Rivereyes, No, Blackbeard isn’t an alias, just a guy who has been lurking around this site since day one and hasn’t had much to say but felt strongly enough about this topic to test the waters. Kid, I didn’t take the “whim’s perception” thing too seriously it’s just that I have no data no surveys or statistics just what I personally observe, very unscientific. I am a believer of history. Especially American history, this is not on the same scale as other events in our past, but I hate the idea of history repeating itself. Not learning from our past mistakes happens time and again. I don’t want any of us to ever be in the position of sitting around some day saying, “what if?” or “we should of did this or that.” Regarding this certain topic I don’t know any good solutions, though I can suggest that when we do go fishing and decide to keep some, that we base it not just on regulations imposed, but on what I need, not what my brother-in-law’s sisters uncle wants or my neighbor down the street. Not a limit, if only to justify the cost of my guide or motel or gas. If it’s 6, then take 6, If you’re the only one at your house that eats fish take one for tonight,and none for the freezer, cuz the freezer just does’nt do it justice, and now you also have a great reason why you need to get back out and fish. The Native Americans didn’t need regulations to guide them on how much buffalo they could take. They only took what they needed. They understood the balance, I think we can to. Hey Gianni, Thanks for the tip, I’ll try that next time.

I hope the Kid is a better psychic than I am and everything is just A-OK. The message I think being perceived, maybe not by the regulars who do most of the communicating on this site but by the 1000’s or tens of 1000’s that look in on this site, is that the fishery is in great shape(which it is!) if the main guys are taking limits than it probably won’t hurt anything if I do. There’s nothing wrong with any of that, its just when you multiply it over and over and over again, can this fishery take it? I don’t know, time will only tell. What I do know, and it’s not based on a “whims perception” is that a no other time in our history have anglers been able to hit the water armed with the information that they now are able to get, you know the up to the minute(almost) who,what,where,when and how, and if you’re still unsure you can buy the video. There is more recreation time available to people than ever before, go out on wednesday and might think it’saturday. We even have a guy at Evert’s with a personallity who’ll actually talk to you and tell you what’s going on. All these things are great for the sport and I’m not trying to cut them down. But with all this knowledge comes the responsibilty to take care of this fishery. I have fished this pool for many, many years, before the Nuke plant kept the upper reaches open year round. I know it has always received pressure, but not the well informed kind it gets these days. I fish the pool about 80 days a year, not as much as some,but alot more than others. In my observation, 9 times out of 10, I see the same scene play out over and over, set the hook, net the fish, in the box. Perceived on a whim? There’s nothing wrong with keeping fish but when you start doing multiplication you can’t help but wonder if this fishery can sustain it. I hope it can, sounds like most of you think so to. I’m off my soapbox. by the way, in response to Gianni, I don’t have a problem with a photo of you and your friends with 50 crappies on ice, but if you could elaborate to the masses on the where,what,when and how, and maybe offer a video about it, I think you might have a problem with it.

Dave, Its seems that you have missed my point. You do not need to defend James. I know he is a great guy. I know he makes his living guiding. Were stringer photos what convinced you to hire him? I dought it. My point is that James, Dustin, Jarrad and Greg influence more than just potential customers with these stringer photos. We know they are going to keep eaters for their customers, but photos such as stringer shots can send the wrong message.

loo, I wanted to thank you for the tip, I was out Saturday by the chippewa and couldn’t put anything together. I had some relatives coming by that night and was hoping for a fish fry. I remembered your post and drove up there and tried it out.I fished that area and I didn’t get any big ones but got enough eaters to keep everyone happy! Thanks, blackbeard