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+--- Thread: Can you keep bass at Lowell now? (/showthread.php?tid=889180)
Can you keep bass at Lowell now? - nevadaboy - 07-01-2014
So as of today can I keep 2 bass over 16 inches at lowell?
Reason I ask is I like to keep my 2 biggest so at the end of the day I can do some photos with the sunset. The fish will be released after that and they will be well taken care of when their in the live well.
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Re: [nevadaboy] Can you keep bass at Lowell now? - hizah - 07-02-2014
It might be a grey area. If you have 2 in the well and you catch a third then you have 3 in possession. Most places that doesn't matter since one is going back, but Lowell has it's own set of rules. Hate to say it but I wouldn't be concerned, I watched plenty of people keeping bass during the spring, they got there pictures and videos of fish going into buckets sent to fish and game. The odds of you getting in trouble are basically zero.
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Re: [nevadaboy] Can you keep bass at Lowell now? - 78Caddis - 07-02-2014
Why not take a pic of every one you catch and then delete the small ones caught? ...not trying to be an ass...
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Re: [nevadaboy] Can you keep bass at Lowell now? - IDFG_R3_FishMgt - 07-02-2014
My name is Joe Kozfkay. I work at the Nampa Regional Office in the fisheries program. I hesitate to reply to these posts as I do not have the time to monitor this site continuously, but I made an exceptions as this involves fishing rules. I am available to talk via phone at 475-2764 during business hours.
The action you describe is illegal. See page 50 of the fishing rules brochure. Any fish so caught (during catch and release fishing) must be released immediately, unharmed back to the water. This rule is further described in IDAPA. The stipulations require that fish, that are to be released, need to be released at the same time and place.
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Re: [IDFG_R3_FishMgt] Can you keep bass at Lowell now? - elkmagnet - 07-02-2014
Hi Joe,
I want you to know that I appreciate your reply and hope that you find time to reply more often on sites such as this.
With that said.
Joe if you look at the precedent that the Fish and Game Director- Virgil Moore has set. The regulations brochure is really more of a set of guidelines than rules.
To the O.P. if you want to follow the guidelines set by fish & game I think Joe gave you your answer. It sounds like you really have them dialed in good for you!
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Re: [IDFG_R3_FishMgt] Can you keep bass at Lowell now? - Bardic - 07-02-2014
Copied from the regulations:
Holding Live Fish: No permit is required to keep game fish
alive that have legally been reduced to possession, in a live
well, net or on a stringer while at the body of water from
which they were taken. All fish must be killed or released
prior to leaving the water body. However, anadromous
salmon and steelhead must either be killed or released after
landing
So I suppose that still means you would have to release one of the two fish prior to landing a third, but it specifically describes keeping fish in a live well and then releasing them before you leave the lake. This wouldn't be allowed before July because fish in the live well count as being in possession, and before July that number is zero. After July 1st you can have 2, but you still couldn't keep any between 12 and 16 inches in the live well.
edit for clarification:
Lake Lowell
• January 1 to June 30 - bass limit is 0, catch-and-release
• July 1 to December 31- bass limit is 2, none
between 12 and 16 inches
So Joe is correct, anywhere in the regs that has that catch and release line means you can't use live wells and have to release immediately. Since it is after July 1st you are fine, but would be flirting with the legality of having 3 bass on the boat while you decide which one is smallest to let go.
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Re: [78Caddis] Can you keep bass at Lowell now? - nevadaboy - 07-02-2014
No worries man I just love how a picture comes out when your holding a couple 4 pounders (or bigger) together with the sun going down in the picture. Thanks for all the help guys especially Joe thanks for taking my call. I'm a tournament angler and will talk good care of the fish and if one even shows the slightest sign of not comfortable in the live well it will be released right there. I've never killed a bass and never plan on it.
Once again thanks for the help.
[quote 78Caddis]Why not take a pic of every one you catch and then delete the small ones caught? ...not trying to be an ass...[/quote]
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Re: [IDFG_R3_FishMgt] Can you keep bass at Lowell now? - Idaho - 07-02-2014
Thank you, Joe for taking the time to clear up a Question.
Please do not ever hesitate to reply to these posts.
For the most, we are good fisher people.
Thank you again.
Idaho
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Re: [IDFG_R3_FishMgt] Can you keep bass at Lowell now? - SmartWeed - 07-02-2014
I have long been irritated over fishermen in tournaments being allowed to keep 5 bass in their live wells during the closed season, when recreational fishermen cannot keep any. Why not require the same rules - no fish in the live wells. There are many tournaments in this country that are catch and release with overall length of the fish determining the winners.
I have also wondered what would happen if a tournament fisherman caught a state record bass out of Lake Lowell during a pre-July tournament. Would it be recognized? I know that if I caught it I would have to release it immediately (however, I guarantee I would sneak some photos).
