CTFishTalk.com: Too many keepers? - Connecticut Ice Fishing Reports ( CT Ice Fishing Reports ) - A Community Built for Connecticut Fisherman.

fishinschmoe · Joined: 01 Jan 2010 Posts: 300

Yep Slimey. we are on the same page.

eatin some good fish is always cool, but piles on the ice, regardless of the rules is just not right. Exception made to the guy who is down on his luck, and needs it to survive.

slimecoat · Joined: 09 Nov 2007 Posts: 1576 Location: Newington, CT.

Ok, But how many people are really that bad off, that they have to resort to living off what they catch through the ice.

There may be a few, but realistically, you will spend more on bait, tackle, ice auger, cold weather clothing, and tip ups than if you just went to a supermarket and bought some chicken to cook on the grill or pan fried over a wood stove. My 2 cents..........
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Life's Short - Fish Hard - Take a Kid Fishing

Bass Addict · Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2010 1:39 pm Post subject:

slimecoat · Joined: 09 Nov 2007 Posts: 1576 Location: Newington, CT.

Justin, I think this post has gotten out of control. I have already said that I could not tell by the original post how many fish were on the ice and how many people constitute a group? Agreed that we should not judge with a lack of information. I was just trying to educate those of us to what a legal limit is and what a slot limit is.

My point is that some of these people, and I have seen it myself, do not know the regulations for the particular lake they are fishing on, as to what the creel limit, the length limits, or slot limits are for any particular species.

I also know you are dead wrong to blanket a statement as to say " at most lakes you can keep any LMB or SMB over 12"". All lakes are not created equal, and there are different regulations for each body of water that should be taken into consideration before any angler even leaves the house. As a matter of fact "most lakes" that hold bass in this state are now bass management lakes, and have a slot limit. A slot limit for those of you unaware of what that is, means there is a legal length minimum and maximun that you need to adhere to. Most lakes slot limits are 12" to 16" for large and smallmouth bass, meaning you cannot keep any bass measuring between 12" and 16" period, no matter what! You can keep 6 - 12" or smaller bass, or 1 bass over 16" in those particular lakes. There are a few lakes with a 12" to 18" slot limit and the same rules apply, except that you can only keep 1 bass over 18" in that case.

I don't know the size and creel limits for the by -catch species you speak of, as I am a bass angler and mostly fish tournaments, so I really don't know or care about pickeral, panfish, pike, or perch, because I don't eat much fish, or fish for them, but the rules must be adhered to just the same or soon enough we will have every angler just taking what they want with no regard for maintaining fish or forage populations. If I was heading out to catch some of these other species I would know ahead of time what size and how many I could keep, should I feel the need.

And I also do not agree with keeping overage amounts of fish per day, because you don't go fishing very often. Too stinking bad, people get off your couch and get on the water more often if you want to eat more self caught fish. These limits are (per angler - per day amounts) for a reason! If you are keeping what you can legally per day, in the correct length limit, then I am fine with it. Those that do not play by the rules are looking for the mushroom stamp!

I see your point Justin, and I hope I've helped make mine a little clearer for those that don't get it.
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Life's Short - Fish Hard - Take a Kid Fishing

Bass Addict · Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2010 3:41 pm Post subject:

gary, I wasn't quoting you lol. I agree with every thing you said. I also got thrown off by the title as it said to many keepers which I assumed were legal.

I realize the regs differ by lake, I put up the general regs based on the limited knowledge I had of the lake the poster was talking about. I also gave my source. I took my info out of the CT angler guide but they are blanket/general and you need to look at each lake individually to get the specific regs.

" also know you are dead wrong to blanket a statement as to say " at most lakes you can keep any LMB or SMB over 12"". All lakes are not created equal, and there are different regulations for each body of water that should be taken into consideration before any angler even leaves the house. As a matter of fact "most lakes" that hold bass in this state are now bass management lakes, and have a slot limit."

Actually "most lakes" are not BML based on the ct anglers guide. I would say the regs I posted apply to probably 80% of the CT lakes. What is your source? If there is a more realiable one the CT anglers guide, I would like to have that info.

"And I also do not agree with keeping overage amounts of fish per day, because you don't go fishing very often. Too stinking bad, people get off your couch and get on the water more often if you want to eat more self caught fish. These limits are (per angler - per day amounts) for a reason! If you are keeping what you can legally per day, in the correct length limit, then I am fine with it."

I never said you should be keeping more than what is legal. I think we maybe saying the same thing. You should keep what is legal to keep for that given day. I see nothing wrong with an angler keeping fish if he is legally entitled to do so. I meant taking the legal maximum amount home, not exceeding the legal amount.

I guess growing up in a saltwater fishing family I have a different perspective. We catch fish and freeze them then eat them when we are in the mood for fish. Everything we take home is legal and consumed. BTW, I have never eaten a fresh water fish Laughing

I am not trying to offend anyone, just giving my perspective as I often eat legal saltwater fish that I catch. Message boards can be hard to interpret emotion and can be taking out of context.
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Sorry honey, looks like we will be late again due to motor problems.

