Barbless hooks & no live wells

Stanley20footer · **Joined:** Mon May 23, 2005 8:00 am **Posts:** 112

Judging from what the MNR is suggesting, barbless hooks will become mandatory everywhere in a few years and livewells will not be permitted. Does not having a barb lessen the chance of landing a fish? What is the reasoning behind a no live well policy and how will that effect fishing tournaments?

Don Stokes · **Posted:** Fri Apr 06, 2007 2:05 pm

Going barbless is a solid long term conservation measure, that I for one hope goes through. Regarding how it affects hooksets, etc., this will take a period of adaptation, with folks learning some new tricks (elastic bands, etc.) and getting used to new hook styles to allow increased odds, yet still be barbless. (I have seen some interesting hooks for both sturgeon and halibut).

Shops in BC see most packaged lures come with a single, with some barbed, some not. It is quite strict here in that regard, and I personally think it develops a healthier respect.

The notion of no livewells sounds like a tricky one that will have some serious opposition.

I am all for measures that have a stronger conservation tone, but still allow harvest. I fully believe that there are far better ways to conduct the business, with many areas in North America serving as examples, be it Manitoba (great anglers program for releasing larger fish; province has been barbless for a while), Alberta (excellent Report A Poacher and some strong conservation practices that are done; the downside is that they have 60 walleye days....and no retention on some lakes), Montana (interesting ways of handling trophy fisheries).

It will be interesting to see how this will be worked out.

Donald Stokes

Tracker Don · **Posted:** Fri Apr 06, 2007 2:11 pm

I don't understand the reasoning behind the ban on livewell use. Many times while out fishing, I have put a fish into the livewell only to return it to the lake later, as I decided that I wasen't going to clean one fish. The fish had lots of energy at release and would readily swim away.
Can someone please explain this to me?

Don

Don Stokes · **Posted:** Fri Apr 06, 2007 2:20 pm

I would suggest that any revision to the use of livewells, will be to combat the spread of nasties, be it zebra mussels, VHS, etc.. This will require some further study by all partys. It will not fly without multiple US state and federal support as a logical "joint" solution.....and to this I say it will likley be sunk.

Hopefully, they will be taking a good hard look, at the discharge and bilge practices of any shipping companys, that are largely thought to be contributing to such ugliness as VHS, zebra and Quagga sp? mussels, etc.. Any ocean going vessel needs to be disinfected in some safe manner, with anyone caught, being given a serious set of consequences. To date, this has never been seriously addressed. It affects both Canada and the United States, with ships from many countrys. This is also very tough but is "achieveable".

Either matter would take a few years. The players involved are very political, particularily as it relates to shipping.

Donald Stokes

dllm413 · **Posted:** Fri Apr 06, 2007 6:49 pm

Does not the current Ontario regulations prohibit the transportation of fish in a live well?

-Dave- · **Posted:** Fri Apr 06, 2007 8:56 pm

As far as i know you can transport your limit in your livewell .

DanElliot · **Joined:** Mon Apr 08, 2002 8:59 am **Posts:** 4329

Stanley20footer,
Can you give me a link to where the MNR is suggesting the possibilty of no livewells?

wildman · **Joined:** Sat Jan 06, 2007 8:09 pm **Posts:** 17

Fisherboy, I have heard poeple getting crap for transporting fish/ keeping alive in livewell. Why would you other then keeping to stock somewhere. A cooler and ice preserves longer.Not sure the rule.

Grizzly · **Posted:** Sun Apr 08, 2007 7:40 am

im thinking thats exactly why they dont want live wells. people are stocking smaller lakes with fish taken elsewheres........... seems the funding isnt there for them to do the stocking, so people take it upon them selfs to do the stocking........ 15 years ago me and some buddies stocked a small lake here in NY with crappies cought from another lake......... at one time there was no crappies on this lake and last year i saw a posting in a sports magizine naming this lake as one of the best crappie lakes in the area... now i ask you. Did we do the WRONG thing?? / all i know is now people flock there from 200 miles away to fish the crappies...... tought call................ we talked to the DEC officers before we did this, and they told us. what we dont see, we cant do anything about... basically giving us the green light, but told us not to get cought....................... now look they ban the use of minnows as to not intergrate fish from one water to another. keeping it pure of forgin deseases........... im thinking our story is a sucess, but also thinking that might not always be the case

walstar190 · **Joined:** Fri Dec 15, 2006 12:27 pm **Posts:** 4

The reason for no live wells is to prevent culling. As we know, fish kept in a live well for any length of time, then released, have a higher chance of mortalilty. If any of you have fished Lac Seul reservoir & MAPB lakes, Area 30 & 31, you are not allowed to have any live fish on board (coolers, wells, etc.). You must kill the fish immediately that you plan to eat.

This has proven to be very successful, in conjunction with the slot limit of 18" to 21" mandatory release and a four fish limit, the average walleye catch size has gone up, as well as numbers, over the years!!!! Four proficient people in a boat, in the right area, can easily C & R 500 fish a day. This is the intro into 'barbless'

Since we are releasing so many fish, we all fish barbless for ease and simplicity. We only bring a fish into the boat for pictures or the table. Normally we just lean over the side of the boat, pop the barbless hook out and ol' eye just swims away without leaving the water. No fuss, no muss!

The problem with barbless hooks is that they will penetrate deeper than a barbed hook. Eg. an eye' hooked in the upper mouth, 1/2 to 3/4's the way to the throat. This barbless hook has now gone right into the brain. This fish is going to die, even though it swims away with no evidence of it's mortality.

When comparing barbed hooks to barbless, the problem lies in the stress the fish goes through when removing a barbed hook. If we, as fisherman, become more proficient at removing barbed hooks properly, studies show that barbed hooks are not as bad as some make them out to be!

When fighting a fish hooked barbless, you must become a better fisherman, keeping your line tight at all times when fighting the fish to the boat, as it has a higher chance of getting off.

In my opinion, NO LIVEWELLS-YES!!!! BARBLESS HOOKS-NO

Have a great fishing season, ladies & gentleman!!!!!!!

Hooklineandsinker · **Joined:** Sun Sep 24, 2006 9:34 pm **Posts:** 270

I will believe it when I see it!! the livewells anyways!

polliwogg · **Posted:** Sun Apr 08, 2007 6:54 pm

The next logical step would be to ban C+R in waters where the virus is.

Your kids get sick with the flue you don't chase them around the block for fun do you?

But don't worry, the industry would never let it happen.

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Barbless hooks & no live wells

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