Feelings on selling to pay lakes?

[catcrazed]

Trust me guys, it takes alot more than getting on here and screaming about it, just like I have done, and many of you have as well. Talk is cheap, and the eyes and ears on the water are the best defense to these illegal practices. I made a couple calls, sent some emails, and the next thing you know I was on the highest powered AM frequency in this part of the country pleading our case, just imagine what would happen if hundreds, if not thousands of us did just what I did? We have to make our positions known on this fact, and it takes more than talking amongst ourselves, and a few outsiders to get anything accomplished. Help me take the next step guys, the fish can't defend themselves, we out number Legal netters, and illegal poachers by thousands...People have to get outside their comfort zones, or we'll never see anything done. Kentucky is the biggest problem guys, no limits on Catfish, that in itself is the reason the Paypond Commercial Fishing industry is taking off so much in our area, so if you want your first target, might as well make it the biggest one....KY DNR!

Okay everybody here is our chance!!! Travis, exactly who did you e-mail and can you provide phone numbers you called. I know you did all the home work but Ill launch some e-mails and bug some people on the phone. IF TRAVIS DOES IN FACT HELP US WITH THIS INFO THERE IS NO REASON FOR EVERY ONE OF US TO NOT FOLLOW UP!!! iF WE GOT ENOUGH TIME TO PISS AND MOAN BOUT IT ON HERE THEN LETS TAKE OUR EFFORTS WHERE IT COUNTS! My fat ass can bug people every day bout it.

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[Fisherman 3234]

I actually live up in Northwest Ohio currently, and fish Primarily the Maumee river for channels and flats. I'm originally from around Pickerington/Lancaster area and have fished in quite a few areas in Ohio for these whiskered critters. You could also say that my job also revolves heavily around fishing....:wink: Now to get back on topic, is there any way to try to set up a petition or set up a way to have this issue put on the DNR fishing survey for next year?

[flathunter]

we have tried this before with the petitions and such, could only get a few hundred signatures, with a site thaT HAS tens of thousands of members.

I was told straight up, that the paylakes are a multi million dollar industry, with over 500 of them in the tri state area of Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana.

And it will take money to stop the illegal taking of catfish, because the paylakes are shelling out money to keep open....yes payoffs, to look the other way!!!!!!!!!

[tbull]

Its hard to tell what nets are marked or not, for the simple fact that is DOES NOT have to visible above water. I got that info straight from the horses mouth (Ohio DNR). And Robin is right, it is having an impact. And I got news for all you guys that fish the smaller rivers like the GMR. I was driving along the river in Hamilton the other day and saw 2 nets in a 1 mile stretch of river from the road, so if you think the impact on the Ohio is bad, ever wonder why you boys on the GMR arent doing very well?? Its happening everywhere ,come to think of it I am stupid because it may be illegal, and I didnt even think of that until right now....WOWZA

As far as contacts, all you have to do is get on the Ky DNR website and start firing away, all the contacts you need are there, if they are not the right ones, they will be fowarded to the right person, I cant dig up the contacts I had before, but I gotta be honest with you guys, and I am not trying to be an ahole here, but when this all started, all I got in response was alot of "we oughta", and "lets do this"...Talk is cheap like I said before, its up to you all what direction you want to go. Because while we are all on here with our hard charging attitudes, saying we should and shouldnt do something, nets are in the water trapping fish that you will never catch again...Unless of course you visit your friendly neighborhood mud hole, but you better hurry, the fish will be dead soon...

[tbull]

I actually live up in Northwest Ohio currently, and fish Primarily the Maumee river for channels and flats. I'm originally from around Pickerington/Lancaster area and have fished in quite a few areas in Ohio for these whiskered critters. You could also say that my job also revolves heavily around fishing....:wink: Now to get back on topic, is there any way to try to set up a petition or set up a way to have this issue put on the DNR fishing survey for next year?

Petitions are a waste of time, phone calls, emails, media contacts, are the best way to start something. A petition is no different than a bunch of guys on here pissin and moanin..Its just drawn out for a longer period of time.

[misterwhisker]

Those pay ponds are like truck stops anymore, they have ..well hell some are truck stops ... they have camping,tackle, bait, beer, soda, gas. snacks, sex books and hookers... and if your lucky money$, if you catch a big ole dam catfish...Im all in for pullin the plug on all of them SOB.. And cut every net, limb line and jug I see:pirate:

[Fisherman 3234]

Here's some good information that I had just recieved.

