C+R in Self Sustainaing Waters?

[riverrat118]

Georgian Bay,St Lawrence, St.Clair, LOW,Niagara, Ottawa Great lakes tributaries
Ect,ect.

In these waters, where natural reproduction occurrs, without stocking, what are your thoughts regarding these resources as compared to other waters where stocking takes place? Should we protect them more to preserve a gene pool that will protect a natural strain? Or should we allow the same regs. from stocked waters,to be applied to these waters.
C+R in my mind, in much more important in these waters that a body of water that has a "put in, take out" musky management.

John Schardt

[Trophymuskie]

John all those fisheries are all in the north and have very short feeding seasons and take a long time to grow big fish. There are more reasons then natural reproduction that we need to promote C&R it takes 20+ years to grow a 50 incher up here.

I always try to tell all out of towners that the reason they are traveling up here to catch big fish is because we have released them many times before and we would apreciate the same from them. I believe a fish some 20+ years old must of been captured a few times, very rarely would this be a first time they visit a boat. People have to understand that the trophy they caught was released by someone else before and they should not only be thankfull but do the same for the next guy to catch that trophy.

Believe me all these trophys can be shared by many anglers.
All those that have caught a true trophy can comprehand how great of a feeling it is not only to catch it but to see it swim away to be caught again. I know I shared in the experience of the recapture of a trophy.

John I believe the Ontario MNR are doing there best with a 54 inch limit on trophy waters, I know you need to convince the NY side to do the same but you will need the support of the local guides and not opposition.

Keep releasing them all
Richard Collin
http://www.trophymuskiecharters.com

We have natural repo here in one river but stocking has been implemented to keep enough fish to suppliment the few that make it...unfortunately when a big fish is caught, it is often by accident + most always kept...for those who have good populations, do everything you can to protect them in a careful well thought out way, such as the education programs often mentioned.

[riverrat118]

After all the cross border meetings between the OMNR and the NYSDEC last year, the proposal for the 54" limit on the St Lawrence was on the table. Ontario votes were totally supportive of these "record class waters" Through a voice from a certain few on the river, decided that the 44" limit was good enough. Most opposition came from a certain few who guide on the river. As a citizen of the US, you can obtain these facts from the NYSDEC. Freedom of Information act is all you need to gain access to the info. NYSDEC and the OMNR compromised to listen to the concerns of the NY "anglers" We're doing a 48" limit cross border reg begining oct 1st. As I said before, we need to create a voice on the river, with or without the help from the guides.
John Schardt