Team9nine

I certainly agree with the overall benefits (good) that has come because of catch and release mentality. As I mentioned, I also know it is a tight rope and can see the danger of leaving too much to individual decision or in coming across as promoting an exception and that being taken incorrectly or out of context. After reviewing the principles, I'd honestly have to say I'd push for dropping the 2nd half of #2 and then adding #3 to it instead as below: 2. We strongly affirm the value of catch-and-release smallmouth bass fisheries and all practices that limit stress to fish during capture, handling and release. We appeal to all fishers to limit their impact on natural populations of smallmouth bass and other species to the point that those populations are safe, healthy and stable according to the best scientific information available. The joint wording of the two philosophies, especially after dropping the tailing of #2, seem very complimentary (yet not quite redundant) to the point of sitting together nicely on the same line item. This blending would still make the strong catch and release statement, while leaving the little "out" available to support a reg. like a slot limit (though not blatantly stated) under the "healthy and stable (population) according to the best scientific info available" clause. In our case, and probably only temporarily until a change in fish structure is seen, "best scientific info available" supports keeping a few sub-12's for a while on that particular waterway. -Brian

This brings up an interesting point/topic that actually is occurring over here in Indiana. I'm glad to see you post this Tim as this issue was the one "sticking point" I had, largely as to wording, and the ISA philosophies (#2 I believe) should we push toward adopting them on an Inter-Alliance basis. If Indiana were to move along adopting such philosophies at some point in it's growth, I'd probably argue for a slight rewording of that particular tenet myself. Anyway, it came up, albeit briefly, in a discussion over on the Indiana board, that being 'we' (INSA) are all for catch and release except in cases of when we are not - my opinion/comment in the discussion. One of the things we have been striving for in Indiana is more regulation, preferably tailored regulation, of smallmouth fisheries in the state. We recently got our wish with two specialized smallmouth regs applied to two specific flows. One was a "trophy fish" regulation on Sugar Cr., that being a 1 fish over 20" limit on anglers. This is opposed to the current 5 fish 12" statewide reg. on most rivers. The other reg. that went into effect was on an identified "dink factory", the Blue R. in southern Indiana. Almost zero 12" keepers identified in surveys and population estimates exceeding 400 SMB per mile in some stretches. Here they placed a slot limit in effect allowing you to still keep 5 bass, but only 2 can be over 15" while 3 may be under 12". No harvest of adults between 12" and 15" is allowed. The hope being to restructure the population back to something of a more normal balance. The cool dilemma being that we as a group shouldn't on one hand push for specialized SMB regs., and then with the other hand have a "policy" that counters or opposes implementing those exact regs. when we get them (a strictly catch and release mentality). So while we strongly promotoe C&R for SMB, and in this case would strongly promote the release of all SMB over 12" (in and over the slot), we have to also recognize that there will be situations, be they the rare exception, where C&R isn't the best answer for the health of our SMB fisheries. You might not ever have to deal with that situation in Illinois, but we are living it right now in Indiana. We have even tossed about the idea of a 'Blue R. Rodeo Roundup' to help promote the reg. and the concept by helping remove some of those sub-12's. It becomes a potentially interesting tight rope to walk. -Brian

Just a quick follow-up. Our first newsletter is done and has been sent out to Indiana Alliance members. Since we don't maintain an e-mail list, other than those of our paid members, anyone else who would like to see a copy can PM me their e-mail address and I'll send an electronic version out (.PDF) at the end of the week. -Brian

Very cool John! One blog entry down, hundreds more to go Are there any other ISA guys doing their own fishing blog? I've done one myself now (www.bigindianabass.com) for the past 15 months. It gets kind of addicting after a while. Easy to stay with it for the first couple months, then it seems like you go through a tough period of figuring out what to write as well as keeping it updated enough to keep people coming back. With winter almost done, the default fishing reports and observations make things a whole lot easier. -Brian

LMAO...at the bowlling ball comment. On the nutrient issue though, I was at a meeting last week and the word I was hearing is that EPA might be mandating nutrient criteria levels in our waterbodies like they currently do with e-coli as concerns impairment listing. Impairment listing then mandates a plan of action to correct or remediate by the states, so this could be interesting. I think it might be why Indiana IDEM is in the process of trying to drop PCB's and mercury as criteria for 303(d) listing in the state as we speak... -Brian

Nothing will be done to change any of this until the Federal Gov't. or the state of LA. sues the Great Lakes states over this. -Brian

