believe it was the FDA???, not the DNR, to ban transportation via water of listed bait across imaginary boundaries on a single water system. For example, the Detroit River and other Great Lakes bodies of water. That has been rescinded here, but I personally believe the fiasco last year played a part in tournament site selection this year.
I am all for enforcement of Michigan's current regulations though. I personally saw many instances of unknowingly or deliberately risking uninfected inland waters. One example was when I went to a resort this summer about 20 miles inland from Lake Huron with many other small lakes in the area. My next door neighbors were jumping from Thunder Bay on Huron in the morning to an inland or 2 each day, including where we were staying and bringing back live fish and bait in the wells from Huron to non-infected waters. I mentioned VHS to them the first time they told me of their days activities and fish, and told them how serious it was. They chose to keep doing it. When I got home I e-mailed the resort with what I saw and said it might be a good idea to post VHS information for their own good, being on an enclosed 19,000 acre body, but I think they took offense and never heard anything back and still no postings. I'd be all for the DNR making it mandatory for businesses such as those to post VHS information or pass it out with more than just licenses. Maybe slip or boat rentals, boat launches, etc.
In my opinion, the risks are just too great right now to take it lightly. Many people shrug it off because of past "bad calls" by the DNR(even relating it to deer), but this problem has proven consequenses. At least the 10 biggest muskie I've ever seen in my life were floating down the Detroit River because of it. I've caught bass all this year that were or will be Master anglers next year that were infected, when I didn't catch a single one with it the year before. Good possibility most of those fish will be floating next year. I hope not, but I'd rather suck it up and deal with the hassle for a few years possibly, rather than wait 10+ years for those fish to be replaced in the system.
Edited by terroreyes 1/9/2008 8:11 PM
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| I was fishing on Lake Winnebago two days before they announced it was confirmed on the lake. It was a windy evening and we had to stay in the channel near Menasha. We must have seen at least 75 Sheephead slowly swimming tight circles or just flopping on the surface.
If these were Walleye or even worse Sturgeon, there would have been such an uproar you would still be hearing about it.
In my mind any "inconvience" it might put on me is the price I should be paying to maintain the fishing for myself and my children. I now carry a bleach solution bottle in my truck and some goes in my livewell and bilge area each time after I drain my livewell at the launch. We thought Zebra mussels were bad, this is much, much more devistating.
The walleye fishing is better now then when I began fishing with my father in the 70's, and I hope my son can say the same thing to his son one day. |
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| "In my mind any "inconvience" it might put on me is the price I should be paying to maintain the fishing for myself and my children."
......and my GRAND children, and their children. Well said Esky, that is exactly the spirit we need until we know more. |
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Location: Rhinelander | I won't argue with that, Doc. |
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| Why start another thread about the same topic?? |
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Location: Rhinelander | Because the first thread was kinda hijacked and turned away from the original points. |
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| Why, Or an avenue for people to single out others perhaps? |
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| A discusion on VHS getting highjacked by a discusion on VHS |
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Location: Winneconie | I dont know about you guys, but I am getting sick of dumping out 3 dollars worth of Milwaukee shinners everytime I go fishing. The Wisconsin Dnr has been messing things up for years. The deer population, wolfs in oshkosh, and now some mystery virus. I think they are in bed with the live bait companies. |
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Location: Fremont, Wisconsin | Joel "Doc" Kunz - 1/10/2008 12:06 PM
"In my mind any "inconvience" it might put on me is the price I should be paying to maintain the fishing for myself and my children."
......and my GRAND children, and their children. Well said Esky, that is exactly the spirit we need until we know more.
From Denny:
Guys, why is it that we need to "Be Inconvienienced" by some one elses wrong doings and subcumb to this? If you needed to sleep in a box in the street because someone threw a match in your home, and the cops said we will fix it, maybe, it will just take time, bear with us and just do what we say, can you tell me what would be spewing from your foaming mouth in rapid order? That is what should be spewing from our mouths at the salty's who, according to popular opinion, brought this virus to our lakes.
So Again, I will do what ever the DNR tells me to do, but being inconvienieced by some one elses blunder is the " Price I should be paying", is not the price I am willing to pay. It is something I AM BEING FORCED TO PAY, and ain't happy about it all. Shhhhh, if we don't rock the boat they won't know we are here? I call foul shot. I say class action suit so they can reimburse me for all the lost fish, cost of lost minnows and a settlement for my kids on the loss of entertainment.. I am sure there is a lawyer that will take the case.
Edited by stacker 1/11/2008 3:33 PM
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| I do not see the DNR in bed with the live bait companies. I know Greg from Oswald Fisheries and they are concerned of the laws because this will be putting many more small bait shops out of buisness which decreases the market for minnows. People are starting to buy the minnows in groups of 3 or 4 minnows now instead of dozens, depending on how many they think they will actually be putting on their hook. The cost of minnows is going to continue to rise which will worsen the situation.
One cannot overlook the possibility though. Food for thought, look at the industry side and take a look at what company has invested a lot of money into artificial baits lately. It may be no coincidence that Berkly has flooded the market latley with artificial baits. Many in the industry are starting to think that it may be one of the big three tackle manufactures pushing some of this. Money is the driving force in politics. |
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| Sorry guys, but I am not buying into another of these "conspiracy" themes.
This is a real and documented threat that has to be dealt with.
I do have a gripe about the bait destruction. The DNR apparently feels that sportsman are unworthy of trust and are unprincipled, and have determined that a ruling that would allow one to use the same bait on the same water day after day is unacceptable. The only way "they" can be sure the bait is not missused is to have it all destroyed. Desperate measures for desperate times. My speculations is 1. It is a waste of bait when it could be safely used on the same body of water day after day. 2. Those who don't care will use bait as they please anyway and not be concerned these rules.
Those who care will do their part, but the rest will carry on as they please and make the sacrifices of many mute.
I suggest a rule that reflects most will do the right thing and allow bait to be reused on the same systems. What danger can it do to Bago and Lake Mi? Its already there, what are we protecting?
It is simply a trust issue. If we can not trust folks to do the right thing, the battle is lost anyway.
Take care,
Jim O |
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Location: Appleton, WI | As an employee of a sports shop that sells bait, I have heard that "This just a ploy for you guys to sell us more bait".
Nothing can be further from the truth. If anything, I sell folks another minnow bucket. Divide your minnows in half. leave half in the truck. need them? good, go back and get them. don't need them? they were never on the water, so you got them for tomorrow, as long as you take care of them. |
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| Scenario:
Let's say I'm a littlte absent minded, a little high strung or maybe just a little excited about going fishing or seeing my buddies. I buy $15.00 worth on VHS tested Emerald Shiners. I have a couple of hours to fish the Wolf River during the spring run. I'm going to meet a couple of guys at the boat landing and get on the water. I arrive at the landing and am excited to see my friends and hearing about how good the Walleyes are biting. The guys help me unload my truck and put the gear in my boat. I back my boat down into the water and pull away to find a place to park. I park and head back to the landing to go fishing. One of the guys hollers, "Hey, don't forget the minnows." There, in the back of my truck sit $15.00 of Emerald Shiners. VHS tested Emerald Shiners. VHS free tested minnows that are going to be fished on VHS tested positive water. Hmmmm! Dump em? WHY? |
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| Have to watch that, if those minnows came within 4 feet of the shore you, by law, have to destroy them before pulling away with your truck. The DNR also states that destroying the minnows does not mean stepping on them, emptying the watter from your bucket is considered good enough.
They will be watching the walleye run very close, make sure you don't do that.
Steve K |
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