17 replies to this topic

[Dugger]

Anyone else see Simply Fishing yesterday? It was rather, ummm, disappointing to see the guys sight fishing in 5 feet of water for what they called "male" smallmouth bass that were all in the process of constructing nests. The host showed the marks on the smallmouth's body each time they caught them off a nest, the marks were from nest building. I was surprised to see what I think is highly unethical fishing techniques/scenario on a nationally televised show. The guys on the show talked about the nest etc and how great the action was and why no one else was around fishing them. This was in Northern Ontario/Kenora area. I was just perplexed that they would target these fish, season opened or not. One guy kept explaining what they were doing as if to convince themselves it was ok to do. It was rather sad to watch and I usually like the show.

[BackTrack]

Targeting the nests is not right, surprised it's not illegal too. Hope that episode is on a loop, going to see if it's on again this morning. Maybe drop them a line & ask why they did this exactly, (ratings ?)
Reminds me of a time I went out a few years back to fish some of the rivers off Georgian Bay & bunch of guys were fishing a pool of Salmon. One was snagging them & squeezing them for the roe. By the time the cops came 'round the group had moved on.

BT


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[staffman]

I can remember seeing American Anglers coming to Canada to catch out of season small mouth bass off their beds and filming it for their shows. I thought that the MNR would go after and charge these individuals , but I guess they thought the shows were attracting tourists to Ontario. I think they are doing the fish and the citizens of Ontario a disservice when they allow this type of behavior.

[Dugger]

hmmm I am going to drop em a line and see what they say. Thank you, Backtrack. Just perplexing eh. And Staffman you saw this very thing eh? I think the early season in New York state doesn't help this situation. It was always in my genes, raised that way, the Ontario way, THOU SHALL NOT FISH FOR MAY OR JUNE BASS! We need to protect the resource for the future, heck.

[Jim]

Targeting them is wrong - I recently was fishing for walleye at the opener - no matter where I went in the lakes we hit the sm wouldn't leave it alone - 10-13 ft of water - moved continually and the same. Took couple fast pics and released - these fish were staging due to the huge crawfish they spit up when reeling them in.

[Dugger]

Targeting them is wrong - I recently was fishing for walleye at the opener - no matter where I went in the lakes we hit the sm wouldn't leave it alone - 10-13 ft of water - moved continually and the same. Took couple fast pics and released - these fish were staging due to the huge crawfish they spit up when reeling them in.

Interesting, Jim, how do you know they were staging? The fact they were consuming crayfish? I am curious. And by staging you mean preparing to hit the nests?

[diggyj]

It is perfectly legal to fish bedding bass on nests in lots of states in the US. It may even be like that for all of them. In MN season opens up over a month early and 6 weeks in some parts so you be able to catch them before and during the spawning periods.

As a side note, I talked to Bob Izumi once at a fishing show and asked what his biggest bass was that he ever caught and believe it or not he told me it was caught off of a bed during spawning period in the USA.

Dirk

[Dugger]

Hmmmm but this show was in Ontario, even with the season open I find that a bit distasteful. I would have thought that by the time these guys got to the high points of their careers they would be making better judgement calls and have maybe a little more concern for the local bass fishery than to do that, legal or not. I don't know, even a personal legal best bass caught off a nest would have to have an asterisk beside it. To each his own I guess. Bass on a nest or building a nest to me are off limits, open or out of season. It disturbs me to hear pros targeting such fish.

[diggyj]

I know it was in Ontario. Not familiar with regs in the zone but if it was OOS I couldn't agree with more, stay away at all costs. They should stay in their own state and target beds.

Dirk

[Esoxtrout]

Attached is a link to a video I made last week of Bass Fry swimming around.

This Video is the reason to let those bass construct Redds and lay eggs.

This is the next generation of Lunkers, and believe me their are lots of lunkers around this area!!


My link

[Dugger]

Attached is a link to a video I made last week of Bass Fry swimming around.

This Video is the reason to let those bass construct Redds and lay eggs.

This is the next generation of Lunkers, and believe me their are lots of lunkers around this area!!


My link

you made that eh! Awesome, thanks for sharing! Very cool.

[georgianbaydrifter]

i was actually very surprised on sunday to only catch one bass. my outboard is fucho so only had bowmount to go with on top of this someone forgot to charge their fishfinder. we targeted steeper breaking shorelines with broken rock and weed/wood cover, fished with 3/16 and 1/4 oz powerminows on 14lb braid with 10lb leader. 6 nice walleye and 3 pike taken personally and my buddy got 2 picks and the bass. everyone who passed us probably though we were fishing bass early being so close to cover... it was actually just like pitch casting for bass. Never really casted shorelines for them but guess it can be effective and was a great way to spend a halfday on a new lake.

[FishingNoob]

i was actually very surprised on sunday to only catch one bass. my outboard is fucho so only had bowmount to go with on top of this someone forgot to charge their fishfinder. we targeted steeper breaking shorelines with broken rock and weed/wood cover, fished with 3/16 and 1/4 oz powerminows on 14lb braid with 10lb leader. 7 nice walleye and 3 pike taken personally and my buddy got 2 picks and the bass. everyone who passed us probably though we were fishing bass early being so close to cover... it was actually just like pitch casting for bass. Never really casted shorelines for them but guess it can be effective and was a great way to spend a halfday on a new lake.

isn't bass as oos fish still?

[Dugger]

Georgian means he didn't catch any bass by accident while targeting pike and walleye, Noobster. I have been flogging the water hard the past two weeks and hmmmm big post spawn drum and white and black crappie with the odd walleye but no bass. Praise the lord!

[georgianbaydrifter]

yes but did i intentionally target bass and just happen into a good walleye pattern??? i'll never tell. how has the fishing been in general guys mines been pretty slow since opener with the exception of sunday on walleye and still havent put a really good hurt on the crappies. guess everyone gets into a slump from time to time this new lake just might be the turnaround on this summer season.

[FishingNoob]

Georgian means he didn't catch any bass by accident while targeting pike and walleye, Noobster. I have been flogging the water hard the past two weeks and hmmmm big post spawn drum and white and black crappie with the odd walleye but no bass. Praise the lord!

Thanks

[Dugger]

yes but did i intentionally target bass and just happen into a good walleye pattern??? i'll never tell. how has the fishing been in general guys mines been pretty slow since opener with the exception of sunday on walleye and still havent put a really good hurt on the crappies. guess everyone gets into a slump from time to time this new lake just might be the turnaround on this summer season.

lol well my fishing here in Niagara hasn't been too bad, I am targeting large post-spawn drum, anywhere from 17 to 28 inches, and I love em! Some walleyes to 20 inches and yesterday maybe 10 crappies, in a few minutes actually, a mix of both black and white. Those have been my target species this month.

[georgianbaydrifter]

lol well my fishing here in Niagara hasn't been too bad, I am targeting large post-spawn drum, anywhere from 17 to 28 inches, and I love em! Some walleyes to 20 inches and yesterday maybe 10 crappies, in a few minutes actually, a mix of both black and white. Those have been my target species this month.

are the crappie still shallow down there or have they started moving deeper, i like drum fishing too used to go to niagara on the lake for them frequently when i lived in toronto.