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Post by fisherman3234 on Feb 11, 2013 22:36:54 GMT -5
On March 16 2013, 10:00 a.m to noon the Ohio Department of Natural resources is holding a meeting at Spring Valley Wildlife Area near Waynesville Ohio over concern for Ohio's catfish fisheries. Over 117 formal comment forms were received from anglers in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana regarding concerns about our catfish fisheries, in particular the Ohio River The purpose of the meeting is to provide the following: 1. Overview of our statewide catfish management program (fisheries opportunities, stocking, regulations, and future research) 2. Update on the pilot project to develop a blue catfish stocking program in reservoirs 3. Summary of comments and concerns received in 2012 4. Open forum for discussing specific issues, ideas, or concerns. If you would like to attend this important meeting, please RSVP to Sharelle Jones (Sharelle.jones@dnr.state.oh.us, or by phone 614-265-6343) by March 9th. You need to RSVP so they plan appropriately for accommodations.
We have the ear of the ODNR, its time the concerns for our Ohio catfish fisheries are heard.
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Post by Smoothkip on Feb 12, 2013 0:25:16 GMT -5
Thanks for posting this John!
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Post by fisherman3234 on Feb 12, 2013 18:45:06 GMT -5
I cannot stress enough of the importance of this meeting, you better believe the paylake guys are going to be there, the ODNR needs to SEE how many concerned catfisherman there are from around the state that are worried about the overharvest of trophy Flatheads and Blues. We need the numbers!!! If you are a member of any other catfish forums please post the information about the meeting.
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Post by fisherman3234 on Mar 13, 2013 19:31:51 GMT -5
Please don't forget the catfish summit is this weekend....see you there.
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Post by fisherman3234 on Mar 17, 2013 19:54:36 GMT -5
The meeting went well, here is a basic run down....
Everybody in attendance was asked to introduced themselves and invited to ask questions...the meeting lasted 1 hour and 45 minutes longer than planned due to the open forum discussions.
-The removal of trophy fish from the Ohio River and sold to paylakes seemed to be the major area of concern for the fishermen in attendance.
-The fish management folks from Ohio said Kentucky was doing a study on the regulations in House Bill 403 and it would be complete at the end of 2013. I got the distinct feeling that unless Kentucky changes their laws on commercial fishing in the Ohio River, there will be very few, if any, big fish left.
-There are major issues with commercial fishing in the Ohio River and making sure the netters, trotliners and trappers stay on the Kentucky side of the river is a priority for ODNR but having game wardens there to police the illegal activity is almost impossible. Some are using submerged hoop nets which are hard to detect.
-Commercial fishing in the Ohio River is a bigger problem than I ever thought it was and several fisherman voiced their opinions that the big flatheads and blues were no where to be found in the Ohio because the commercial fisherman have taken them....mainly a few paylakers.
-Instances were brought up where Ohio fisherman were selling large catfish to paylakes...which is a major no no!
-There was talk of not allowing the commercial fishermen to dock on the Ohio side of the river.
-Scott Hale, ODNR's Inland Fisheries Program Administrator pointed out that paylakes would not be an issue if they were stock with pond-raised catfish but they have no jurisdiction over private lakes unless there is a creek flowing through which is a tribuatary of a river or stream in Ohio.
-There is a very serious fish virus which the USDA is monitoring very closely and all channel cats must be tested. This is a major problem and caused a massive fish kill in Lake Erie recently.
-The 2 fishing rod rule will stay the same since there wasn't enough positive feedback to make it three.
-The blue catfish stocking program at Hoover Reservoir was called a success since the tracking surveys showed 100 % the fish stayed within the lake and didn't go over the spillway.
-The Dillon Reservoir blue cat stocking program wasn't as successful since almost all the fish went over the spillway and were tracked as far south as the Ohio River.
-ODNR is looking at other lakes similar to Hoover Reservoir for stocking blue cats...acreage-wise and with the proper baitfish populations.
-It is illegal to transport fish from one body of water to another.
-ODNR is taking catfishing seriously and feels they have provided fisherman within in the state boundaries with excellent opprotunities to catch channels, blues and flatheads for years. They gave an excellent presentation on the stocking programs for channel catfish in the state.