John,

Thanks for the information and concern. Regarding the harvest of large catfish that may be ending up in pay lakes, the Division of Wildlife implemented changes in the catfish harvest regulations a few years ago to try and address some of these potential issues. Statewide, anglers are not allowed to possess more than 1 channel catfish >28" daily, or more than one blue or flathead catfish >35" daily. Additionally, recreational anglers are not permitted to sell their catch - they have to be a licensed commercial fisherman to sell their catch. I'm not aware of any licensed commercial fishermen except for those licensed to fish Lake Erie and inland connected waters. Licensed commercial fishermen were allowed to sell live channel catfish, and many of them did sell them to paylakes in Ohio, Indiana etc., however, due to recent regulation changes associated with the VHS outbreaks on Lake Erie, these fish cannot be legally sold or transported outside of the Lake Erie basin.

As far as assessment data that indicates an exploitation problem, I don't know, most of our work at this office is focused primarily on Lake Erie. You may want to contact our District offices to see if they have any additional data or indication that harvesting catfish is having a population level effect.

Regarding illegal harvest (and or sale) of catfish, one thing that you and other concerned anglers can do is report violations that you witness to your county wildlife officer. Their phone numbers are listed in the fishing regulations brochure, or call 1-800-poacher and file a detailed report. Our law enforcement officers do follow up on these tips.

Regarding implementing laws/regulations aimed at further restricting catfish harvest, you and other concerned anglers can bring these issues up, particularly with the District office personnel. If they have data to explore the issue and can, they will. We generally have two open house sessions a year for changes in Administrative Code, and comments can be made at these sessions. Contact the local District office for dates of the next Open house. Understand, however, that most of the fishing regs imposed in Ohio are backed up by sound science (regulations that aren't supported by science are difficult to justify). If there truely is a problem, then the problem needs to be sold, and demonstrated through thoughtful analysis so that appropriate regulations can be proposed and supported.

Hope this helps.

[Moose1]

NOW IF U DON'T THINK ANY OF THE CONTACTING THE RIGHT PEOPLE WILL WORK THEN HERE ARE YOUR OPS.
ONE DO NOTHING AT ALL.
TWO CUT LINES AND NETS.
THREE CUT TIRES AND BOAT TRAILER WIREING.
FOUR FLATEN TIRES
FIVE PEE IN GAS TANK
SIX THROW SKUNK IN THE WINDOW.
SEVEN SHOOT HOLES IN THE BOAT WHILE THERE STRIGING HOOKS OR NETS.
EIGHT DON'T GET CAUGHT.........

[tbull]

John,
Kudos to you for taking the first step, I got the same run around the first time around. The funny thing is that they were calling me outta the blue, I guess they caught wind that I was going to be on the radio show. However, they are quick to point the finger at KY, and rightfully so, seeing as how KY supplies the commercial licenses. But OH is just as much of a problem, because of the agreements they have with KY, that allow commercial angler's to bring there catches into OH and stock the mud holes. Its all about money, IMO we need larger events in the Cincinnati area. Rising Sun, and Madison IN have giant events every year, and the public in those areas really get to see the up side to Catfishing. In return the sport gets more positive exposure, and that goes a long way to help, Indiana has more strict laws on Commercial Fishing as well, somebody will have to correct me if I am wrong, but I think they dont allow it at all. Someone please chime in if I am wrong.

I contacted some guys at the top months ago, like John Jamison just to see if there were any large catfish conservation groups around the nation, he confirmed that there was not. Other than the Catfish symposium that took place recently, Catfish Anglers around the country have not organized together well enough to really make our opinions known.

[Fisherman 3234]

The main thing I got from the response was that we need data to support our claims. The response was given by someone who knows the process very well ( fisheries biologist) in changing and implementing new regulations due to low fish counts and surveys. However collecting the data won't be easy in larger bodies of water, it can only give us a general projection in the amount of large fish. One of the ways of sampling big flats is by use of a trotline and letting the fish go once all of the information has been gathered. You can get some data from electro fishing and by nets too. The most important thing that we can do is putting pressure on our individual (wildlife) districts to gather data to try to get a good picture of the effect of paylakes. If we can get research to support our claims which we know are true then we can possibly get the ball rolling quicker. The DNR won't do anything to implement changes unless they have the data (scientific evidence) that tells them to do so. This paylake subject in general is a hot topic and that's why some catfish magazines have distanced themselves from this subject becuase it's so controversial. But we do need to get the facts out there so people who might not know will figure out the truth behind these places.