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Smallmouth Bass Management Proposals

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Smallmouth Bass Management Proposals

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    1. Smallmouth Bass Management Proposals MDC Regulations Committee February 22, 2010

    2. Presenters Al Agnew Dan Kreher

    3. 3 MO Smallmouth Alliance Founded in1992 250 members Protect & improve SMB fisheries Focus on: Conservation Education Angler Activism

    4. 4 Cooperation w/MDC Pushed for liberalization of Spotted Bass regs in Meramec River basin Highlighted river otter predation problems in streams Volunteers and $$$ support for MDC “GO FISH” program

    5. 5 MDC Sign Posting Program

    6. 6 Blue Ribbon Advisory Panel Formed in 2008 Comprised of 20 Anglers – MSA members, canoe outfitters, guides, outdoor journalists, fisheries biologist Mission Statement – “To Work with the MO Department of Conservation and Other State Agencies to Promote and Support Fisheries Management Regulations Changes to Help Create World-Class Smallmouth Bass Fishing in Missouri.”

    7. 7 SMB White Paper Summary MDC program began in 1989 35 biological studies completed / 12 areas established Special regs on sections of 10 streams (approx. 300 miles) 15” minimum length/ 1 SMB creel limit Big Piney, Big, Meramec, Eleven Point, Mineral Fork, James, Joachim Ck, Osage Fork, Ten Mile Ck, Elk River (2 bass creel) Trophy regs on sections of 2 streams (46 miles) 18” minimum length / 1 SMB creel limit Gasconade, Jacks Fork

    8. 8 White Paper Study Composite Results SMB 12” > 15” = 42% increase in avg catch rate per hour SMB > 15” = 31% increase in avg catch rate per hour Special regs areas did not reach “doubling” objective but did improve markedly vs. conditions prior to regs enactment & compared to control areas SMB > 18” = while still under 1% of sampled population, catch rate did increase by 22% after special regs Some temporary declines in angling effort (Meramec) but fishing pressure shortly returned to normal levels

    9. 9 MDC’s Conclusions The science was proven to work in improving average sizes, catch rates, proportional stock densities Non-compliance with Special Regs by anglers was immaterial Anglers were generally either in favor of or did not oppose Special Regs areas; would not object to their expansion Anglers want stream fishing quality to be improved & support regulations enacted for this purpose Key Objective = How do we use these proven fisheries management practices to improve the quality of stream SMB fishing throughout the state?

    10. 10 Proposed SMB Management Changes Increase in Statewide Minimum Length Limit; Reduction in Creel Limit Expansion of 18” / 1 SMB Trophy Regs Areas Existing streams High potential waters Expansion of 15” / 1 SMB Special Regs Areas Existing streams/areas High potential waters

    11. 11 Missouri’s Existing Length / Creel Limits 12-inch Minimum Length Limit In place since 1974 . . . some 36 years Supports sustainable stream fisheries (for small fish) Maximum sustained yield approach to fisheries management Favors angler harvest over quality fishing Incongruous with naturally slow growth rates and low fish densities of predator species MDC & other research supports higher length limits as being much more effective in increasing average sizes, improving catch rates Limit well below that of several other states – 12.7” avg (11 states) 15-inch MLL on MO reservoirs exceedingly successful for tourism & tax $$$

    12. 12 Missouri’s Existing Length / Creel Limits 6 Fish Daily Creel Limit In place since 1961, nearly 50 years Limit exceedingly high for predator species such as stream SMB Assumes stream SMB pursued widely as food vs. sport fish Favors angler harvest over quality fishing Lower creel limits combined with higher MLL proven to be much more effective in increasing average sizes, improving catch rates Limit above that of many other states – 4.8 fish avg (21 states) In recent years, Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa adopted 3-4 fish creels

    13. 13 Proposed Statewide SMB Length / Creel Limits 15-inch Minimum Length Limit 3 SMB Daily Creel Limit – total black bass remains at 6 fish

    14. 14 Expansion of SMB Trophy Special Regs Areas 18” / 1 SMB Creel Limit Expansion Stream Features: Excellent Habitat Historically Ozarks Best SMB Fisheries High Potential for Trophy SMB Some Streams Already Under Special Regs Publicly Accessible

    15. 15 Proposed Additional SMB Trophy Regs Areas Gasconade – MDC Mitschele access (Hwy 7 Bridge) downstream to MDC Riddle Bridge access (Hwy Y) – 38 miles

    16. 16 Gasconade River One of top 3 SMB rivers in Ozarks 38 additional miles of Special Regs water Adjoins 20-mile stretch of 18”/1 SMB regs area Great SMB habitat, fertility & size to grow trophy SMB Numerous public stream accesses Supported by guides/outfitters

    17. 17 Proposed Additional SMB Trophy Regs Areas Big Piney – USFS East Gate access downstream to Gasconade River – 19 miles

    18. 18 Big Piney River 19-mile Special Regs stretch 1st Trophy Area on Big Piney Adjoins existing 18”/1 area on Gasconade Plentiful public access Great habitat & lunker potential Strongly supported

    19. 19 Proposed Additional SMB Trophy Regs Areas Current – Power Mill access (Hwy 106) downstream to Van Buren City Park access (Hwy 60) – 26 miles

    20. 20 Current River 1st Special Regs area on Current River 26 miles of water Size & habitat to produce trophy SMB One of top SMB streams in Ozarks Numerous public accesses

    21. 21 Proposed Additional SMB Trophy Regs Areas Meramec – Bird’s Nest access downstream to MDC Blue Springs Creek access – 29 miles

