Conference wahoo::fishing-v2

I've all but given up bass fishing.  I tend to agree with you.  The pressure
on the black bass is incredible.  I'd have lockjaw if I were them.  Most of
the people in the greater Boston area are getting them on live shiners.

Now the striped bass on the other hand is doing quite well.  I hope that we
as fisherpeople do not blow this one!

Tim

      I don't think that there are that many less bass in most lakes..sure,
    some of the heavily fished areas are probably down some, and recent
    reports out ot Florida are very discouraging. Seems that the publicity
    over the past 10-15 years have brough such an influx of part-time
    fishermen into Florida waters that the averages have plummeted in size.
    Florida Fish & Game is considering a DRASTIC size/number change to see
    if they can get the sizes back up...but then, Fla has had--in my
    opinion--a rather "generous" limit---10 if I'm not mistaken--that a
    change may be good. I thinkthe limit was going to be reduced to 5, with
    only 1 fish allowed OVER 22 inches. B.A.S.S. is opposing this change,
    to the point that they're seriously considering abandoning all future
    tournaments in Fla. if the law passes..
    
      As for N.E... This has been a CRUDDY spring! Cold nights, late
    warm-up, rain at just the wrong times, lots of weird weather fronts...I
    think this has screwed up not only catching Bass but possibly the
    normal spawn... Hoope for better weather...summer Bass may be pretty
    good if the weather co-operates a bit...
    
      There are still a lot of bass out there....some harder to find and
    harder to GET to than others, but getting there can be half of the fun
    too...
    
    John Mc 

    I've found that the only way to get any decent black bass fishing in
    is to either fish the small ponds or the big lakes with restricted
    access (Quabbin and Wachusetts). Any lake that allows tournaments on
    them are really hard to fish - there are sooo many bass clubs that
    you can be certain that every good size lake that allows tournaments
    WILL have one on it every weekend during the season. I'm really not
    agains't tournaments (they are good about catch and release) but, there
    are just too many of them going on! The fish in those lakes must see
    a hundred lures pass by every week. I tend to concentrate on the salt
    these days but, if I go bassin' its either in a lake that can't support
    big bass boats, or its shore fishing for smallies on
    Quabbin/Wachusetts.
    
    			Robert.
    
    P.S. - picked up 3 smallies (~1-1.5 lbers.) at Quabbin yesterday.
    

    Maybe all game fish that are not stocked yearly must be released unless
    injured or wall mounted,,,,,,,,,naw,,,it's so hard to make a law and
    enforce it and quite frankly who wants more LAWS.
    I just want the thrill of catching 5 or more good Bass a day to last
    so we need to put more back or stock some.
    
    The fish market is down the street..............
    
                                              -�teve

       Re .4
      Couldn't agree more!! Webster Lake is a great example..lots of bass
    of both species in that 'pond', but there are 10,000 hi-speed boats of
    all descriptions zipping back and forth on it as soon as ice-out, so if
    you wanna fish there you gotta do so in the middle of the night or use
    dyanamite....
    
       Re .4
      I don't think it's that drastic though either. I have a tendency to
    agree with Bill Dance and Jimmy Houston on "take what you can eat, but
    release the rest". I don't think it's the guy who takes a 2-pound bass
    or two home for the frying pan who's the cause of the depletion.... I
    think it's the jerk who goes out and catches 42 little undersized fish
    in an afternoon and like a pig takes ALL of them home. Most REAL
    sportsmen have enough respect for the environment to take care of
    it...which includes more than not dumping a couple of 6-packs and
    his/her picnic remains on the bank...it also includes some restraint
    and smartness when it comes to USING the resources...
    
    John Mc

    Maybe this belongs in the Rathole, but...
    
    Doesn't it happen every year around this time that bass anglers comes 
    across the notion that the bass population is dropping? 
    I mean, it's right after the males have left their
    nests, and it has suddenly become a real chore to find them to catch
    them.
    
    Hint:
    
    You'll find the smallmouths hanging *in* the thermocline as close to
    shore as they can be except when they come in to the shallows to feast 
    on the multitude of young-of-the-year twice a day or so. That, at any
    rate, is my observation. 
    