-ODNR thinks it's too costly to raise flatheads for stocking in Ohio lakes and rivers and the fish is doing very well where it currently exists. Introduction of flatheads to certain waterways has created problems since they are predatory by nature.
-They urged all fisherman to keep an open dialogue with game wardens and fish management and to not hesitate to give them a call to talk about concerns or law violations.
-Operation Mudcat was an interesting covert enforcement program that was implemented by the Division of Wildlife to stop the illegal sale of trophy fish to paylakes.
-The ODNR can do very little with fishing management in the Ohio River since the majority of the river is under Kentucky jurisdiction. ODNR officials said they are working with Kentucky on solutions but do not want to tell them what to do and vice versa from Kentucky.
-My overall impression from the meeting was that most of the fisherman in attendance would like to have seen an instant solution to overharvesting of the trophies from the Ohio River. This was a major concern.
-ODNR is taking catfishing seriously since they had, at least 10 game wardens and 10 or more fisheries biologists on hand and you could ask any of them questions during the break. It was the most informative meeting on catfishing that I have ever attended and I urge everyone to attend the next one to voice your opinion and get your questions answered.
We must be united as catfisherman and stay vigilant if we want change.
I have a feeling that they are going to start having a yearly meeting, just like they do with the bass and muskie anglers.
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Post by mexicanthreat on Mar 17, 2013 20:39:49 GMT -5
thanks for the update. it sounds like there was a bit of positive news
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Post by Smoothkip on Mar 17, 2013 20:42:39 GMT -5
Glad to hear the efforts being made! Thanks for the info!
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Post by Catfishrollo on Mar 18, 2013 10:31:49 GMT -5
Looks like there were some good topics discussed for sure! Thanks for the update and details... rollo
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atika
New Member
Posts: 10
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Post by atika on Mar 19, 2013 4:42:15 GMT -5
Missed Event due to long distant, but heard that everyone was there and all had lot of fun..
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Seanstone
Catfish Freak
Multi-Specie Catch and Release Angler
Posts: 1,166
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Post by Seanstone on Mar 19, 2013 10:48:17 GMT -5
Thanks for the update. Anyone else catch the fact that they said flathead where too costly to stock? I read on another forum a similar update stating that they cost too much to feed....anyone else start to think about the musky stockings?  ?? They eat similar to flathed too. Really it all boils down to wether or not you'll take what they say and lay down and do nothing about it. I think its great that they have increased regulations, but i'm not satisfied that they have done as much as they can do. If you get content nothing will be done. This whole house bill 403 that kentuckys got going on is great....but watch and see how much gets done. They may tighten regulations but wont eliminate the commercial fishing. Oh yeah, and make sure to call them when you see someone breaking the rules and regulations......thats what they said at that meeting. But how many times have one of you called about illegal/unmarked, limblines, trotlines, etc? And how much was done about it? Thats my rant for the week. Lol. Wish i could have been there. |
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Post by Smoothkip on Mar 19, 2013 11:40:50 GMT -5
I called once on a stretch on the Muskingum and not much was done for weeks untill i mentioned that the guys were selling to paylakes. The next weekend i went down all the limblines, guys rowboat and the holding tanks up by his cabin were gone.
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Post by ducky on Mar 19, 2013 14:54:24 GMT -5
I have notified the gw before when i found limb lines in parts of the lakes that are off limits to lines/jugs, nothing happened, but i tend to keep making complaints in the future, it may take time but i think they will get tired of complaints after awhile and start doing something.
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Post by Skyline1506 on Mar 20, 2013 7:22:43 GMT -5
the one thing i liked in there was that it sounds like they are going to keep stocking blues in different parts of the state
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Post by katfish on Mar 20, 2013 20:08:00 GMT -5
Me and Chad asked if Richard could get a discount on his fishing license because he doesn't hook many  When asked about allowing more poles per fishermen the ODNR answerred there is no biological reason but the majority of people (non catfishermen) did not think it was necessary. Meaning that public opinion and not biologists were the driving force for existing regs. |
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Post by Skyline1506 on Mar 20, 2013 21:47:20 GMT -5
would have been awesome for tournies to not have to worry about snapping a rod and being down to one
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?? They eat similar to flathed too. Really it all boils down to wether or not you'll take what they say and lay down and do nothing about it. I think its great that they have increased regulations, but i'm not satisfied that they have done as much as they can do. If you get content nothing will be done.
