Guess I know what im looking at, because that is pretty much my take on it.

You did read where TP&W compared to previous years survey then.

I've been watching this topic spin all over the place. Having been in the fishing industry for 20 years or so, I've worked with a lot of guides over the years. It's not all about the money with them. Most guides develop a deep respect for the game or fish they target. The guides are also on the lake way more than most and they are a reliable source of information when it comes to their home waters.

Simple logic tells you that you can't keep harvesting the largest fish in the lake without it depleting the large fish population.

The problem I see (and I run juglines about once a month) is the ability to enforce a slot limit when people are running juglines and trotlines. I live on the lake and am able to check my jugs from my office with binoculars, so I can get to my big fish before they die. I usually keep fish under about 10 pounds, but I do occasionally keep a bigger fish. Let's say there was a slot on my lake where I could only keep one over the slot and I had two overs die on a line. What do you do then and how is the law enforced? You can't have a law that says, "If the fish is dead on a line, you can go over the limit." That just wouldn't work.

How do the proponents of a slot or length limit think we can accommodate the folks who run juglines and trotlines?

As bad as it sounds, one of the dead has to be returned to the water. Just like slot bass today.

I read over it pretty good.

Just saw your from Gonzales, was out that way on Tuesday and looked at a ranch on the san marcos river, it was up and running pretty good... made me wish I had a pole!

I go to Luling every Monday to take a picture of Zedler Dam for a "year in the life" project. The river was up and muddy! Used to be a bunch of guys from Luling that would put their lines out during the rises. But the old guys are gone and very few fish the San Marcos for catfish anymore.

The law would have to change so that jugs and trot lines would have to be attended.

Mine as well. I like to point out that catch actually improved from previous two

Fundamentally speaking, So true.

Traditional jugs and trotlineers are very responsible folks, they had been fishing tawakoni for decades and 3 tpwd surveys indicated that tawakoni blue catfish population health and number actually improved and lake blue cat record had steadily climbed. No justification to change their method.


On guide, most are responsible but some are not. Their personal data or accounts on here so far are unreliable and contradictory to official tpwd surveys.

The guides like Mr Tiny are the ones I would pay attention to, But overall Tpwd data are most reliable and unbiased.

We should wait until the next survey is published to some real evidence of status of tawakoni fisheries status before pushing for any restrictions on people rights to harvest big fish.


Slot like those implemented in lake Lewisville are ineffective so far, so please don't try to force some regulations on people without good science data.

Bankfisher50-

Don't take this the wrong way, but why don't you tell us a little about yourself. You signed up for the TFF and have only posted on this topic and have since made a lot of statements like, "On guide, most are responsible but some are not. Their personal data or accounts on here so far are unreliable and contradictory to official tpwd surveys."

Are you a biologists or someone who has a better ability to interpret the scientific data than the rest of us? It's helpful to everyone to know who the information is coming from. We all know who the guide are.

X2

Mr Greeson,

I am just a semi retired 50 year old man who go fishing for the purpose as described in your signature. All the hoopla about more government regulations has disturbed my fishing peace, and feel strong enough on this issue to registered and voice my opposition against disturbing the balance of things in this excellent fishing lake. T

To answer your question, no I am not a biologist, my background is in high tech, economics and finance, but I can crunch numbers and know that 1+2+3 is not a negative number. But then again I don't see many biologists on the proponents side either.

Nothing personal to you, it's just the fact that I am in the opposition to the pro regulation camp.

Regarding anecdotal data or personal catch account from guides about tawakoni "declined" fisheries they ran counter to my personal experiences as far as catching box fish and big fish. I catch more 30# fish without even trying on small worms on a regular basis I can't believe their war crying of a Declined fisheries and screaming for more government regulations on a lake that is doing better than all the lakes in Texas. And the previous 3 tpwd surveys show all indication of a strong healthy fisheries for blue catfish and other species in tawakoni, you think I would take the words of those for profit guides against my own experiences and several other anglers and Tpwd surveys results? No sir, I don't believe those guides.

And you already discredited all people who fish from the bank other than yourself. You would rather wait on the next government survey. So you don't want more "government" restrictions. You would rather wait on government intelligence. Hmmmmm.....and for not trusting guides. I think people who make their living on the lake know how often they catch a 50+ pound bluecat now vs five years ago. So that argument hold no water.