Headhunter

I hope the charges stick! HH

I am waiting on a letter from my MPP... I contacted their office last week and apparently, they contacted the MNR. I spoke with their office yesterday and they told me a letter has been sent to me... I await Canada post!LOL HH

There is quite a bit of un-rest in the country. Native groups have taken to the internet to form social groups and in turn a united front. They are coordinating efforts coast to coast. You can find out more here: http://idlenomore1.blogspot.ca/ HH

It better not... I have a gig New Years Eve! HH

Oh my... HH

Can we keep this on topic guys... I know many of us are frustrated, but in order to keep threads like these open, we need to stay calm and rational. I don't want to see yet another thread closed because we can't keep some things under control. HH

As I mentioned in either this or the other Nip thread, we are fortunate enough to have a member of NFN here at OFC... We have had this discussion in the past, here's the thread. http://ontariofishingcommunity.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=62043&hl=Crossfire&st=0 I know there is another one as well... I'll see if I can dig it up. HH Edit- it seems this is the only thread I can dig up..

I stepped away from this for a bit and put some more thought into it... I would like the folks who are arguing against any sort of gun control in the U.S. to suggest what they think should be done in light of recent events. Many say that we don't know what we are talking about, so enlighten me, if you have the knwoledge, tell me what should be done. Thanks, HH

How much do we need to know? I know that 20 kids were killed last week. I know that numerous others were killed last year in Virginia. I know that in the next few weeks, I'll be reading about another incident with similar results. I think I know enough. It's taken 200 years for the U.S. to reach this point; it'll take another 200 years for change to take place. RE the car analogy presented here... When I grew up everyone drove their cars home from the bar. Drunk driving was seen as a part of life. Now, after education and persistence, you are seen publically as a leper if you drive drunk. There are no organizations arguing people's rights to drive drunk. Why can't the same be done with fire arms... and before anyone suggests it, I don't have a hate on for guns. I actually think they are pretty cool! But my liking them doesn't negate the fact that they are too easily gotten and not nearly enough people take proper precautions. I'd really like to see some of you guys argue your points at those kid's funeral. HH

I will when I see endless numbers of cars being driven into schools killing kids. HH

Many here have said that they wish these poor victums rest in peace... I can't think that way. I can only hope that their restless souls haunt the powerful gun lobby and legislators. I hope that the next time they hit the range to enjoy their "hobby", they put pictures of those kids on their targets and ask themselves this question; Is my enjoyment of this hobby really worth the lives of these kids and the ones who haven't been shot yet? Because we all know this will happen again. HH

Exactly my point Randy. We seen this before and it happened for the same reasons. I fear that we will not have learned anything from the past and that greed will again, destroy the lake for an entire generation. HH

Just to play devil's advocate for a moment... given your example of the Saugeen, I think it's fantastic that a ground level group has done so much to increase angler opportunities, but, and please correct me if I'm wrong here... I don't suppose that any groups on the Saugeen run nets across the river in the spring of fall to harvest these fish? And if they did, how long would volunteers be showing up to continue the stocking program? HH

I'll do my part, happily, if EVERYONE does their part. There's not enough fish in Nip for anglers to take home four, but there is enough for gill nets to be set. There's not enough fish in Nip so we have to have a slot limit, gill nets know no slot. There are hundereds of businesses that surround the lake that are going to hurt badly as a result of this change... except one; they will be selling more fillets to guys like you! HH edit for spelling

The vast majority of anglers follow the rules... that's been my experience. Those who don't should be caught and punished by the law. The anglers who don't shouldn't have to pay a price because others don't play far. The whole thing is so obvious, but essentially, if they made Nip a catch and release only lake for Pickereyes, it would still be doomed to the same fate. Sure it may take a little longer, but it will happen. If all parties agreed to cutting their numbers in half, more enforcement of regs and agreements, then using science to determin next courses, then I for one would understand that being a positive go forward position. So far only one group has been made to "take one" for the lake. HH