Two quick edits: First, according to postings over on the TOSA board, Missouri has assumed some level of control over the National board and is presently doing some revamping of the site. However, that doesn't change the fact that their is no formal structure or recognized national group other than in name only, and would seem to be a big issue that would need to be worked out amongst various state alliances/entities. Second, the link provided is NOT the Indiana group. The Indiana group started as an off-shoot of that message board (only logical) and most all of our members hang out there, but our official stand-alone group site is www.iscconservation.org. It has always been an issue of confusion, but it is what it is at the moment. -Brian

I know I'll screw up the names and the spellings, but Tim Holschlag and Dan Johnson were both down in Indy last weekend for a fly fishing show. I got to speak with them briefly. According to Dan (both from Minnesota BTW), he was the original founder (or one of) of the Smallmouth Alliance and he told me there was NO National Alliance, though he definitely saw the need for such an organization. I don't know all the history behind the group, website and name, but that was his "update" as to current status. If that is the case, forming an "official" Regional Alliance here in the Midwest would seem to be the first step toward that ultimate goal. Once the region is formed and "staffed" and consisting of various state alliances, the next natural progression would be to start promoting other regions/states to develop and come on board using the framework we have established as a template. Numerous regional and national conferences (AFS/NALMS/APMS, etc.) we could be a part of (exhibit/sponsor/speak) at and spread the word quickly. Getting our own regional group together is obviously the first step in that direction. Mods, feel free to move this thread if deemed appropriate to a more appropriate forum. -Brian

I'll play... 1. LMB 2. SMB 3. Spot 4. Spot 5. LMB 6. SMB 7. SMB 8. LMB 9. SMB

A personal favorite topic of mine... I think almost all fishermen over estimate...just human nature. Here is my profile pic 'in large' with a pair of smallies I caught a year ago on the same trip. Want to guess their weight? These were 18"-19" fish from a local river. Left one (in the pic) went 2.89 and the right one went 2.78 pounds on certified scales. Also had a deformed (weird tail/spine anomaly) smallie that if he could have been "straightened" might have went 20" and he was only 2.97 on the certifieds.

Needless to say we're happy and hopeful over here. Thanks for the assistance on this one ISA! -Brian

Haven't tried the Fat Baby Craws yet, but here are two that I started throwing last year and both seemed to produce well. Both are from Poor Boys Baits. The little paddletail is an "Erie Darter Jr." and the craw is called "Craw Daddy" and measures 3" long. I rig the craw with a 1/0 or 2/0 Gamakatsu EWG Texas-rigged and usually use an 1/8-oz. weight. The darter can be drop-shotted in deeper holes or threaded onto a jighead and just popped along the bottom and drifted in the current. -BW

Hey, I resemble that remark!! Wish I could make the show, but we just got dug out from our 8.5" of freezing rain/snow/sleet mix and now they're calling for another 1-3" tonight and tomorrow. So I think I'll be staying in and prepping the new fly rod and reel this weekend. Mid 40's by next week plus our 10 day Indy Boat and Sport show starts tonight! All heading out to the fly show be safe...and post cool pics on the board if you come across anything worthy. -T9

I must admit, with a thread title of "Great News", I honestly expected to open up and read how you just saved a bunch of money on your car insurance LMAO... Seriously though, sounds like a cool deal. Unfortunately, no chance I'll make the show, but do you have a link or picture to see what one of these bugs look like? Good luck with sales, but be careful...I've known a couple guys who started making and selling a local bait like this before. Next thing you know, you sell a few, demand takes off and fishing time becomes non-existant. -BW

Good guess Steve The new rod is actually a St. Croix 8' 5-wt. It will take over bluegill/panfish duty on a regular basis and let me turn my only other rod (9' 6-wt Sage) into a full-time bass rod. Also picked up a really cool popper about the same size and coloration that I didn't picture. Can't wait to get some big bass slurping these down when things warm up. Up until a couple years ago, I was pretty much Indy area stuff other than tourney forays. Been to Freeman/Shafer a few times...good smallie reservoirs for our state. Just over 2 years ago I moved west into the Greencastle area, so I now have Big Walnut and Sugar within minutes. Wildcat is and has always been about an hour north of me. As you are probably already aware, Sugar Cr. was just granted special regulations to make it a trophy smallmouth creek. New limit is 1 fish, 20" on the entire stretch. Our group over here (ISC) along with some help from ISA (Thanks guys!) lobbied hard for that one. This rule was granted emergency status and is now in effect as we speak, and will soon be in the State's fishing guide. Also got a slot limit put on another creek, Blue R. down in Southern IN. We're working with DNR on another river for potential special regs, but are very satisfied with this initial step in the right direction for IN smallie fishing. -BW

