Sorry, had my Black lake crappie trip this Wednesday on my mind. Substitute Oneida Lake for black lake
Tightlines
John McGough
Ps: The bass population of the lake is more negatively(I believe) hurt by individuals who remove fish from the lake for culinary reasons. But that is their right, and I don't begrudge them for doing what they purchased a license to allow them to do lawfully.
Fisherman need to be non critical of each other unless it can be scientifically substantiated.
John McGough - 8 years ago
They say ignorance is bliss. For those that voted no, it needs to be changed, explain your scientic reasoning. By the way anything you attempt to imply would be counter productive to the study, Cornell station located on Oneida Lake, found in their scientic study. Not personnel opinions, that lack any foundation of reality. The lake this past year experienced its second highest recruitment rate in the history of Black lake.(number of fry the matured to minnows) My apologies, the second highest recruitment of smallmouth bass. Now, my contention that it doesn't hurt the fish population is limited. I Will admit that my scientific backing is limited to one study, which I found in 5 minutes of searching. When I get time I will look for further substantiated studies.
I look forward to reviewing scientific studies that support the opposite viewpoint. As stated I'm not looking for personal opinion(everybody has one, whether supported or not), but scientific supporting studies whether supporting the existing policy or attempting to contest the current policy.
john whaley - 15 years ago
when a person fishes early in the season, trying to catch panfish, most often he will catch a bass. since the OLA has lobbyed to change the previous law from bass season starting on dec. 1 to may, the above fisherman, is now breaking the law....leave the old law stand,
Rob Goffredo - 15 years ago
Ed I apreciate your concern however bass on Oneida lake spawn in May and June and even into the open season when it is legal to keep them.
We are talking about fishing in april when the water is still in the 40's and 50's and the bass spawn is not in progress. also Hook and Look is my favorite show however an extensive research project in minnesota and wisconsin other cold weather fisheries showed that fishing during the spawn in no way hurts the survival of the fishery. that being said I personally will not say we should always bed fish for them but the fact remains there are bass on beds in june still on oneida. On that note how many walleyes do we catch through the ice that are full of eggs? we take them home fillet them and the eggs are no longer viable.
If anyone saw the show on Versus Channel called Hook and Look, they showed what is my biggest fear. While the fisherman were admiring the bass they just caught off his nest, the Bluegills were very busy raiding the nest and eating all the fry or eggs. If it is pre-spawn, I don't have any problems with early catch and release, but during the spawn, is totally out of the question. I am sure the carp will harass the bass as well. Let's give the bass a chance to protect the young. We don't have any bass hacheries in this state, but we could sure use a couple. Hint, hint! Maybe a cry to Albany would help.
Burnie Haney - 15 years ago
When I read over the many comments posted under the main story line I found one in particular that seems to offer a valid win-win solution that addresses the OLA's concern for enhanced enforcement as well as allowing the bass anglers more access while creating manageable zones for our Environmental Conservation Officers (ECO) to patrol.
The comment suggested identifying select areas where walleyes congregate by using marker buoys.
The OLA is concerned that if more boats are on the water then is becomes harder for our ECOs to police/monitor their activities.
It seems if the areas of concern where designated off-limits and marker buoys were used to identify those areas it now becomes very easy to tell if a boat or several boats were inside the off-limits area.
If you're in there, then you're considered to be fishing an off-limits area and you should receive the appropriate fine.
I have no idea just how many feeder creeks the walleye actually spawn in but it appears Dr Jackson has that information
{Jackson did note that during April and often into May, the spawning walleye "stage" or gather on the edge of the lake's tributaries before heading up the streams to spawn. And during that time, he said, they would be easier to catch}
Since we know where the walleyes stage, why couldn’t we use some buoys to mark off those areas of the "at risk walleye", thereby designating the rest of the lake open to enjoy the early season C&R for bass?
If implemented we'd create easily identifiable off-limits zones to further protect the walleye and enhance enforcement procedures while simultaneously providing greater access to a resource that's funded by all license holders.
It's just something to think about.
Burnie Haney
Conservation Director
NY BASS Chapter Federation
Rob Goffredo - 15 years ago
here are some simple facts
fact-- walleye season is open for 10 1/2 months for catch and kill fishing
fact-- bass fishing is open for 5 months of catch and keep and 1 extra month on onieda for catch and release
fact-- most walleye fisherman keep and eat there limit daily. (there is nothing wrong with this it is legal) ((and they taste great))
fact-- most bass fisherman never keep there catch and simply want to fish.
so if the facts are correct then the ola's reasoning of protecting the fragile walleye population. do's not hold water.
fact-- walleyes spawn in and around shallow feeder creeks
fact-- perch and bluegills do too.
fact in april the north shore bays of oneida lake are filled with boats perch fishing in these areas where walleyes spawn. also they are crappie and gill fishing in the feeder creeks except scriba.
so who has more of an opportunity to hurt the fragile walleye?
bass fishermen or panfisherman. who once again keep legally their catch.
I have been a member of the OLA since I was a young boy. I am proud of it and I apreciate the work they do to protect Oneida lake. however this time
it feels like a personal vendetta against bass fishermen and women.
simply put LET US FISH
one more fact
We Stock walleyes that takes tax dollars I pay taxes I want to fish for bass
I believe that if there where more bass fishermen and women fishing for bass in april this would provide the DEC with more eyes and ears on the lake to
watch for individuals pirateing walleyes.
James R. Moore - 15 years ago
It's been studied and studied and has been proven non-detrimental to the bass population when catch and release during the spawn is allowed.
