Bad news for fishing Green Bay

The Wisconsin DNR now has a film that shows a Smallmouth gaurding a nest.

That Fish is teased into striking a lure and is removed from the nest.

The film continues to roll as a school of Gobies moves in and has a feast.

There was no comment on the film just pictures of carnage.

While we as fishermen have a pretty good idea of the condition of the fish population in Green bay (more fish and bigger fish than in the previous 10-15 years) this film could remove the reality of the fish populations health from the rules making equasion.

It is more than likely that discusion of this film will start to show up.

Be ready for the discussion.

I’ve been clear on my stand on this for years Dan. It doesn’t take much skill to pull fish off a nest. When fishing Bay de Noc for Walleye in early May I see several guys every year way up inside tne reeds fishing bedded Smallies. Even though it is illegal to target out of season fish(catch release included)…When confronted they claim they are fishing Pike(which is legal) and catching Bass by accident. But when they get back to the local “watering hole”They brag up their catch and show us the digital pics…I don’t doubt they release the fish but I don’t think it helps the fishery or the young fishermen I occasionally see accompany them.
Just my 2 cents worth…

It would really be nice to see the big tournaments not happen during spawning since they’re just going for the big spawning fish for their stupid huge fish weights.

Tom Here is an article from the Wisconsin DNR on the state of the Green Bay fishery.

http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/water/fhp/fish/lakemich/Smallmouth%20bass%20survey%20final.pdf

In short it is the best condition it has been in for as long as many of us can remember.

The bedding fish issue is one that could be debaited well into the night. All it would get us is sleepy.

The bigger concern is that the ground swell caused by the bedding/no bedding issue is one that could result in the closing of the fishery to both harvest and tournements for most of the open water fishing season.

Beding or no bedding I would hope that would agree that closing the season in july in Green Bay (yes there are still major spawns going on in July see last years Eskanoba Michigan stories) because of a concern that the Gobies will destroy the fishery is not prudiant practice.

I would hope that we can get by personal views on bed fishing and ban together to protect ourselves against constriction of the available fishing time and waters because of what might happen rather than what is.

One of the key elements that is not addressed by any of those that want to keep us from utilizing this Smallmouth resource is that while the gobies are a preditor they are also prey. More prey means bigger fatter longer living smallmouths.

It may just be a trade off.

It looks like the D.N.R. has a little P.E.T.A. in them. I’am sure you could get the same footage watching the bluegills on any inland lake. As Brovarney states the debate can go on forever but it still amazes me how the bass population is getting better ever year no matter were you fish.

Isn’t there the old saying of, “Why fix it if it’s not broke”? Tournamnent fishing, bed fishing, whatever their excuse is, they can’t deny the fact that the Green Bay and surrounding areas are the best they have ever been. This bothers me… .