What is it about eating bass that drives people nuts?

I like catching smallies but when it comes to taste, catfish, and just about any other fish, including sheephead are better tasteing. Smallies are a cool fish, they fight like heck and I’ve caught them for years but when it comes to taste Id rather eat other species. Eating a bass is everyones own personal option, some see the fishery as a popular catch and releasee fishery like largemouth, but some see it as a fish to put on the plate just like bluegills and crappies. Do what you want just so the fishery isn’t abused, its a personal preference.

This thread has taught me not to ignore a topic just because of the title. Look at all of the fun I have been missing since I have no interest in eating bass. I have learned my lesson to ignore a topic.

You do know Mille Lavs has NEVER been stocked and the natives have netted a couple million pounds of walleye in the last 20 years right ? The arrogant part is insinuating that the walleye decline is because walleye fisherman don’t cpr like the bass guys… do you know “why” they have special regs on mille lacs ? Why they started special regs different from the rest of the state ? They started when the netting did, the same netting that has had no negative effect on the lake…?

big_g wrote:

You do know Mille Lavs has NEVER been stocked and the natives have netted a couple million pounds of walleye in the last 20 years right ? The arrogant part is insinuating that the walleye decline is because walleye fisherman don’t cpr like the bass guys… do you know “why” they have special regs on mille lacs ? Why they started special regs different from the rest of the state ? They started when the netting did, the same netting that has had no negative effect on the lake…?

Big G

Do you truly believe that the netting is the sole or even the biggest cause of the walleye crash at Mille lacs? If so, why it just now crashing.? They have been netting or spearing the lake for along time now. The Native take is % wise rather small compared to the sportsmans take each year. As far as the netting during the spawn goes. A fish out of the lake the previous summer or winter by sportsman has the same effect as a fish take just prior to the spawn – 1 less fish to spawn either way. Don’t get me wrong I don’t like the idea of the nettings any more than you or others do. I just don’t think it is the sole cause of the problem. I think the lake was headed for a crash either way. Many more factors at play here. But the only factor you care to hear or discuss if the netting. I was going to stay out of this one, but I find it funny that you keep going back to the nettings as the sole cause of the issue no matter what data or info. is presented.

I never said it was the sole cause ??? Is it the biggest, I think so. They have been doing it for 20 years and it’s time to pay the piper. (see Red Lake) CPR by the dreaded walleye eating crowd has gone WAY UP in the last 20 years IMHO, so I would honestly say, non-natives table fare has gone down and hooking mortality has gone up. Having a forced slot limit, makes the tablefare guy, turn into a cpr guy, because he can only keep one out 8 fish he catches, because of the slot… all this compounded by thousands doing it and there you go. Again, let them net, but not during the spawn… if it was a little more difficult, maybe we don’t get the blond haired blue eyed pigs coming over from the wisconsin bands netting… make it so they have to work a little and I bet half stop netting. Please point out where this thread has me saying netting is the sole cause… and furthermore, this thread is about eating bass and some turned it into a chance to look down their noses and tout bass fisherman know how to take care of their resource….

fishthumper wrote:

but I find it funny that you keep going back to the nettings as the sole cause of the issue no matter what data or info. is presented.

The data says there are too many big fish. How did that happen? The DNR’s slot created the scenario where there are too many big fish. How and when did the DNR’s slot come to be? Came about as a result of netting, prior to that there was basically no slot (15″ minimum). Maybe Big G isn’t making that point clear, but the DNR’s own data is pretty clear on these points. So yes it’s not a direct result of netting, but it is a direct result of the management that came about due to netting. I’m yet to see a valid argument against these facts.

fishthumper wrote:

I think the lake was headed for a crash either way.

The lake was able to produce HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of pounds pretty much year in, and year out for decades prior to the netting and slot. Now that we have netting and a slot, in 16 years the lake has been decimated to the point of being shut down. It’s either a mere coincidence, or severe mismanagement imo.

As far as the OP I know people who eat bass, and people who eat pannies, and people who eat northern, and people who will eat any of them (even those disgusting catfish) . I just never concerned myself with much other than where my next meal (fish or not) is coming from!

fishthumper,

I believe netting it the sole cause for all of the problems on Mille Lacs. You stated they take a smaller percentage of fish? Nonsense. They take 50% of all fish harvested in the 2-3 week period after ice out. And those are just the amounts they admit to taking. Many of us feel they are taking a much larger amount. Perhaps a million of more pounds over their allocation annually. Furthermore, if there were no netting there would not be a court mandated safe harvest limit the required the DNR to set slot to manage poundage rather than what is biologically right for the lake. This left fish size out of balance. Too many large fish were required to be release leading to the current problem of the big fish eating all of the little fish before year two age is hit. These and many other reasons are why netting and DNR mismanagement are killing the lake.

-J.

