03-18-2016, 06:43 PM
[quote PBH]Further -- if natural reproduction isn't supported by the system those fish spawn in, then it really doesn't matter!
If that heifer is sterile, then it doesn't make a difference when you kill her, she isn't making calves. She might still go through the process of trying, but it's all for fun![/quote]
Exactly. This willard snagging issue is really about the ethics and lawfulness of snagging fish. Lets try not to get it too mixed up with population ramifications because it really is negligible in this case.
And lets remember that walleye snagging during the spawn is a problem across the country, not just in tributaries and inlets, etc but also on rock faces too. They are just vulnerable that time of year because they are confined in shallow water in large numbers. The reason I think it bugs so many people that snagging takes place in the inlet is that it is extra confined and arguably much easier to snag them there than elsewhere on the lake. And you can make the case that it would be impossible for the officials to patrol the dyke rock faces. Too much ground to cover.... but when a good % of the snagging, if not a majority of it, takes place in one very known spot - more should be done to prevent it.
This really boils down to people breaking the law and then enforcing the law. The "fuss" about this so to speak will fluctuate up and down in my opinion based on how much of a presence the UDWR decides to make at the inlet this time of year. If there is zero enforcement and zero presence at the inlet people are going to be upset, and rightfully so. The officials know darn well what has traditionally occurred there and they should also know darn well if they don't do anything at all about the illegal activities, people are going to be upset.
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If that heifer is sterile, then it doesn't make a difference when you kill her, she isn't making calves. She might still go through the process of trying, but it's all for fun![/quote]
Exactly. This willard snagging issue is really about the ethics and lawfulness of snagging fish. Lets try not to get it too mixed up with population ramifications because it really is negligible in this case.
And lets remember that walleye snagging during the spawn is a problem across the country, not just in tributaries and inlets, etc but also on rock faces too. They are just vulnerable that time of year because they are confined in shallow water in large numbers. The reason I think it bugs so many people that snagging takes place in the inlet is that it is extra confined and arguably much easier to snag them there than elsewhere on the lake. And you can make the case that it would be impossible for the officials to patrol the dyke rock faces. Too much ground to cover.... but when a good % of the snagging, if not a majority of it, takes place in one very known spot - more should be done to prevent it.
This really boils down to people breaking the law and then enforcing the law. The "fuss" about this so to speak will fluctuate up and down in my opinion based on how much of a presence the UDWR decides to make at the inlet this time of year. If there is zero enforcement and zero presence at the inlet people are going to be upset, and rightfully so. The officials know darn well what has traditionally occurred there and they should also know darn well if they don't do anything at all about the illegal activities, people are going to be upset.
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