#1054786 - 02/26/0909:04 PM
Re: DEP Statement on Targetting Pike
[Re: Blaine]
OHMYGOD
Member
Registered: 06/23/04
Posts: 20754
Loc: Suffield Ct
Quote:
I didnt know about that Blaine- I wouldnt post it on this site.... The ammount of lurkers grows daily- im on another site where members are deleted after 30 days of no posting/inactivity. Its sad that we have to whtie out or take pics from angles to not reveal a spot we are fishing. I personally blame it on the site being too popular, a site where we dont only get diehard anglers but we get anglers from every range inbetween
Yep, just like when you give a report and picture, and state you don't want to say where you are fishing, out of respect for the person Who Asked you to keep quiet to where its located. Then some snot nose kid puts in exactly where the picture was taken.
I'm a Bass fishermen, and if they closed the season during the spawn, I'd live. Protecting the species should be #1 in all fishermens heads.
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You can take what you want from life......As long as you give a little Back. "We never get over the fishing fever, it's a delightful disease and thank the lord there is no cure". "CTF, is a lure I can not afford to NOT have in my pocket"
Don’t argue with Idiots.. They will bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.
Our freedoms are being choked, big brother's grip is getting tighter.
Why does bantam have this special reg? You are allowed to fish pike during the spawn everywhere else and there are PLENTY of pike. I do not get the sentiment against fishing the spawn in the places it is allowed either because it has been going on for years and there is certainly not a shortage of pike. The spawn gives unique opportunities for shore fishing for pike which is very difficult during the rest of the year. If pike apperared to be declining I would examine the spawn time fishing but there is NO evidence that it hurts the population.
**2-Time Defending State of Connecticut Freshwater Angler of the Year**
#1054853 - 02/26/0911:13 PM
Re: DEP Statement on Targetting Pike
[Re: AvalonAngler]
Blaine
Member
Registered: 01/29/02
Posts: 15340
Loc: South Carolina
Valinn, I've been targetting pike on the river for years. I can tell you with absolute certainty that the pike fishing has declined. Especially over the last 3 to 4 years... It's nothing close to what it used to be. I'd love to see the DEP tighten things even further. I don't say this lightly, keep in mind how much money my shop brings in around the spawn... I'd rather sacrifice a little now and reap the rewards throughout the remainder of the season.
This thread had me wondering so I looked back into the archives. Based on that, everything that I have seen supports Blaine's statement about the decline. In 2003-2005 it seemed like you would get 3 pike on an average or bad day. Another thing that I noticed was that Wethersfeild Cove actually produced Pike, up to '06 I read many reports with big fish, including a couple from Blaine, Mike G., etc. Now, the biggest fish Ive seen in a report from there is about 29" and they seem to be few and far between. Personally, I have caught 21 pike on the river thus far through the ice. This is my second season Ice fishing for them exclusively, so I can't personally attest to the decline, but the one thing I can tell you is that there are ALOT of small fish. Probably 13 of those pike were between 25"-30".
Edited by fishbuster (02/27/0912:25 AM)
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Did we have a really hot summer with high river temps a couple of year ago. I'm assuming that did do any large pike any favors. How have the spring spawns been? Most fish lay so many eggs water temps probably have more to do with mortality rates than any thing else.
#1054923 - 02/27/0904:06 AM
Re: DEP Statement on Targetting Pike
[Re: tjn]
KAJ
Member
Registered: 04/15/03
Posts: 1009
Loc: VT
Yup.... Have definitely noticed a HUGE decline in the last 2 years. I only fish the CT. river for them, and mostly Wethersfeild Cove. This is my 3rd year of serious Ice fishing. 07- for me was good.I got my PB AND enough decent fish to make it worth wile! My brother lost a cow!! REMEMBER that one Jetboat185? However.....The past 2 years, have SUCKED through the ice. 2 small Pike...In countless trips, in 2 years. I'm about to give up on them. ( until I think of the feeling of pulling a cinder block on speed!! ) I am starting to think a virus has hit the river. There was one a few years ago in Champlain. At first, I thought the bite was dependent on tides, NOPE.. perhaps it's lack of oxygen?? BUT... with the tides coming in and out, wouldn't that keep oxygen at sufficient levels? Perhaps I just suck at Ice fishing........... I know I could always go somewhere else. BUT.. Bantam is FAR for me, and Mansfield is well..... Mansfield. The River is very close, and I have always though a State record lurks in them waters. They must GORGE on herring in the Spring.
I don't think wethersfield cove gets its fish from the Haddam spawning population. I think it may have fewer fish just because it is probably the most fished, especially through the ice, area for pike on the river. Also, the spring season was awful last year, but that was because Feb. was warm and the fish were in and out then and they were gone by mid march when everyone started fishing. That is what the DEP pike biologist I talked to said. He also said that they still get all of the fish they need for spawning and stocking all of the lakes despite the spawn fishing.
**2-Time Defending State of Connecticut Freshwater Angler of the Year**
AND enough decent fish to make it worth wile! My brother lost a cow!! REMEMBER that one Jetboat185? 
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