What really needs to happen is better enforcement and reporting of those individuals seen keeping walley and bass during the closed season. Bass fisherman could really help here by getting involved and reporting violators.
Sorry, had my Black lake crappie trip this Wednesday on my mind. Substitute Oneida Lake for black lake
Tightlines
John McGough
Ps: The bass population of the lake is more negatively(I believe) hurt by individuals who remove fish from the lake for culinary reasons. But that is their right, and I don't begrudge them for doing what they purchased a license to allow them to do lawfully.
Fisherman need to be non critical of each other unless it can be scientifically substantiated.
They say ignorance is bliss. For those that voted no, it needs to be changed, explain your scientic reasoning. By the way anything you attempt to imply would be counter productive to the study, Cornell station located on Oneida Lake, found in their scientic study. Not personnel opinions, that lack any foundation of reality. The lake this past year experienced its second highest recruitment rate in the history of Black lake.(number of fry the matured to minnows) My apologies, the second highest recruitment of smallmouth bass. Now, my contention that it doesn't hurt the fish population is limited. I Will admit that my scientific backing is limited to one study, which I found in 5 minutes of searching. When I get time I will look for further substantiated studies.
I look forward to reviewing scientific studies that support the opposite viewpoint. As stated I'm not looking for personal opinion(everybody has one, whether supported or not), but scientific supporting studies whether supporting the existing policy or attempting to contest the current policy.
when a person fishes early in the season, trying to catch panfish, most often he will catch a bass. since the OLA has lobbyed to change the previous law from bass season starting on dec. 1 to may, the above fisherman, is now breaking the law....leave the old law stand,
Ed I apreciate your concern however bass on Oneida lake spawn in May and June and even into the open season when it is legal to keep them.
We are talking about fishing in april when the water is still in the 40's and 50's and the bass spawn is not in progress. also Hook and Look is my favorite show however an extensive research project in minnesota and wisconsin other cold weather fisheries showed that fishing during the spawn in no way hurts the survival of the fishery. that being said I personally will not say we should always bed fish for them but the fact remains there are bass on beds in june still on oneida. On that note how many walleyes do we catch through the ice that are full of eggs? we take them home fillet them and the eggs are no longer viable.
If anyone saw the show on Versus Channel called Hook and Look, they showed what is my biggest fear. While the fisherman were admiring the bass they just caught off his nest, the Bluegills were very busy raiding the nest and eating all the fry or eggs. If it is pre-spawn, I don't have any problems with early catch and release, but during the spawn, is totally out of the question. I am sure the carp will harass the bass as well. Let's give the bass a chance to protect the young. We don't have any bass hacheries in this state, but we could sure use a couple. Hint, hint! Maybe a cry to Albany would help.
When I read over the many comments posted under the main story line I found one in particular that seems to offer a valid win-win solution that addresses the OLA's concern for enhanced enforcement as well as allowing the bass anglers more access while creating manageable zones for our Environmental Conservation Officers (ECO) to patrol.
The comment suggested identifying select areas where walleyes congregate by using marker buoys.
The OLA is concerned that if more boats are on the water then is becomes harder for our ECOs to police/monitor their activities.
It seems if the areas of concern where designated off-limits and marker buoys were used to identify those areas it now becomes very easy to tell if a boat or several boats were inside the off-limits area.
If you're in there, then you're considered to be fishing an off-limits area and you should receive the appropriate fine.
I have no idea just how many feeder creeks the walleye actually spawn in but it appears Dr Jackson has that information
{Jackson did note that during April and often into May, the spawning walleye "stage" or gather on the edge of the lake's tributaries before heading up the streams to spawn. And during that time, he said, they would be easier to catch}
Since we know where the walleyes stage, why couldn’t we use some buoys to mark off those areas of the "at risk walleye", thereby designating the rest of the lake open to enjoy the early season C&R for bass?
If implemented we'd create easily identifiable off-limits zones to further protect the walleye and enhance enforcement procedures while simultaneously providing greater access to a resource that's funded by all license holders.
It's just something to think about.
Burnie Haney
Conservation Director
NY BASS Chapter Federation
here are some simple facts
fact-- walleye season is open for 10 1/2 months for catch and kill fishing
fact-- bass fishing is open for 5 months of catch and keep and 1 extra month on onieda for catch and release
fact-- most walleye fisherman keep and eat there limit daily. (there is nothing wrong with this it is legal) ((and they taste great))
fact-- most bass fisherman never keep there catch and simply want to fish.
so if the facts are correct then the ola's reasoning of protecting the fragile walleye population. do's not hold water.
fact-- walleyes spawn in and around shallow feeder creeks
fact-- perch and bluegills do too.
fact in april the north shore bays of oneida lake are filled with boats perch fishing in these areas where walleyes spawn. also they are crappie and gill fishing in the feeder creeks except scriba.
so who has more of an opportunity to hurt the fragile walleye?
bass fishermen or panfisherman. who once again keep legally their catch.
I have been a member of the OLA since I was a young boy. I am proud of it and I apreciate the work they do to protect Oneida lake. however this time
it feels like a personal vendetta against bass fishermen and women.
simply put LET US FISH
one more fact
We Stock walleyes that takes tax dollars I pay taxes I want to fish for bass
I believe that if there where more bass fishermen and women fishing for bass in april this would provide the DEC with more eyes and ears on the lake to
watch for individuals pirateing walleyes.
It's been studied and studied and has been proven non-detrimental to the bass population when catch and release during the spawn is allowed.
What really needs to happen is better enforcement and reporting of those individuals seen keeping walley and bass during the closed season. Bass fisherman could really help here by getting involved and reporting violators.