    22. 22 Meramec River 29 miles of additional Special Regs water 1st Trophy area on Meramec Adjoins existing 15”/1 SMB reg water upstream Top producer of quality SMB Lots of public access, popularly fished stretch Supported by anglers, guides, outfitters

    23. 23 Proposed Additional SMB Trophy Regs Areas Gasconade – MDC Mitschele access (Hwy 7 Bridge) downstream to MDC Riddle Bridge access (Hwy Y) – 38 miles Big Piney – USFS East Gate access downstream to Gasconade River – 19 miles Current – Power Mill access (Hwy 106) downstream to Van Buren City Park access (Hwy 60) – 26 miles Meramec – Bird’s Nest access downstream to MDC Blue Springs Creek access – 29 miles Expands Trophy Regs from just 46 miles to 158 miles Represent Ozarks Finest SMB Fisheries

    24. 24 Expansion of SMB Special Regs Areas 15” / 1 SMB Creel Limit Expansion Stream Features: Excellent Habitat Ozarks Better SMB Fisheries Publicly Accessible High Potential for Quality SMB Expansion of Existing Regs Areas New Areas

    25. 25 Proposed Additional SMB Special Regs Areas Expansion of Existing Areas/Streams Big Piney – MDC Boiling Springs access downstream to USFS Slabtown access – 14 miles

    26. 26 Big Piney River Expands existing area by 14 miles Several public access points Significant fishing pressure Excellent habitat Great potential Guide/outfitter support

    27. 27 Proposed Additional SMB Special Regs Areas Expansion of Existing Areas/Streams James – MDC Delaware Town access downstream to MDC Hooten Town access – 12 miles

    28. 28 James River Extends existing 15”/1 SMB regs area 12 additional miles Protects best SMB water on James Excellent SMB habitat Traditionally one of the better SMB streams in Ozarks Solid angler support

    29. 29 Proposed Additional SMB Special Regs Areas Expansion of Existing Areas/Streams Meramec – MDC Short Bend access downstream to MDC Woodson K Woods access – 26 miles

    30. 30 Meramec River Headwater reach of Meramec 26 miles of SMB water Good public access Excellent habitat Strong angler/outfitter support

    31. 31 Proposed Additional SMB Special Regs Areas Expansion of Existing Areas/Streams Gasconade – MDC Wilber Allen access downstream to MDC Hazelgreen access – 54 miles

    32. 32 Gasconade River Top Ozark SMB river Excellent habitat 54-mile section Numerous access points Similar regs to Osage Fork High potential Strongly supported

    33. 33 Proposed Additional SMB Special Regs Areas New Management Area Streams North Fork of White – Hwy 76 bridge downstream to MDC Hammond Camp access – 29 miles

    34. 34 North Fork of White Excellent SMB habitat 29 miles of water Similar mgt. to Eleven Point River Lots of public access Suffers from over-harvest of SMB Support from guides/outfitters

    35. 35 Proposed Additional SMB Special Regs Areas New Management Area Streams Bryant Creek – Bell School access (Hwy 95 bridge) downstream to MDC Florence C. Cook access – 24 miles

    36. 36 Bryant Creek 24 miles of SMB water Excellent habitat Would mirror mgt of upper North Fork Lots of public access SMB overharvested along Bryant Great potential Support from guides, anglers

    37. 37 Proposed Additional SMB Special Regs Areas New Management Area Streams Courtois Creek – Brazil LWB downstream to Huzzah Creek – 21 miles Huzzah Creek – Dillard access (Hwy 49 bridge) downstream to MDC Scotia Bridge access – 29 miles

    38. 38 Huzzah & Courtois Creeks Excellent SMB habitat 50 miles of combined water Popularly fished Supported by local anglers/outfitters Great potential for improved quality

    39. 39 Proposed Additional SMB Special Regs Areas New Management Area Streams Bourbeuse – Hwy 19 bridge downstream to MDC Union access (Hwy 50 bridge) – 94 miles – spotted bass concerns

    40. 40 Bourbeuse River

    41. 41 Bourbeuse River 94 miles of river Threatened by spotted bass No regs water on entire 125+-miles Good SMB habitat Problems similar to Big River = mgt. should be similar High potential

    42. 42 Proposed Additional SMB Special Regs Areas New Management Area Streams North Fork of White – Hwy 76 bridge downstream to MDC Hammond Camp access – 29 miles Bryant Creek – Bell School access (Hwy 95 bridge) downstream to MDC Florence C. Cook access – 24 miles Courtois Creek – Brazil LWB downstream to Huzzah Creek – 21 miles Huzzah Creek – Dillard access (Hwy 49 bridge) downstream to MDC Scotia Bridge access – 29 miles Bourbeuse – Hwy 19 bridge downstream to MDC Union access (Hwy 50 bridge) – 94 miles – spotted bass concerns Expansion of Existing Areas Big Piney – MDC Boiling Springs access downstream to USFS Slabtown access – 14 miles James – MDC Delaware Town access downstream to MDC Hooten Town access – 12 miles Meramec – MDC Short Bend access downstream to MDC Woodson K Woods access – 26 miles Gasconade – MDC Wilber Allen access downstream to MDC Hazelgreen access – 54 miles

    43. 43 Conclusion White Paper effort was largely successful Quality regs produce quality SMB fishing – more and larger fish Anglers want opportunity for better stream SMB fishing Anglers will support fisheries regulations to achieve this objective Reputation as SMB angling destination will provide economic benefits to Missouri

    44. 44

    45. Thank You MSA Will Continue to Work Closely with the MDC to Help Shape the Future of Stream Smallmouth Bass Fishing in the Missouri Ozarks

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