Justin

fishinschmoe · Joined: 01 Jan 2010 Posts: 300

We surely hit a hot topic.

Essentially, we all have valid points. I too fish the salt, and freeze some. Not 50 porgies... maybe 10. I also shoot my fair share of rabbits, but not 50...20 or so. .

the original post insinuated that there was a pile of fish, in excess of limits, and short on size. Stick to the rules, and keep what ya can. thats all fine and dandy. But Ive seen dudes, with buckets of 11" walleyes over at Batterson. and dudes with 9" bass on the ice over at Cedar, seems wasteful.

As far as not trying fresh water fish... You are MISSIN OUT. Fresh water fish, especially bass, perch, walleye, and crappie are DELICIOUS when taken from cold/cool clean water. Come August... they taste like the pond weeds you caught em from. but from now thru June.... quite tasty. then the fluke bite picks up, and that changes everything

slimecoat · Joined: 09 Nov 2007 Posts: 1576 Location: Newington, CT.

WOW, this will be my last post on this thread, as I think I have gotten my point across and I told you that I understod your points. But I guess I used too many words and confused you. I will make it simpler.......

1. I agree with you Justin, that you can keep 6 tuna, 6 bass, or what ever species you are targeting as long as the limit is 6 and is adhered to. I don't care how often you eat fish or how many days apart you eat fish, that is your business if you want to eat frozen fish. Off topic but, In my opinion fresh or saltwater fish tastes even worse when it has been frozen. I only eat fresh fish and even then I would rather eat chicken or beef, I guess thats why I only eat it 1 time per year.

2. You may be correct Justin in saying "most lakes", as I now think about it, but my source is again from a tournament bass fishermans perspective. What I mean by that is that I don't fish on the hundreds of little crap hole lakes and ponds that don't have a public boat launch big enough or deep enough to launch a full size bass rig. So from that I gave a bias bass tournament guys perspective % of the lakes or rivers that we fish being bass management lakes. I guess I'm an ass for thinking less of other waters, but they just don't exist in my world.

3. I am not trying to offend anyone here either, especially you Justin, I'm just trying to get my point across about slot limits, and creel limits, and that there are a lot of anglers out there that just don't know that they exist, and that they exist for a reason- so that there will be more fish there to replenish themselves in years to come.

I'm not saying all ice fisherman, shore fisheman, or those fishing from boats, are breaking the law. Most of us do it right, but I have seen it with my own 2 eye's plenty of times, and it is wrong and fines should be more strict, especially now that the license fees just doubled.
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Life's Short - Fish Hard - Take a Kid Fishing

Bass Addict · Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2010 5:06 pm Post subject:

gary and schmoe, i think between being bored at work and multi tasking I misread the post in haste.. No worries, there is a lot of valid points as well as good info. I edited my post to correct what I misread.
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Sorry honey, looks like we will be late again due to motor problems.

Justin

Bass Addict · Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2010 5:15 pm Post subject:

schmoe, I am not the best with a filet knife so I would most likely mutilate a small fish like that or end up with a bunch of bones in the meat. I get one bone in my food, I can't eat the rest. I get grossed out (yes, I am a wuss). I forgot that I have had corn breaded catfish at a cajun restaurant and it was tasty. So I guess I have had freshwater once.

I am hoping to get some cod fishing in soon, got to stock the freezer.

I just tried to buy my fishing license at CT outfitters and you can only pay cash:( I guess the state requires them to sell them as cash only. I never carry cash anymore so looks like I will buy it online. 50$ for the fresh/salt combo, this sux Twisted Evil

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Sorry honey, looks like we will be late again due to motor problems.

Justin

slimecoat · Joined: 09 Nov 2007 Posts: 1576 Location: Newington, CT.

No harm done Justin, I think we are all on the same page with different points of view on a couple items, everybody is entitled to their opinion. That's what makes this country great. I hope we enlightened at least 1 uneducated angler with this barrage of heated posts, if so then we accomplished something at least.
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Life's Short - Fish Hard - Take a Kid Fishing

jdpsm3 · Joined: 13 Jan 2010 Posts: 51 Location: new britain

A little back story on these guys. I started talking to them and they say we havent been here in 10 yrs because we got kicked off because these guys were lighting fires and drinking on the lake. Well little did he now we were the guys he was talking about and we go there every year never been kicked out. Then something clicked I remembered these guys form when I was a kid they were the same way back then harvest everything size dont matter they had a bass last week that must have been close to seven lbs dead on the ice. Then I just got angry that these guys were back here. Talked to my buddy and he remebered them too. Yes we do lite a fire and we have some beers. We leave no trace that we were there besides ashes from our fire Everything we take out there leaves with us and we end up picking other peoples trash up. These guys are bad news for the sport even if you take them legally have some respect for the sport and the waterways.

billybass · Joined: 29 Dec 2009 Posts: 315

This really hit home for everybody,
Has far has my 2 cents , rules are rules,
if you follow them , then thats it case closed ,
but breaking the rules that other people need to follow
and want to follow ,then its gonna be a problem for sure
I agree if your hurting for food and no money then maybe but
like slimecoat said thats very unlikley , we all understand i hope