    John H-C 

    
    
    
               Try fishn deeper.With all the boat traffic and more
               fishing pressure along the shore,fish tend to hold
               deeper during the day.Weed edges near 20' of water
               is one of the best summer spots.Fish the outside edges
               first and then get a weighted worm and throw into 
               the weeds for the ones that bury themselves in the cover.
    
               Right about 7 o'clock when boat traffic calms go back to
               the shoreline.
    
    
    
    
                                              The Keg

      Re .6
      Probably so.. Spring pre-spawn time is sort of like taking candy away
    from a baby...almost anyone can catch a few with many different types
    of lures, since the bass are moving and feeding after their winter
    rest.
    
      Later on though, you have to go find where they are holed up.
    Depending on the time of day, weather conditions, water and air
    temperature and water clarity for a few examples, the bass can and will
    be in different places and be less or more apt to take certain lures
    and baits. Although I think that over time a specific bass may--if
    he/she's caught 10 or 12 times--get 'lure-shy', but the bass population
    overall doesn't "share knowledge" about fishermen and become
    intelligent. Bass ain't all that smart, but they do change their habits
    with changes of conditions...and not many bass'ers have the ability to
    know and understand ALL of the changes... 
      Then again, even if you KNOW where they are and what they'd be ready
    to take, you STILL will come home some days wondering why they aren't
    interested a whit in what you've offered them.. Some days we just gotta
    face the fact that the only things biting are deer-flies and
    mosquitoes..
    
    
    JMcD

    This is interesting...  the average trout fisher will tell you 
    that the trout fishing has gone to hell in a hand basket what 
    with all the pressure and nothing around but stockies and that
    you should pursue bass or saltwater for 'real' fishing. 


    Bob
    

    This has been one of the best years for me for Bass and Trout.
    I tend to stick to the smaller ponds and rivers though.
    Never did have alot of luck on the big lakes like Quabin.
    
    I like to do most of my large mouth Bass fishing in the morning 
    or evening. I think most Bass fishermen will tell you that.
    
    I agree with reply that said try different depths and baits.
    You have to find em first and figure out what there hitting on
    before you will have success. Take for instance that a couple
    years back all I was getting them on was spinner baits.
    Then last year mainly on crank baits like broken back repalas.
    
    This year my best success has been on regular mepps spinners.
    Especialy the flourecent kind.
    
    YO KEG,
           I have'nt tried lake Chauncy yet but still plan to!
    
                                                               Scott.

    All I know is that whenever I hit a pond you ask folks hows it going,
    most will answer lousy or one or two.  My partners and I often follow
    other boats patterns right behind them, catching fish were they passed
    empty handed. So who knows what the reasons are, I haven't found less
    fish this year, in fact have caught more big ones, but I agree there
    seems to be more boats on the water than ever before and I see
    tremendous pressure on the shores too.  Last time I came in there were
    two guys fishing the shore with minnows.  They had a stringer that must
    have had a 1/2 dozen bass ranging up to a lb and a slew of other fish. 
    They asked if we had any they could have.  If folks keep taking that
    out of these small ponds they will eventually dry up.
    
    

    
    
    
            Re: Scott Lake Chauncey......
    
    
            Don't go there,especially during lunch and use a 
            plastic worm.
    
    
    
                                        Thanks 
    
    
                                            The Keg

    RE: 11
          I know what you mean. When I go to the Met, in Marlboro, the
    shoreline of the cove is packed with people keeping everything they
    can catch, Crappie, White Perch, and Sunfish. They can keep all the 
    Bluegill they want but what pissis me off is they keep Large and Small
    Mouth Bass under 12", which is the limit. I think that limit is way 
    to small but at least they could obey the 12"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    
                                   Catch and Release,
                                                      Scott.
    
    Guess I'll skip Chauncy Keg.

    I can't say that I've noticed any less bass than normal.  I have
    noticed more and more people fishing though.  I agree that too many
    folks keep too many fish from small bodies of water close to highly
    populated areas.  These are the ponds that'll be hurt the most.
    
    -donmac