Why all the complaining?

First, let me say that this is not meant to be a negative post.

I see (and can totally understand) where people have an issue on the limits, but what ever happened to the good old days when you went out to fish just to get away from it all? When you went out to be with your buddies or your son or daughter to spend quality time? When you went out to relax and leave the messy garage, uncut grass, weeds in the flower beds behind for a day?

Why do the limits have to put a nasty taste in some people's mouths when the reduction can only do more good than harm?

What happened to the times when fishing was just......fishing?

[curt quesnell]

ruger,

it may sound like alot of complaining but it is just a few
who havent bothered to think anything through.

in the good old days (and we remember them to be better than
they actually were) there were people who kept everything that
they caught, that's certainly nothing new. many fished just
to relax and enjoy the day, just like now.

there are at least 2 reasons for the complaining


number one..there is the internet and
that allows this group of knuckleheads who love to try to
tell everyone else what to do, what to keep, and how to do
everything a forum for their chest thumping.

number 2...fishermen and women have a keen interest in almost everything fishing including limits. you see lots of differing
ideas and maybe even some lively discussions going on regarding
this or that. people will form new opinions or even change
old opinions from what they read here.

these are the good old days...we can fish from 40 thousand
dollar space ship style boats, regular old jon boats, or
from shore. we fish in 100 thousand dollar tournaments, or
bet our buddie a buck on the first, biggest and most. we can
keep a limit or throw em all back.

we have more choices than we have ever had. and when we arent
fishing we can talk fishing with the rest of the world here
on the walleye central....i cant imagine it being any better.

there are the trouble makers, but what are you gonna do?

have a good day, my friend

curt quesnell

[Derslayer1]

Boy i couldnt agree more with the issue. I have negated a few message boards from my favorites because of the idiots comments on the boards, for whatever reason. I do simply what the post says, get away from it all. Catching fish is just a cap on the day. Now, dont get me wrong, some limits, biminy twists in my line, snags, and whatever, can get me pissed, but not enuff to take away from the sheer pleasure of fishing. I have let a few idiots get to me on-line with certain boards, but it wont happen again. That also takes away from one of my pleasures, looking for info online about fishing. Well, get yer rod bent boys, if yer getting upset about posts, tournament fishing, people taking yer spot or whatever, try bowling, we are all sposed to be kindred brothers, a breed apart. And ya cant pee me off with a nasty retort to this, i,ll just laugh. Take a kid fishing, take a kid hunting, preserve or heritage. Its what we do guys, pass it on, tight lines, Andy

[IaCraig]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Apr-10-01 AT 09:08PM (CST)[/font][p]Ok Ruger I agree with your focus that in this day in age the primary reason to go fishing is Rest and Relaxation with quality people.

But the "good old days" when people fished and hunted for recreation is something new during the last 1/2 of the Baby boomer generation. The generations of my grandfather during the depression and my father during WW II rationing eras had many families fishing until the fish quit biting and shooting ducks until they ran out of shells because they had large families to feed. Back then they ate Carp, blackbirds and any other meat they could readily get. Duck hunting was sneaking up on sitting ducks and waiting for them to all swim together so you could get bunches in 1 shot. (shotgun shells were hard to get, so you made the most if it!)

Enough history and violins, now I'll skip to 2001 and add my opinion on why people get heated over limit increases and decreases.

My grandfather's era influenced many people born before 1960 to fish and hunt until limits and freezers were full. Most people decided over the last 20 - 30 years that fishing & hunting are privledges and without Conservation efforts some resources could be wiped out, so they strongly support lower limits so future generations can enjoy the sports. While others still believe it is part of their god given right to fish until the fish quit biting or the freezer is full and any Conservation Laws on limits and license fee increases are a violation on that right and they resent it very strongly.

I still have living relatives who subscribe to both schools of thought, and you should hear some of the heated discussions at family reunions.

Just MHO.
IaCraig

[Eyelander]

My partner and I like to have fun but catching fish is top priority. Catch and release or on a stringer, on the wall or in a frying pan, Catching fish is always #1. If I wanted to get away from it all I will go hiking or camping or maybe even Disney.
I guess some of us take this sport serious but not to the point of being to serious if that makes any sense. There is nowhere I would rather be than on the water.

I hope you guys don't skip rocks while fishing!!!!!!!!lol


FISH
THE
WORLD

[Frank from TBay]

Good post IaCraig. My father fed a familly of nine in lean times with his gun, rod or nets. A lot of this has been forgotten as a lot of time has passed. In those years he had no Unemployment Insurance and other social safety nets, just a lot of mouths to feed. He has gone fishing with me on many occasions and has a good time but still has a hard time getting to the program of releasing good food. He's 90 now but he's slowly coming around.

I think that with today's economy and mobility, liberal limits and large fish invite abuse of certain bodies of water. If I traveled a long distance to fill my freezer at an out of state lake or river, I can see where the locals (which is often construed to mean anyone who lives five miles closer than you to the system) would be upset. You need to understand that one can never,ever expect to come out even with a $25,000 walleye boat, gas, equipment, and travel expenses by filling the freezer with fillets. I love to eat fish but it's like weenies at a scout campout, you can only cook 'em so many ways. Just my thoughts and not intended to slam those who do not waste this resource. Good fishing. Heye5

[IaCraig]

Heye5.

Good point, I think it is just natural for locals to get a little possesive of the lake in their backyard. But next time you cuss an "out-of-state" boat docking at your local lake, look close it might just be your neighbors kid who had to go to the city to find a job. Out of state boat does not always mean it's not a local person.

I imagine your also right that in some lakes the non-locals do put dents in the fish populations And if on a busy weekend a bunch of out-of-county or out-of-state vehicles are all parked at the ramps at once it probably looks like a slaughter to locals.
However, I believe sometimes the locals themselves make bigger dents when the "bite is on" by taking home a limits multiple nights a week after work and weekends.


Food for thought

IaCraig

IaCraig: No doubt like you say, the locals have a far greater impact on any body of water. They are there day in and day out keeping up with the changing bite and are privy to the "inside" info. There are some, I'm sure we've all seen them, who limit and return multiple times daily and justify it by claiming they only have X # of days to fish per week or year etc. Who is to say if that type of individual is really doing more harm to the fishery than a legal guy who is able to get out more often? My only point is, no matter how many fish non-locals take, some perceive it to be added pressure to 'their' pond. In some areas its not a problem of not enough water, but ramp space or bait is at a premium. From my experience, 95% are the best people you'll ever meet and most are very helpful and informative. The others tend to be determined to allow the presence a foreigner ruin what could have been a great trip for both you and themselves.Go figure huh? Heye5

Many fishermen (old school and some present) fish until they have filled up (caught their daily bag limit). They then can say " I or We filled up" which is a measurement of their skill. To most of these anglers a reduced limit would still allow them to "fill up". In my opinion the days of fishing for subsistance are long gone. If every angler took everthing he could catch home to eat we would be out of game fish in short order. There are plenty of documented cases of lakes being fished out in just a couple of years. I like to eat fresh caught fish as well as the next guy but I also recognize that I have to limit myself for the good of the resource. I don't think that game or fish HOGS should be given any respect for their angleing skill since they appear totally ignorant of resource preservation.
The most archaic regulations on the books are the bag limits which were written when most fishing was done from a 14ft metal or wood boat with a five or ten HP motor ( if you were lucky). Catching fish and releasing them should be a RIGHT, taking some home to consume a Priviledge.