Very timely topic for me. With the purchase of my new fly rod, I'm going to expand from nymphs and small bluegill poppers into larger bass bugs/flys this year. Was just in a fly shop last week when these guys caught my eye...had to have them I can't wait to try them out this year! -BW

And now for something completely different...but related to the original post Animated knots and stuff Way more knots and way better animations...a new favorite. -BW

Wow, you have to love a good science mystery/discussion! Here is another interesting paper related to the subject: Native and introduced populations of smallmouth bass differ Included on page 41 of the paper is a native range map for SMB from (Robbins, W. H., and H. R. MacCrimmon. 1974. The Blackbass in America and Overseas. Biomanagement and Research Enterprises, Sault Ste. Marie, ON Canada.). It pretty much matches the range map from this site: Discover Life In America though I don't see any crediting for the map to Robbins, et. al. I also have to admit that I haven't seen the L. Page map or details yet to compare to. This whole issue of fine lines between what is native, what is invasive and what is just natural expansion reminds me a lot of the spotted bass issue and their encroachment into many of the river and creek systems. And not that it matters any in this discussion, but I have been to Quetico a couple times , the first trip going back to the early 1980's...and the smallmouth bite was pretty good even back then. Currently the second greatest place I've been to as far as personal wilderness experience is concerned, behind my #1 pick, Alaska. -BW

Here's the dagger to the heart on the smallie question . Don't own the book mentioned (Canoe Country: An Embattled Wilderness; Minocqua, Wis., 1991), but might try and get my hands on it. Sounds like an interesting read... Sigurd F. Olson And here are a couple more interesting sites concerning the issue: General smallie intro article Lake Trout - SMB competition -BW

Here is the document you'll want to read: Quetico: Fisheries Stewardship Plan. Warning...this is a large file (4.3MB) so don't link in if you are not on a fast hookup. Anyway, according to this smallies were introduced into the Park in the 1940's and have now been around long enough to be considered naturalized. However, they would still like to manage with increased pressure on the smallmouth fishery. Other non-natives include black crappie, rainbow smelt, spiny water flea and rusty crayfish. Some of these are much more recent in terms of their introduction. A very interesting read if you've got the time (55 pages long). Quick edit: a link to one of my favorite blogs with a discussion on the invasive earthworm deal: Bootstrap Analysis And, I'm also a Palomar knot fan. Only knot I ever tie and been using it for decades now. Reason; one of the few knots that will not slip under pressure. -BW

--> QUOTE(jim b @ Jan 29 2007, 08:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I've been getting minnows from my local bait shop and have seen some weird looking fatheads... Next time you get some minnows take a look at the batch. I've found a brown, minnow looking fish, with spines on the back, I'm not sure what it is...I'm going to try and identify it, but has anyone else experienced the same thing? Just a guess but perhaps a stickleback? Stickleback Not unusual to get a "weird" minnow every once in a while, especially sticklebacks or other creek denizens. Happens frequently, especially if the local supplier seines from the creeks at all. Another good recommendation is once through fishing, never dump your minnows back into the water. Accidental bait bucket introductions are believed to be a very common source of unintended introductions. -BW

OK, I'll throw out two more myself. Cool animations, just click on the knot you want to see... Animated knots This second one is kind of sad, but what I found paricularly interesting was the testing that ensued showing that even in cable strand, knots can significantly reduce strength. Ever find a wind knot in your line and fish through it for a while because you didn't want to take the time to retie? Never again for me... knots decrease material strength -BW

Just an FYI while on the fly rod topic, I just bought my second outfit last night. Cabela's has a really good clearance sale going on at the moment. I was able to pick up a St. Croix Premier 8'0" 5-wt. rod (to go with my sports car ), a Cabela's Prestige fly reel and a spool of Prestige Plus floating flyline (WF-5) all for just $79.98, a total savings of $100.00 on the outfit. Not a fancy outfit but a great starting outfit from everything I've read and at a price that can't be beat! I'll be setting this one up for rivers and ponds and be using my 6-wt for lakes and LMB. -BW

That's a new one to me also. Looking forward to the source info for that one. In the meantime though, while on the subject of knots, I have a few links to some interesting pieces on them. Braided knot strength test article Very cool technical paper

LOL, I've got a 6 wt. .... and a truck!