fishing for spawning eyes

[River_eye]

It's been a hot debate here, and I'm wondering who has the facts. Personally, I don't know enough about it, just what this person says and that person says.

Where I'm at, fishing season is closed till most spawning is done.

I get the impression that most feel that taking a fish full of eggs is the same as taking the same fish last summer, with no eggs. All it means is that this fish will spawn no more, period.

But, are fish more active and more likely to bite your hook during spawn?

If you could, please give me some info that is not hearsay.

I appreciate it.

River eye

[curt quesnell]

river eye

the big thing is the location of the fish. you may not get
another chance at these fish all year long. the reason the
fish get big is because they summer somewhere they dont get
either fished for or caught.

the fish are either pre or post spawn they are to busy to eat
while the actual spawning is being done, unless you get a
reaction strike by male chasing you away.

erie has millions of big fish anyway, imagine your chance to
be at the spots the big fish congregate at for a week or
two each year.

the fall run and the spring run on the rainey river is much
the same. the population of big fish goes crazy, and they are
easy to catch.

people dont want to quit fishing labor day weekend until mid
may so, with a little travel, they can get to these "fish of
a lifetime" places and have these great adventures battleing not
only big fish, but the snow, wind and cold.

its probably the peak "big fish" bite of the year, because there
are so many of the big fish available in smaller, predictable
areas.

curt quesnell

[Stezostedion vitreum mna]

River_eye,

Pre-spawn walleyes are very vulnerable, that's why in most areas they are protected. The large female walleyes, just prior to spawning, will mostly be found in the more shallow areas of a lake and in rivers where a gravel or small rock substratum is found.

This makes them easy to locate and catch, since many will still bite prior to the laying of their eggs. Once the females have spawned, they usually become lethargic for a couple of weeks due to the stress involved with the spawning process. Also, during this time, they leave the spawning beds and are usually headed for deeper water to rest.

In my opinion, taking these females laiden with eggs is paramount to a crime against nature. During deer season, the season is not held in the spring of the year to protect the birth of the young, why should it be any different for fish? Is this what the sports in sportsman is all about?

Remember to keep your eyes open and your feet dry.

S.v.m

[Hans]

I'm in favor of "no fishing during spawn", but I can't really say I have any "facts" to back up my position.

Mostly, it's just a "sporting" or "fairness" thing with me -- since spawners are much easier to find and catch, it would feel (to me) like shooting deer in a fenced enclosure.

Your mileage may vary.

Hans

[curt quesnell]

bad connection to deer hunting.

the deer hunt occurs during the rut....(spawn) when the
females are bred to the males. every doe shot wont produce
a fawn. every big buck shot leaves the gene pool. sooooooo,
by your thinking you should only shoot spikers

the hunt is held at this time because the big bucks are more
predictable in there locations. just like the big female walleyes and their predictability during the breeding season.

sounds the same to me

curt quesnell

[Stezostedion vitreum man]

curt quesnell,

Sorry curt, but you've had a disconnect here. The analogy was meant to point out that at certain times of the year certain female of the species need more protection than others. The point here is that you are trying to protect the female walleye from the stress of being in a very vulnerable position and being caught very easily in a prespawn situation. These eggs have to be laid in the water to be fertilized, therefore, the less stress put upon these fish the better. If a female is full of eggs and caught, and for that matter a male full of milt, some of the eggs will be lost. Now, that is not to say that she will not continue to spawn and lay thousands of eggs, however, it may have a highly adverse effect, especially when coupled with unfavorable conditions that Mother Nature may provide.

On the other hand, during the rut deer are usually not found in such confined areas as spawning fish and do not make quite as easy of a target, since they are much more of an intelligent animal than a fish. In many hunting zones, they have bucks only areas to help ensure that females, whether they be impregnated or not, have a chance to bring forth their young in the spring. The reason, of course for the protection of the female and not the male is that one male deer can impregnate many females, and therefore, they are more expendable. This helps control, but yet insures the proliferation of the herd.

The differences between spawning female walleyes and deer is great, but yet in nature somewhat the same, and the analogy with deer was only used to point out the necessity of some sort of regulations protecting these animals during their most vulverable time. If this sounds the same to you, you missed the point I was trying to make.

S.v.m

[curt quesnell]

svm (what nationality is this name)?

i have no problem with you, your posts are some of the good
ones ok...
lets follow this deer hunting thing just a little further.

the deer hunt is in november for a few reasons, but one of
the big ones is that the bucks are congregated in predictable areas and easier to hunt than the rest of the year. the hunt
is set up to occur during breeding (spawn)because its the best
time to shoot a nice big deer. (sounds to me like spring fishing)

fishing around spawning time is closed in most areas (like
areas with no doe permits). some areas have doe permits, meaning
its ok to shoot a doe at breeding time. some places allow you
to fish around spawning time and harvest females. if the system
couldn't take the pressure, it wouldn't be allowed.

not many would expect to harvest a doe
with a newborn fawn at her side and that comes long after the breeding time when the baby is protected...but remember when the walleyes
are born mom and dad are long gone...and if they come back they
will eat as many of their own kids as they can gulp down.

by the way, i no longer fish pre spawn females, but i dont see
any reason why it cant be done. we have people carefully
watching the population of fish in these areas that allow a
spring fish. if it needs to be shut down they will do it.

thanks for you time svm, have a good day my friend in fishing

curt quesnell

[ohio]

man i coulda used your support when I suggested the rcl be held a little later...after spawn was over and done with. I was treated like crap for making that suggestion. makes you wonder.

[ohio]

the rut is not like spawn.Deer giving birth in spring is in line with spawn. deer don't lay eggs but a fish dropping eggs is more of a parralell to deer giving birth than mating season.

[curt quesnell]

this is going further than i thought it would.

you dont shoot a deer with a newborn fawn because the deer needs
to take care of the newborn. fish dont take care of newborn
fish. and fish dont take care of eggs.

spawn is fertilizing eggs.....rut and mating is fertilizing
eggs. shoot a just mated doe and there is no baby anyway.


ooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i think that whole comparing the two aint gonna work....

but we tried...

keep smilin

curt quesnell