And, I'm not anti-tournament. I helped organize one of the first bass clubs in the state (Idaho Bassmasters), and fished tournaments from Oregon to Texas before many of you ever took up fishing.
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Re: [SmartWeed] Can you keep bass at Lowell now? - Idaho - 07-03-2014
when recreational fishermen can't keep any. That is his Deal ( Joe ) and ours.
Don't own a [url "mailto:b@ss"]b@ss[/url] boat, never will. I'll always find away Just below the combat fishing...
Welcome to my thoughts..
Swan Falls. Upper for bass....
Idaho
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Re: [SmartWeed] Can you keep bass at Lowell now? - dtayboyz - 07-03-2014
That's why the fish and game requires tournaments to have a permit. It is so you can possess and remove live fish from a body of water. There is also a detailed report that has to be returned to the f&g.
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Re: [dtayboyz] Can you keep bass at Lowell now? - Idaho - 07-03-2014
I'll stick with the waters of the Snake.
Used to be a Gr8 place to hunt and fish.
Lake Lowell.
Idaho
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Re: [dtayboyz] Can you keep bass at Lowell now? - SmartWeed - 07-03-2014
[quote dtayboyz]That's why the fish and game requires tournaments to have a permit. It is so you can possess and remove live fish from a body of water. There is also a detailed report that has to be returned to the f&g.[/quote]
I understand all that. You did not address my post. I am well aware of tournament rules in Idaho. A friend and I testified at a legislative committee hearing that was going to outlaw bass tournaments in Idaho. Our presentation kept the proposed law from passing the committee. This was probably before you picked up your first fishing rod.
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Re: [Idaho] Can you keep bass at Lowell now? - dtayboyz - 07-03-2014
I agree, lake Lowell has to many rules and not much water. It's fun when the trees are flooded. This month we're doing Walcott, next month cj. Snake always fish.
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Re: [SmartWeed] Can you keep bass at Lowell now? - Idaho - 07-03-2014
tournament rules> wow.= Fishing nice.
I like shooting birdS.
Idaho
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Re: [SmartWeed] Can you keep bass at Lowell now? - dtayboyz - 07-03-2014
Been a member of BASS since 1983. Really dug the Delong worm by creme. Especially in lake hodges. Don't worry about me, I'll stay out of your puddles. If ya got the strength come for a Gertrude ride. Camp Pendleton had an awesome club with no bass boats.
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Re: [dtayboyz] Can you keep bass at Lowell now? - Idaho - 07-03-2014
I like Elk meat. Never had a shot. Their wallows. Scarce me.
Just saying.
Idaho
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Re: [Idaho] Can you keep bass at Lowell now? - hulapopper - 07-03-2014
i am anti-tournament without question. there are waaaay to many tournaments on the same water every weekend it seems. and the ethics would be placed slightly higher than that of jet skiers and salmon yankers.
rules should apply for all regardless
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Re: [nevadaboy] Can you keep bass at Lowell now? - nevadaboy - 07-03-2014
Didn't mean to start a argument guys just wanted some info for a chance at some cool pictures. We all love the sport tournament angler or not. Hope to see some of you out on lowell this weekend was really great last weekend.
Tight lines everyone and again thank you for the help.
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Re: [SmartWeed] Can you keep bass at Lowell now? - IDFG_R3_FishMgt - 07-03-2014
Well, it didn't take "you" long to cure me.
I will try to provide information at times, but I will no longer reply to these threads. It seems like there are good people on BFT and serious anglers; however, I think some people just like to argue and take cheap shots. And frankly, the in-fighting among anglers is not productive.
Tournament anglers would not be able to legally transport a putative state record to a certified scale, and would not have a certified scale on hand, so this would not be a legal possibility.
IDFG tries to maximize fishing opportunity and we also try to provide for a diversity of fishing opportunity. Competitive fishing is part of that diversity. We only want to restrict tournaments if they create biological problems or substantial social problems. It's hard to argue that either of these are occurring at Lake Lowell currently. Due to the refuge's nesting bird closures and the low reservoir levels in the fall, there are only a handful of tournaments on Lowell this year. You are correct that we allow them to possess fish when others cannot. This is special treatment, but I have a hard time considering this something that is biologically or socially unacceptable to most, especially considering the substantial youth outreach that bass clubs orchestrate.
Why not just enjoy what is some of the best largemouth bass fishing that any of us will ever witness than focus on negatives?
Lastly, I would like to share that our conservation officers have taken anglers reports about illegal harvest at lake lowell very seriously. They have been patrolling this water harder than they ever have and running into more than a few violations. We are committed to improving knowledge and compliance with the quality regulation that has made this such a great fishery.
I will share a summary report of these efforts soon. Again, if any of you want to discuss something, we are available. See phone contact info above.
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