Calcasieu Relative Condition Factor Study 2012 Preliminary Results

["W"]

Originally Posted by bmac

This seems like another contradiction to me. How can there be plenty of bait if the the trout are overpopulated? Do they somehow know they have too many of them so they each eat less bait to conserve their food supply?

If you can stop contradicting your own arguments I think more people could support you. This is along the lines of "you cannot over fish the lake on rod and reel", but then asking to increase the limit back to 25 because the fish need to be thinned out.

I'm not for or against your cause, I'm just tired of seeing you contradict yourself.

I never said lack of Bait was an issue...Over population is an issue.....too many small trout is what drives big trout out of the lake

It’s not a bait issue right now.....but maybe in the winter it is a big bait issue..... It could be bait or food issue before spring or after summer but right now lake is full of bait

My fight is too many trout are driving out the bigger trout.... Big Trout don’t eat shrimp or small fish...they eat big bait

15 Trout limit has solved ZERO....ZERO...ZERO....

I’m 100% Right on this issue ...... and just look at the STAR and CCA SHOOT out weight ins from 2000-2006....2007-2012
Look at every trout event in this time frame...

Jeff Poe did a good story on LSM about Pressure on the lake....As he now believes there is way less Pressure

Poe feels like the perception of increased fishing pressure at Calcasieu Lake has more to do with the decrease of common courtesy than it does with the number of boats on the lake.
In fact, he’s noticed in the last few years that there has been an overall decrease in fishing pressure...

[Duck Butter]

Originally Posted by "W"

I never said lack of Bait was an issue...Over population is an issue.....too many small trout is what drives big trout out of the lake

It’s not a bait issue right now.....but maybe in the winter it is a big bait issue..... It could be bait or food issue before spring or after summer but right now lake is full of bait

My fight is too many trout are driving out the bigger trout.... Big Trout don’t eat shrimp or small fish...they eat big bait

15 Trout limit has solved ZERO....ZERO...ZERO....

I’m 100% Right on this issue ...... and just look at the STAR and CCA SHOOT out weight ins from 2000-2006....2007-2012
Look at every trout event in this time frame...

Jeff Poe did a good story on LSM about Pressure on the lake....As he now believes there is way less Pressure

Poe feels like the perception of increased fishing pressure at Calcasieu Lake has more to do with the decrease of common courtesy than it does with the number of boats on the lake.

In fact, he’s noticed in the last few years that there has been an overall decrease in fishing pressure...

You are reaching for a cause and effect here. Fishermen have such a small effect on trout populations. A real 'cause' during this time frame would be Rita, can't you see that? Again going back to the marsh degradation from Rita, and as Smalls was saying its actually coming back, it takes a few years to see the progression, it will take a few generations of fish to get back to what it once was

Big trout will eat the smaller trout also, so debunk the thought above and if you of all people really think there is LESS pressure on the lake

["W"]

Originally Posted by Duck Butter

You are reaching for a cause and effect here. Fishermen have such a small effect on trout populations. A real 'cause' during this time frame would be Rita, can't you see that? Again going back to the marsh degradation from Rita, and as Smalls was saying its actually coming back, it takes a few years to see the progression, it will take a few generations of fish to get back to what it once was

Big trout will eat the smaller trout also, so debunk the thought above and if you of all people really think there is LESS pressure on the lake

How many trout have you cleaned with another trout inside???

I clean thousands of trout a year and I look in most of them to see what they are eating....I have Never in my life pulled another speckled trout out of a speck

I have pulled
Shrimp
Mullet
Shad
Sand trout
Croaker
Pogy
Crabs
Hooks
Baits
Snakes
Snails
Never once a speckle trout but I would love to hear how many of you have



Also I find it funny you laugh at J Poe??? He is on the water close to 300 days year and if he says there is less pressure " there is less pressure bottom line "
You sure don't have any time to prove him wrong or laugh at what he states as a fact

Which now makes me dis credit all your theories as you have proven you know zero about our situation

[Duck Butter]

Originally Posted by "W"

How many trout have you cleaned with another trout inside???

