04-07-2018, 03:04 PM
As a blanket rule.....no. It is common in other states to manage individual waters and as a result some lakes are open and others are closed.
We should allow our DWR biologists to manage our waters the way they see fit since they are the ones most educated on the specifics of each body of water within their geographic areas of responsibility. They have done an incredible job of providing a diverse fishing experience and they have also done a great job of listening to anglers and considering their requests as well. Sometimes anglers don't get everything they want and that is OK.
It is good to hear science and facts from Mr. Penn instead of emotions and knee jerk reactions.
As was stated:
1-The fish in the inlet are just a small portion of the walleyes spawning in the lake overall.
2- They see little success in their spawn due to environmental challenges within the inlet itself.
3- The DWR law enforcement officers have reported a near 98% compliance rate from those anglers fishing the inlet during the spawn and those numbers can be backed up with factual data.
There is an emotional feeling about it from many anglers on this forum, but they don't bring a lot of data and science to the table in regards to their feelings of why the inlet should be shut down, they just bring feelings (kinda reminds me of the gun control debate). I completely understand their passion as they love Willard bay fishing and in their mind it is being exploited by those that they are labeling "the masses" and "happy harvesters". Anglers are competitive in nature as it is, and many won't even tell you what they caught a fish on because of some strange belief that if they do then all the fish will be caught and it will ruin the fishery, so seeing or hearing about others catching "buckets" of THIER walleyes will make them flip out. Of course, the walleyes aren't being caught out, but appearances can be deceiving.
So......as much as I respect the opinions (and many of those fisherman, by the way) and feelings of those that are opposed to leaving the inlet open during the spawn, we must also consider the feelings of those that want it open and not vilify them and accuse them of wanting to break the law and overharvest when Law enforcement and biologists can prove with data that this is not the case.
For the record, I suggested in another thread that the DWR close it between 8:00 pm and 6:00 am during the spawn and it would make law enforcement easier and still allow those that aren't trying to fish on the sly to enjoy trying to catch fish from the inlet during the spawn. That seems like a common sense approach that should be good for those on both sides of the debate.
Feel the way you want about it everybody, but please don't attack each other on this board or any other for that matter over an issue that has indisputable facts to show why it is scientifically acceptable to allow fishing in the inlet. We are all entitle to our opinions, but in the long run we are not enemies just because we have different feelings about this subject. Let's finally put this to rest after these last few years.
Mike
[signature]
We should allow our DWR biologists to manage our waters the way they see fit since they are the ones most educated on the specifics of each body of water within their geographic areas of responsibility. They have done an incredible job of providing a diverse fishing experience and they have also done a great job of listening to anglers and considering their requests as well. Sometimes anglers don't get everything they want and that is OK.
It is good to hear science and facts from Mr. Penn instead of emotions and knee jerk reactions.
As was stated:
1-The fish in the inlet are just a small portion of the walleyes spawning in the lake overall.
2- They see little success in their spawn due to environmental challenges within the inlet itself.
3- The DWR law enforcement officers have reported a near 98% compliance rate from those anglers fishing the inlet during the spawn and those numbers can be backed up with factual data.
There is an emotional feeling about it from many anglers on this forum, but they don't bring a lot of data and science to the table in regards to their feelings of why the inlet should be shut down, they just bring feelings (kinda reminds me of the gun control debate). I completely understand their passion as they love Willard bay fishing and in their mind it is being exploited by those that they are labeling "the masses" and "happy harvesters". Anglers are competitive in nature as it is, and many won't even tell you what they caught a fish on because of some strange belief that if they do then all the fish will be caught and it will ruin the fishery, so seeing or hearing about others catching "buckets" of THIER walleyes will make them flip out. Of course, the walleyes aren't being caught out, but appearances can be deceiving.
So......as much as I respect the opinions (and many of those fisherman, by the way) and feelings of those that are opposed to leaving the inlet open during the spawn, we must also consider the feelings of those that want it open and not vilify them and accuse them of wanting to break the law and overharvest when Law enforcement and biologists can prove with data that this is not the case.
For the record, I suggested in another thread that the DWR close it between 8:00 pm and 6:00 am during the spawn and it would make law enforcement easier and still allow those that aren't trying to fish on the sly to enjoy trying to catch fish from the inlet during the spawn. That seems like a common sense approach that should be good for those on both sides of the debate.
Feel the way you want about it everybody, but please don't attack each other on this board or any other for that matter over an issue that has indisputable facts to show why it is scientifically acceptable to allow fishing in the inlet. We are all entitle to our opinions, but in the long run we are not enemies just because we have different feelings about this subject. Let's finally put this to rest after these last few years.
Mike
[signature]