RE: Bowfishing Muskie

[Hooligan]

Would it behoove the muskie fishermen/women of NE to push for a "ban" on bowfishing muskies? Personally, I can't understand why you'd arrow one in the first place, particularly if you aren't familiar with what legal lengths look like on a muskie. I add that last statement for the sheer and simple fact that I know people whom have been fishing muskies the better part of 30 years and they STILL won't call a legal fish until it is on the bump board. I can't help but think that the majority of people who fish Eastern NE don't have a clue what a 40" fish is in the water, they wouldn't be able to judge it.
Firstly, how would one go about such a suggestion, what would the channels be?
Secondly would it be best to pursue such an action only of Muskies, or are there other species that should be included, either because of low repro rates, or high cost of stocking, and being a valuable resource.
Anyhow, I'm interested in what you guys might think of it, I'm also interested in what input Mr. Daryl might have.

[fearnofish]

This seems to be a major discussion that has been discussed in another thread. Why is everyone so concerned with bowfishing muskie? I have been fishing for muskie at Wagon Train all summer and have caughten only one. I really dont think the opportunity is going to be presented a whole lot for guys bowfishing for them. The only thing that has broughten that to this forum is a younger kid arrowed two of them in the spillway. Those fish cant even be put back into the main lake so why does it matter? There are not going to live anyways . And for the young guy that arrowed two of them , why be angry at him? He will probably remember that for the rest of his life, rather have my kid arrow a few muskie then smokin meth ?

[obert]

No and I wouldn't put any limits on bowfishers.

[mrcold]

As you can obviously see from the main board, people are of the opinion that as long as bowfishermen aren't illegally taking a lot of fish, they should be left alone. Apparently if the law you're breaking is only broken by a select few, it's not worthy of a look. I've never been terribly impressed with the "it's so rare, I'm not even going to talk about it" argument, as it is just a lazy way to avoid putting forth the effort to have an intelligent discussion...but I don't really want to start a p*ssing contest on the main board. Aside from the "you're shooting an expensive and awesome sport fish for no good reason" that is just my personal opinion, my problem is if you stick an arrow in a 32" fish, what are you going to do? Throw it back? Go find a ranger and tell him to ticket you? Nope, you screwed up and killed a fish you had no business shooting. Toss it back, let it swim away for a few minutes, then go about your business shooting other fish that you can hope are legal. I'd put that right up there with catching a 10 or 11" bass or walleye and throwing it on the bank for the hell of it.

But that's just my opinion I guess. As long as only a couple people are doing that, then it's not worth talking about.

[Sticksnskullsia]

I guess my question is, how many muskie do you here about being shot each year, for that matter in that last 5 years, or ever, besides this year? I don't think that bowfishermen are putting a dent in the population.
How many muskie do you think die because anglers catch them in late June, July and August when water temps. are up? I know Esox Junkie doesn't fish for them this time of year because of that. So why are you getting your panties in a bunch over 2 fish? Maybe there should be a closed season on muskie from June to the end of August if those fish are so valuable.

Just my 2 cents.

[Hooligan]

There's no need of that, because the intelligent people that are targeting them, don't FISH them in the dog-day heat. Not around here anyhow.
Cold, I tend to agree that the "not putting a dent in the population" logic is a crap statement, at the very best. One could go on to say other things for certain.
I guess that I'm of the mind-set that I'd rather see a total catch and release reg statewide on muskie, or a 50" size limit statewide. That would solve more than one issue.
Bowfishing muskies is just plain stupid, any way you look at it. I don't care who you are or what you say, there's nothing that would convince me otherwise. It is senseless. What do you intend to do with it? Can't eat it, that's for sure....
As far as the logic of "How many fish do you think are being shot..." I don't care one iota how many ARE being shot, that isn't the point. The point is that 85%+ of the anglers I know wouldn't be able to judge a legal fish, let alone judge it in the water, under 2-4 feet of depth.

[mrcold]

Originally Posted by Sticksnskullsia

So why are you getting your panties in a bunch over 2 fish?

Congrats on an exemplary performance in missing the point completely...