Jon
Are you saying that the netting accounts for 50% of the total Harvest of walleye out of Mille Lac’s? So you don’t trust the totals for netting, but you do trust the totals of fish caught by sportsmen. How many years now has the natives been netting or spearing on the lake? What % of the overall harvest each year has the native take been? ( Reported or allowed anyway ) And one again how does a fish keep by a sportsman differ from one keep by a native? Both are 1 less fish available to spawn. Rather it right before the spawn or days, months or a year prior to the spawn. My point is that sportsman themselves also got to take a share of the blame. No one says just because the limit of fish is 4 or 6 fish that everyone needs to keep a limit of fish each time out. and that was happening far to often for many years on Mille Lacs. I think the equipment and technology made it much easier for fishermen to catch fish on that as well as all lakes. I think hooking mortality also plays a huge roll. I’ve watched tons of people feed line while live bait fishing for way to long ( Want to make sure it has it well you know ) Just my .02 worth. Like the rest of you I’d like to see the netting go away – Just don’t think that is going to happen. I’d like the lake to return to what it once was for all fisherman to enjoy ( Walleye, Bass, Musky, Ect. ) just not sure that is going to happen anytime soon either.

I’m saying the DNR has the numbers wrong. They cannot do their jobs as long as the nets are in the lake.

Mille Lacs has been in a constant state of decline for the last 20 years. Get the nets out and the lake will recover in short order.

-J.

fishthumper wrote:

Are you saying that the netting accounts for 50% of the total Harvest of walleye out of Mille Lac’s?

That is the current deal with the tribes. I personally believe they take more than 50% of all fish killed in any given year. They need to start accounting for all the other fish they kill during netting. The bass, pike, musky they toss back dead are not currently going towards quote. This fish kill could total millions of pounds. Makes hook and release mortality insignificant.

-J.

The lake was healthy and booming with 3 times as many resorts and launches on it 25+ years ago… and with a 6 fish limit. Now the last 20 years with a 4 or less (down to 0 now) limit, with DNR imposed slot limits… what has changed that the lake is now shutdown ? I am no rocket scientist….

I can’t believe there is 103 posts about eating bass!!!

Well I guess if the netting issue gets resolved then everything will return to the glory days and everyone can go back to keeping 6 fish each time out. There will be no need for slot limites, all the forage base will return to normal,Ect, Ect. and everyone will once again be Happy Happy. Now onto getting that Netting issue resolved. I wish the state and everyone good luck with that.

Never forget that if the State and DNR can allow this to happen on Mille Lacs, it can happen on your favorite lake, or every single lake in this state. We ALL need to live under the same set of rules.

-J.

There are people who make things happen and others who sit back and watch others make things happen, criticize them the whole time and then take advantage of the rewards/benefits that are achieved… which are you ???

I’ve never intentionally eaten a bass, one time ice fishing we were on a herd of red eyes, the brother had us keep a few for his fish fry at work. He said they all loved it. There’s a few guys eating white bass, just need to learn to clean them and make sure they get fried the same day. Yellow bass are targeted for the table. All of these types of bass and everyone thinks that the only bass that swims is the smallmouth!

Jon Jordan wrote:

Never forget that if the State and DNR can allow this to happen on Mille Lacs, it can happen on your favorite lake, or every single lake in this state. We ALL need to live under the same set of rules.

-J.

Jon

If the nets are the cause of the problem and the treaty ( Made by The US government by the way ) only allows them to net certain bodies of water. How can this happen to every single lake in the state? we are ALL living under the same set of Rules ( Those set forth in the treaty )

This post is driving me nuts..

suzuki wrote:

This post is driving me nuts..

x2!

big_g wrote:

There are people who make things happen and others who sit back and watch others make things happen, criticize them the whole time and then take advantage of the rewards/benefits that are achieved… which are you ???

Big G

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

I try to live my life as much as possible by this.

You let me know how I can help and change a treaty that was granted to a group of people by the US government, and I’ll jump on board with you.

fishthumper wrote:

How can this happen to every single lake in the state?

Corruption, mismanagement and lies. Not just related to netting. Think AIS and any new crisis of the week that results in unscientific resolutions that limit or end your fishing rights. And yes, Mn residents have a state constitutional right to hunt and fish in Minnesota.

-J.

That treaty has been changed/ignored and downright made a joke of… as long as it benefits one party and not the other. You don’t think it can be “changed” again ? I have the courage… and wisdom ? Like I said, I am no rocket scientist but I know when you shave a skunk, he can still spray and stink like one.

For those who are going nuts, don’t open this thread, it has very little to do with how tasty deep fried bass nuggets are anymore….

fishthumper wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Jon Jordan wrote:</div>
Never forget that if the State and DNR can allow this to happen on Mille Lacs, it can happen on your favorite lake, or every single lake in this state. We ALL need to live under the same set of rules.

-J.

Jon

If the nets are the cause of the problem and the treaty ( Made by The US government by the way ) only allows them to net certain bodies of water. How can this happen to every single lake in the state? we are ALL living under the same set of Rules ( Those set forth in the treaty )

Did you see the recent challenge over wild rice? http://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/08/25/bibeau

This is about expanding territory, not wild rice. If the tribe’s win (again) you will soon see netting and other non-regulated (or barely regulated) harvest of many species across the state, pretty much anywhere north of I94.