I clean thousands of trout a year and I look in most of them to see what they are eating....I have Never in my life pulled another speckled trout out of a speck

I have pulled
Shrimp
Mullet
Shad
Sand trout
Croaker
Pogy
Crabs
Hooks
Baits
Snakes
Snails
Never once a speckle trout but I would love to hear how many of you have



Also I find it funny you laugh at J Poe??? He is on the water close to 300 days year and if he says there is less pressure " there is less pressure bottom line "
You sure don't have any time to prove him wrong or laugh at what he states as a fact

Which now makes me dis credit all your theories as you have proven you know zero about our situation

I wouldn't know Jeff P if he was standing in front of me, or any guide on Big Lake for that matter, I just find humor that you complain every single day on here about potlickers and people yet your idol just said there is less pressure but I can find 100 posts where you say pressure is the problem. Flip flop flip flop, its comical

I know plenty about 'your' situation over there, so would any biologist, wetland scientist across the nation without ever stepping foot on a boat out there. Believe it or not Big Lake isn't different than any other place that is attached to a large body of saltwater. The properties of saltwater and vegetation are the same in Big Lake as they are along the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Ocean. If you dig a straight canal to a body of saltwater eventually saltwater is going to get into the system - its not rocket science. And when saltwater intrudes, it changes the landscape by killing the freshwater marsh plants, creates mud flats, and eventually open water, you can get a good look at this by driving down Hwy 1 from Golden Meadow to Grand Isle if you would actually leave Big Lake and see other parts of the state, or you can drive down Hwy 27 to the coast and see the vegetation change and mudflats, open water all along the sides of the road

["W"]

Originally Posted by Duck Butter

I wouldn't know Jeff P if he was standing in front of me, or any guide on Big Lake for that matter, I just find humor that you complain every single day on here about potlickers and people yet your idol just said there is less pressure but I can find 100 posts where you say pressure is the problem. Flip flop flip flop, its comical

I know plenty about 'your' situation over there, so would any biologist, wetland scientist across the nation without ever stepping foot on a boat out there. Believe it or not Big Lake isn't different than any other place that is attached to a large body of saltwater. The properties of saltwater and vegetation are the same in Big Lake as they are along the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Ocean. If you dig a straight canal to a body of saltwater eventually saltwater is going to get into the system - its not rocket science. And when saltwater intrudes, it changes the landscape by killing the freshwater marsh plants, creates mud flats, and eventually open water, you can get a good look at this by driving down Hwy 1 from Golden Meadow to Grand Isle if you would actually leave Big Lake and see other parts of the state, or you can drive down Hwy 27 to the coast and see the vegetation change and mudflats, open water all along the sides of the road

Find one single time I said Pressure was the problem

Got till midnight

Please find where i said this statement....Yes there is a ton of Potlickers and Pilgrims have been for year...but find where I said Pressure was our problem

[jchief]

Just for some background, what is y'alls eduction level and what is your degree in?

[Duck Butter]

Originally Posted by jchief

Just for some background, what is y'alls eduction level and what is your degree in?

M.S. in Biology, work in natural resources management = (office fisherman)

Got my master's from UL Monroe though and not Big Lake U!

[Feesherman]

Originally Posted by "W"

You took 40% less trout per year over a 6 year time frame.....

You took POTENTIALLY 40% less trout. You have no clue what the real number is.

[Top Dawg]

Originally Posted by Feesherman

You took POTENTIALLY 40% less trout. You have no clue what the real number is.

I prolly killed 6 or 7 in west cove Saturday when I took a dump in a bucket and dumped it in the water.

["W"]

Originally Posted by Feesherman

You took POTENTIALLY 40% less trout. You have no clue what the real number is.

Limit was 25 now 15 which is 40% less trout taken by anglers

[mcjaredsandwich]

Originally Posted by jchief

I really wish it was as simple as a lack of bait or too many fish or whatever.

This study provides valuable data, but there are other data that need to be considered.

Great job Math Geek. Keep up the work.

