Thread: How would you feel about min lengths and reduced limits ?

Originally Posted by jigflinger

Sardis was hurt very badly when someone lowered the length limit to 11 inches for a couple of years. Thankfully, that didn't last too long but Sardis was raped for those years.

Very true, jigflinger! I forgot about that crazy regulation; people were catching limits in about an hour during those two years.

Obviously too much pressure. Let's all get together and push for my system where if your birthday is on an odd day you fish odd dates. Born on an even number...fish even numbered days. In as few as 5 or 6 years we'll be able to see results.

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Originally Posted by jigflinger

Sardis was hurt very badly when someone lowered the length limit to 11 inches for a couple of years. Thankfully, that didn't last too long but Sardis was raped for those years.

I know guides on Washington in Mississppi saying it has been overfished

Originally Posted by Gomer Snerd

Obviously too much pressure. Let's all get together and push for my system where if your birthday is on an odd day you fish odd dates. Born on an even number...fish even numbered days. In as few as 5 or 6 years we'll be able to see results.

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That is nuts IMO as some people can only fish on their days off . Restricted limits makes more sense

Originally Posted by NIMROD

That is nuts IMO as some people can only fish on their days off . Restricted limits makes more sense

I’m with Nimrod on the birthday idea!

I think I fall in line with the poster who suggested we follow the rules as written and let the ARGF run their studies and figure it out. Although I don’t want another ounce of bureaucracy in my Jon boat.


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Originally Posted by CatchumDeep

"So, say all you want about the lakes won't get hurt. I know better."

Well said 27458! I fish primarily Sardis and Arkabutla. I strongly believe that I've seen both lakes hurt by over fishing (Butla in Summer/Fall of 2012 and Sardis in the Spring (spawns) of 2015-2017).

Sardis was pounded very hard in the Springs of 2015 thru 2017. We experienced days of catching 50 fish with only 3-4 keepers during the Summers of 2015 thru 2017. The high water Springs of 2018 thru 2020 made it hard for a lot of trollers (I am one) to catch limits during the spawn. Consequently, fishing pressure was lower during those spawns, and the summer/fall/winter fishing has been much better as the ratio of keepers to shorts has been much higher.

Butla was pounded hard during the low water summer of 2012 largely due to publicity on internet, I believe. MDWFP said the extreme low level of 207 that year also caused fish kills. It took several years for the lake to recover and even in 2020 the lake was not back to the fishing quality that we saw in years prior to 2012.

I know that some will disagree with my observations and that's fine, since we're all entitled to our own opinion.

I've fished Sardis I guess at least 45 years now. I can remember putting in at Wyatts and if you didn't know your way, you'd get lost in the buck brush. Looking out from Holiday lodge to the East was like a forest. All that's gone now. I could fish in spots and maybe not even see another boat. Really was nothing to get 50 by lunch time. And that was all single pole jigging. Kind of funny spots that used to ALWAYS be hot spots are hit or miss now. Like Tobey Tubby. It was nothing to go up in there and catch limits and all those guys in one man boats scooting around. I can't remember the last time I saw one of those guys.
I know that my single pole fishing is by far a minority way of fishing these days. 80% are trolling--my guesstimate. So, my opinion is that some of the issues are human causes and others just natural changes in the lakes and the COE controlling the water levels. I'm likely to keep looking for those dudes one way or the other!!!

Originally Posted by NIMROD

That is nuts IMO as some people can only fish on their days off . Restricted limits makes more sense

All the better reason for limiting folks that can go every day. then when the weekend angler can go the fish haven't been pressured and they will have a better chance at catching some.

A major problem for the big 4 would likely be the asain carp. Now I know I have never seen one over there but hear me out. Arkansas river systems and oxbows that used to be a world class fishery is now trash. I imagine other neighbors of the great state of mississippi are in the same situation with these carp. Speaking for myself, I never once visited any of the big 4 until 2013/2014ish. Now I have to come there to even see a crappie. I almost exclusively fish there now. And I know personally a ton of people that are just like myself. The white River Refuge is so infested with these carp its unreal. I wish I had the refuge back the way it was when I was a kid. Then I wouldnt have to drive 2 hours to fish!