Unfortunately, taking the "suck it up" position means that we will not have learned a thing from the past, when the lake had to be re-stocked because of netting devastation. The more things change, the more they stay the same. HH

Interesting plan BB... but I can almost guarantee that it won't happen, simply because NFN has a different set of rules to live by, then the average person. We have had similar discussions here and have been fortunate enough to have a member of NFN as a board member, discussing this topic. AS NFN is essentially self governed, it would require real ramifications, by the band, to stop or control any and all gill netting. Based on those earlier threads, NFN really have no teeth when it comes to ramifications for actions not condoned by the band. Being socially ostracized , doesn't stop someone who needs to feed their family.Having no real (financial) ramifications for going outside the rules also makes enforcement a challenge. HH

There was a point made in the other Nip thread that has been eating away at me for the past couple of days... Let's face it, with so many cancellations hitting Nip outfitters and folks on the fence about where they are going to spend their vacation money, I can't help but be concerned for the other bodies of water that are going to be taking the brunt of the Nip fall offs... Assuming that I am correct for a moment, won't that mean that not only is Nip in a position of stress, but won't these new Nip rules cause smaller lakes to be under more stress then they currently are, when anglers start hitting them hard for their Pickereye fix? Kinda sounds like a spreading cancer... The solution is simple and obvious... HH

I just spoke with my MPP's consituencey office as well as writing an email message with a link to this thread. I suggest that if more of us did this, perhaps we might effect some change of some level. HH

Thanks for taking the time with a well thought out response Jason. I appreciate the insight you have provided. It all seems to pretty much confirm what a lot of us have been saying... As has been stated many times, we all know the reason that Nip is in ths state it is. I think a cormorant cull would help, how much, I'm certainly not in a position to answer that, but I do know is that without gill nets on the lake, the lake has a much better chance at becoming what it was, then with them. And I'm not even going to touch on the subject of "incidential catches" because some of the folks here would likely has a fit, should they find out about the piles of Pike, Musky, Bass, perch etc, that can't make it through those nets and end up rotting on shore. I honestly feel really bad for those who's income is based on the Lake. It must be very frustrating to have knowledge, desire and ability, only to have your hands tied by a bunch of bureacrats who really only seem interested in their own agenda, vs what the folks who live it, have to say. Thanks for the link to the pencil pushers... HH

I think it's great that so many have enjoyed the area for some time and I also think it's fantastic that folks are getting involved in helping the lake. But this thread is about changes to Pickereye possession not bass or Pike. There are plenty of places to fish for those species, some of which are Pickereye factories, as Nip once was. I am glad that folks have alternatives to Pickereyes, but the fact that there are once again inequities among the provinces' citizens is what this thread is really about. As we all know, there is virtually no political will to take on this and similar resource based challenges at any level of government... and the fact that no one is listening to us, a dispersed group whose funds support all of the provinces sport fishing is not only annoying, but ultimately frustrating. I was always told that if you pay, you play... unfortunately, we seem to pay, and others play. HH

Surprised you aren't a Spoonpuller... you sure do seem to enjoy trolling! HH

Rare invasive species! REALLY! It's put and take as you well know. Guess what, I kept two of your rare fish this year after dragging spoons for a day. Both were under 16 inches and according to my wife, they tasted dandy! (So far, she doesn't have any poisoning as a result) I think I'll change up my fishing plans for 2013 and hit my Wii game, so as to not hurt any fish! Someone pass the tofu... I've got a cedar plank just itching for the BBQ. HH

Here's another thing... I make three trips a year up to Nip. Starting Jan 1, 2013, I will no longer be able to bring home a feed of Pickereyes for my family, unless I also bring another member of my family with me to "up our quota. As a family of four, two 16 inch Pickereyes just aint gonna cut it. Please, don't tell me to subsidise my take home with Perch... why would anyone drive 4 hours to get perch, when those of us in the GTA can get all the perch we want out of Simcoe. Come to think of it, seems like a fantstic marketing plan for NFN! Angler can't bring home enough fish to feed a family of four, heck, stop off and buy some! HH

Re-read page three of this thread... HH