[LincolnLunger]

Originally Posted by Hooligan

I guess that I'm of the mind-set that I'd rather see a total catch and release reg statewide on muskie, or a 50" size limit statewide. That would solve more than one issue.

Agreed.

[brian40]

What I find so humorous about this whole topic is that the same people who are all high and mighty about wanting new laws to be enacted and existing laws enforced to protect muskies are the same ones that blatantly admit to and advocate breaking the law about moving those precious musky from the spillway to the main lake.

[fearnofish]

Originally Posted by brian40

What I find so humorous about this whole topic is that the same people who are all high and mighty about wanting new laws to be enacted and existing laws enforced to protect muskies are the same ones that blatantly admit to and advocate breaking the law about moving those precious musky from the spillway to the main lake.

That is exactly what I cant get either, why does it matter. Those muskie in that spillway are not going to live a long and prosperous life. If those fish are so expensive why not catch them and put them back? If they are all going to die in the spillway why does it matter if a guy wants to arrow one with a bow, and if its off a few inches get all angry because its not 40 inches? Let me ask you this how stressed do you think those fish are being hammered everyday, day in day out. I can see in the main lake but how many if ANY muskie are arrowed in the actual lake. I bet there hasnt been one muskie actually shot out of the wagon train lake.

[Sticksnskullsia]

Wow, sounds like you guys paid for the fish. Last time I checked, I bought a fishing license too. If a kid shoots a muskie (or 2), good for him. I would like to see the pics. Didn't you guys say that you would put it back in the lake? Is that legal? HMMMMMMMMM. Follow some regs but not others? WOW. I think I would be more about the bucket patrol instead of bowfisherman. I personally wouldn't shoot a muskie, but under the circumstances, you guys are going a little over board in my opinion.

[Hooligan]

POint to me one instance in which I have said that I would move fish from one point to the other? You can't. I haven't said it.
Another thing, who says those fish are going to die? If they aren't caught, and aren't stressed, there's a chance they'll make it through and live in the pool as long as the water isn't 90%.
I find it laughable that you use the excuse,time and time again, that "those fish are going to die anyway." Well, they are now, and one illegally, maybe both depending on the order in which they were shot. I don't care that the kid stuck a ski, I care that he didn't know to judge the length of the fish before doing so, and I care that he killed two in the same outing. THAT is where the problem lies, get that through your head. It is about the ability to judge the length of the fish in question, obviously someone already failed on that account.
High and mighty is right, if there is one species of fish that deserves protection from the off chance that someone is going to stick an arrow in them at 36" it is muskies.
FURTHERMORE, Muskies Inc 53 DID, in some ways, pay for those fish more than you or someone that isn't a member. (Maybe not those fish directly, but you'll get where I'm going with it...) By aiding the state in preserving the ability to stock advance fingerlings in suitable fisheries, and in doing so donating much of their own money, Bryan, Jamie, or Daryl can give the figure I'm sure, they did pay for those fish more than the average par-permit holder. Muskies, Inc. members have more to lose from seeing any Esox lost than most of the non-members.
Can you back up anything you say with anything other than here-say and rhetoric, or can you lay some facts on the table of your side of the story?
"




We are committed to the abatement of water pollution, maintenance of records
for muskellunge habits, growth and range and the dissemination of muskie
information to everyone. We aid the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission in
angler education, muskellunge stocking, ongoing research projects, rescue and
survey programs.

Join us in our efforts to make a healthy, trophy muskellunge fishery here in
Nebraska for ours and future generations.--- Taken from MI53.org
.

[Brian]

Originally Posted by Sticksnskullsia

Wow, sounds like you guys paid for the fish.

As a matter of fact, we donated $5,000 to NGPC last year for the sole purpose of Muskellunge production.


- B

[Sticksnskullsia]

The Aquatic Habitat Stamp became required for most anglers in 1997, and with that revenue, the heavy lifting of the program began. Anglers have since purchased more than 1.9 million stamps, and the $9.5 million generated has been leveraged against more than 70 other funding sources, most notably the Sport Fish Restoration Fund, Nebraska Environmental Trust, and Environmental Protection Agency program funds, providing more than $26 million for work to date.
$9.5 million compared to $5000 sounds like nobody but you guys should be able to touch a muskie.