If a deer doesn't eat, does it grow? If there are too many deer in an area, is there enough food? Food makes things grow. Simple as that. If fish are thinner, they've eaten less. This isn't fitting a square peg in a round hole.

sammich

[mcjaredsandwich]

Originally Posted by jchief

Just for some background, what is y'alls eduction level and what is your degree in?

Bout to get my bachelors in general agriculture with 40 hours of wildlife management as electives.

sammich

[BloodKnot]

I agree with Duck Butter, the trend down started with Rita. And Ike didn't help.

Those storms hurt our marshes and the drought didn't stop salt water intrusion.

Protect the coast and our marshes.

I think no one can definitively state that the limit of 15 or 25 is the main reason.

[jchief]

Originally Posted by mcjaredsandwich

If a deer doesn't eat, does it grow? If there are too many deer in an area, is there enough food? Food makes things grow. Simple as that. If fish are thinner, they've eaten less. This isn't fitting a square peg in a round hole.

sammich

Then why is there bait all over the lake?

Not as simple as we would like it to be.

[mcjaredsandwich]

I've wondered the same. But body condition is a big indicator of low food supply

sammich

[Kajundave]

[SIZE=3]I applaud MG for his effort; I can see that “W” isn’t going to let it GO, I started fishing BL about 7 years ago and if there was 40 boats on the lake on Saturday that would have been a lot, the majority were jon boats with 40 hp outboards and most of them didn’t make it past Turners Bay, now that Calcasieu Landing is in place there is a lot more pressure on the lake, I am amazed that some people had foresight to lower limits on trout,( based on 25 per person limit) think about it if you have 100 boats on the lake with two fisherman per boat and 80% of them limit out, that’s 4000 trout a day. Now compound it to 300 boats fishing Saturday and Sunday that’s potentially 24000 trout, how long do you think the trout will hold out.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Now with that being said 10 years ago there was just a hand full of guides, now the numbers have tripled, let’s just say 20 guides, most of them fish 2 people average 3 trips a week 52 weeks is potentially 140400, thats just guides and customers… JUST SAYING ![/SIZE]

[Top Dawg]

140,000 is just one egg sack from a 12" trout.

["W"]

Originally Posted by Kajundave

[SIZE=3]I applaud MG for his effort; I can see that “W” isn’t going to let it GO, I started fishing BL about 7 years ago and if there was 40 boats on the lake on Saturday that would have been a lot, the majority were jon boats with 40 hp outboards and most of them didn’t make it past Turners Bay, now that Calcasieu Landing is in place there is a lot more pressure on the lake, I am amazed that some people had foresight to lower limits on trout,( based on 25 per person limit) think about it if you have 100 boats on the lake with two fisherman per boat and 80% of them limit out, that’s 4000 trout a day. Now compound it to 300 boats fishing Saturday and Sunday that’s potentially 24000 trout, how long do you think the trout will hold out.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Now with that being said 10 years ago there was just a hand full of guides, now the numbers have tripled, let’s just say 20 guides, most of them fish 2 people average 3 trips a week 52 weeks is potentially 140400, thats just guides and customers… JUST SAYING ![/SIZE]

1st off if you have 100 guide boats any given day 40 only limit out......if you have 300 weekend warriors only 50 of them limit out....on any given weekend

MG went to Cal point and looked at fish and one day no body had a limit of trout.....

Most will not limit out but the ones who can and do should be able to keep more trout


Just because a guide has his papers dont mean he is a fisherman who limits out every trip...most guides now have not even fished the 10 years yet

[bgizzle]

Just my 2 cents. There is a lot of bait in the lake right NOW cuz it's summer but before and after you need it as well. I haven't been fishing the lake for 10 yrs actually this is my third but learning fast and I can tell changes. I knew buddies that fished it a lot when my job wouldn't let me and the size of the trot is down and it would be understandable that marsh and bait play a role but seems just like deer management that the number of trout as a whole would be a bigger threat. I do the same thing "w" I cut open 90% of the fish I clean and haven't ever saw a speckled sea trot in a stomach of another

[Top Dawg]

I'll say I've never seen a trout in another trouts belly.