Here is some background, directly from Bill Gerrish, Senior Fisheries Biologist DEP, Inland Fisheries Biologist:
Quote:
In Bantam Lake, Northern Pike are preparing to spawn at this time of the year. In a normal year the fish start their migration to flooded terrestrial areas just after ice out. On any given day, when the proper temperature are reached you can expect to find pike spawning in these areas. Both the males and females will actively take an ice fisherman's bait during this time of the year. With the stresses of capture it is very likely the fish will void its' spawning product and fail to contribute to the population after being caught. This is DEP's main concern and is the substance behind the logic for a species specific closure.
Why is the lake opened to all fishing except northern pike? Since Bantam doesn't directly receive trout stockings there is no need to close the entire lake. By keeping it open it allows anglers to continue to enjoy fishing. Legally, you can fish at Bantam Lake after the closure of Northern Pike season. You may not target pike and if you catch one you must return it to the waters immediately. What constitutes targeting a northern pike? If you are using 12" bait and you have a steel leader on your tip-up you are fishing for northern pike and you'll be talking to one of our C.O.'s. If you are using large bait with heavy mono you may be fishing for pike or you may be fishing for bass. Do you want to risk the wrath of other fisherman over this? Do you want to have a conversation with one of our C.O.'s?
This is your resource and we manage it for you. Let's not push the envelope on this one. If you are being reasonable there is nothing to worry about. It is my hope that ctfisherman anglers are trying to do the right thing and simply want to avoid any hostile confrontations while they are having a good time. Enjoy what we can do for you and protect the resources so others can enjoy it as well as you do. Keep fishing and I wish you all 'Tight Lines'.
Thanks Mitch for that. But I have to say if it is so detrimental to the Pike population they should just close the lake. Bantam is a Pike Management Lake, one of only 3 in CT, I beleive so why not just close the Lake? Just cause they don't stock it with Trout they leave it open? They should really consider closing it on Feb 28th.
Close it!!! Leaving it open doesn't do justice to what that lake is all about.... Trophy Northern Pike!! If we want a trophy Northern Pike lake we should let them spawn in peace. Without being accidentally caught or pressured. There are plenty of other good fisheries in the state that remain open through out the year and do not close. This gives everyone an opportunity to fish for many other species. For example.... you can go to the CT River and catch almost every species of fish that swims in CT...
Look, if the DEP was worried about the pike population they would have already closed Bantam! What percent of the spawning population are fisherman likely to affect by catching and releasing? It's got to be so small that it's not significant. The DEP must be aware of this. I would be more concerned about environmental factors that could be regulated, like getting the gas outboards and waverunners off the lake. I would think they have a greater potential to affect all of the fish in Bantam lake.
Go fishing for a carp and take a little snooze. Before you awake one rod and reel you will lose!
Jebra...You're in favor of no gas outboards on Bantam? Why in heavens name would you want to do that? It's bad enough that there is motor restrictions on some lakes, now you want it on Bantam? Enough of the restrictions!
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