Like I said I would never shoot a muskie, but because a kid shot one there is a sudden up roar. Let it go. Maybe if there was a bunch of guy trying to shoot muskies, then that would be something to get p1$$ed about. I don't know anyone that goes out looking to shoot a muskie. Are they that easy to see? I'm not going to comment on this topic anymore.

Good Luck with your fight.

[mrcold]

Gosh, I have a license. I'm gonna start hunting walleye off the BO dam during the spawn I think. I paid my part, so damnit, it's my right to do it.

Sticks, if you weren't so busy being a condescending asshat, you'd realize that people are talking about this because they'd like to change the regulations to improve the muskie fishery. They don't want to take bows away from bowfishermen, just make it so it's not so damn easy to break the law by shooting a short fish and then having no recourse other than taking a dead fish home and lying about it on a website. Remove your head from wherever it's wedged and try to see the big picture. It's not about some kid shooting two fish.

[Sticksnskullsia]

You're right and I'm way out of line. Just wanted to see how far I could take this. Maybe I'll invite you over for some muskie stakes on the grill, they are good with a little butter and garlic. JK!!! Lighten up.

[danager]

Maybe I'll invite you over for some muskie stakes on the grill, they are good with a little butter and garlic.

This has taken a turn for the worse and I'm betting it may shut down.

[bwese]

The season for legally taking game fish with archery equipment opens July 1st every year. (can't shoot walleye legally during the dam face spawns) It was moved there for the simple reason it basically moves most gamefish out of the target area as they are no longer in the shallows much(spawning, etc.,check the state records of archerey and see when most of the gamefish archery records were set. It was probably like when the rough fish are in the shallows spawning as well, making easy targets.

I wasn't into bowfishing yet so this is an educated guess as since I have been into bowfishing it is rare to see any gamefish during this current season. I have taken paddlefish and one other species of gamefish during this time. I believe the vast majority of bowfishers target rough fish 100% of the time with a very rare gamefish taken as a bonus. (paddlefish excluded since a specific season is on them)

This musky club sounds like a special interest group in Washington that greases the coffers and such and expects special legislation helping them out in there endeavors. If we need a new law to stop people from taking muskies by bow because sometimes someone makes the choice to illegally shoot a short fish then we better make new laws closing other hook and line gamefish seasons, for example walleye season, bass season because of all the short fish kept all over the state, or dare I say it musky for I'm sure some illegal fish have probably been kept as often as a musky has been shot or died after being released after a tough stressful fight.

Are these poachers prosecuted, sometimes. Like any law, its only as good as it is enforced. There are regulations already on the books that police archery gamefish seasons and such. If the kid shot a legal fish fine, if not fine, pun intended, this doesn't warrant new regulations.

Perhaps we should just ban tourney fishing or sport fishing for the legal fish that die after being released. It is a whole lot larger percentage lost this way than by archery fishers taking legal fish. This won't and shouldn't happen.

Good luck the rest of the season bow fishers and musky hunters alike. Bring on the waterfowl!

BWese

[fearnofish]

You guys actually think those muskie in the spillway have a future? The spillway usually dries up in the winter, where they gnna go? That creek is not a option it is only 1 inch deep. And know one has answered has there actually ever been a muskie that was arrowed out of a lake. I havent been to wagontrain lately and come across a 40 inch muskie just floating on top waiting to get shot by a bowfisher. What I am trying to say is that its only possible in the spillway , and I would love for someone to explain what future the muskie have in the spillway

[mrcold]

Originally Posted by fearnofish

I would love for someone to explain what future the muskie have in the spillway

More of a future than a short fish that was shot by someone who couldn't judge their target? I don't see what's so hard for people to comprehend.

It's not about the spillway, it's not about the fish in the spillway, it's not about the kid that shot two fish in the spillway.

The problem with this whole thing is it's not possible to say "damn, the fish is 3" short of legal...lemme get this arrow out of it so I can immediately release it unharmed."