Bring back closed seasons?

[dana_c]

In the thread on bass being snagged on the nest, somebody mentioned the old closed season to allow the bass to nest without being hassled. I think they still do this in Vermont. How about trout? It galls me to see the stocking truck pull away and the greed-heads show up to catch fish that haven't been in the water ten minutes.

I'd like to see the old closed season come back. It wouldn't have to be long, maybe a couple weeks in early April so they could get some trout out that would have a chance to disperse before they're stuffed into somebody's freezer. (The morons who throw away a pile of freezer-burned trout every year are another pet peeve of mine, but that's another topic.http://www.maanglers.com/forums/images/smilies/beathead.gif..)

Remember "Opening Day?" That was like Christmas in April when I was a kid.

[buffermop]

You couldn't have said it any better.Beerchug

[noresman]

I remember those days. I also remember when rivers opened later than the ponds. My dad and I used to make a yearly ritual out of opening day. I remember some years the ponds were still half iced up on the 3rd saturday in April. Didn't stop us from fishing just limited where.

[arlow]

There has never been a closed season on Bass as long as I have been fishing. 30 + years........

[fisher16]

I can't remember one myself. Maybe griz is talking about another state and just referencing his personal experience.

[senkoman]

Rhode Island is closed for the entire month of March for stocking trout. No fishing aloud in stocked water until the 2nd saturday in April.

I love fishing bedded LM an SM bass though! Fishing1

Most of us return bass, you know, catch and release! There could be some concern with tournament fishing bedded fish, since they are not immediately returned to their beds! Down south maybe ,but up here, thats questionable due to the stress of our weather! (Ice / Cold)

Last year, while we were ice fishing in R.I., the stock truck showed up with load of large Salmon. Some people ran to fish the area after the truck left, which was a hole in the ice, where cold shocked fish were still there! I'm glad the fish didn't bite for them. Maybe the stocking should have been done at night. They actually put an article in the paper, saying what day they were stocking. Oh yea, R.I. gets it broadstock salmon from MA.

Senkoman

[grizbear13]

Grinning1 Well since I predate you young guys by a few years I'll tell you I have been fishing in Mass for almost 60 years. Back in the good old days bass season was closed untill about the midde of July and the trout season opened on the third sat of April. I don't remember the dates , but some of the other fish seasons were not year round either.I was not a bass fisherman anyway I just waited for opening of trout season, we even had preseason fishing at the clubs which was a treat We had to tag our preseason catch so we wouldn't get pinched by the game wardens That was back around 1950, I miss the good old days....Cry1 Fishing1

[arlow]

Grinning1 Well since I predate you young guys by a few years I'll tell you I have been fishing in Mass for almost 60 years. Back in the good old days bass season was closed untill about the midde of July and the trout season opened on the third sat of April. I don't remember the dates , but some of the other fish seasons were not year round either.I was not a bass fisherman anyway I just waited for opening of trout season, we even had preseason fishing at the clubs which was a treat We had to tag our preseason catch so we wouldn't get pinched by the game wardens That was back around 1950, I miss the good old days....Cry1 Fishing1

That would splain it lucy. Smoke1 I wasn't even a twinkle in dads eye then....