What about the 6 hour rule!

[Tobe]

Ok, before this topic gets out of hand I would like to point out that it is not my intention to stir any pots or to be anti authority, my question is to get a better understanding of why the D.F.G. stepped in to make a rule on a species of fish they themselves do little for.

With the soaring cost of fuel and hours of preparation to fish bass tournaments I think a six hour limitation on fishing is unreasonable.

Bass anglers, not the D.F.G. are responsible for the success of this species by the self-implementation of catch and release and by bass planting programs in our lakes and rivers throughout the state.

Personally, I think we are losing site of what bass fishing really is, and that is a form of hunting with the splendor of being to be able to release our prey.

We now have sophisticated live wells and chemical additives for live well management and while no system is perfect, we are striving to do everything we can short of not fishing at all.

I believe through better education in preserving out catch along with on the water operational checks of our live wells prior to blastoff during the summer months we can achieve the same goals without these unreasonable restrictions.

History has proven that bass anglers have and will continue to be the leaders in conservation and development for the preservation of our sport.

[lippy]

yes

[Cooch]

with the 6 hour rule.

10. Less time we spend on the water with the recreational yahoos.
9. Less time we drive with the drunken yahoos on the road.
8. Less likely we are exposed to BDO Rain dances.
7. More time at the ramp with the Misty Girls!
6. Afternoon poker time at Zack's!
5. More time fer us Rats ta clean out our boats.
4. I only need one Red Bull instead of 3.
3. Far less dead fish at the weigh-ins. (Not the leaders ya think)
2. The Jig guys have a chance ta win!

And the number one reason for Summer 6 hour events:

1. Tournament TDs have no excuses fer not getting up their results before the end of the day to keep us Cyber nutcases happy!

[Tobe]

Hey Cooch,

Give me some real reasons why we need the D.F.G for this.
Again, I'm not saying nothing needs to be done but pretty soon we will have seasons imposed by them.

[NaCl]

Personally, I think the rule is good for both the fish and the image of the sport.

That said, competition is competition. Who ever said weighing in at 3:00 pm was some sort of perfect time? Why not weigh-in at 5 p.m.? Most tournaments hold summer weigh-ins some time between noon and 1 with 12:30 being a common time. Since it gets light by 5:30, that's REALLY 7 hours. If you think about it, dead of winter tournaments blast off near 8 AM and weigh in at 3:00. Uhhmmmm...think hard Delta rats. And, for those Clearlake Oaks residents who have trouble with math, that number of hours is the same as the average count of teeth in your mouths...about 7 hours! Oh My God! They're the same! But, nobody bitches about the "short" midwinter tournaments.

I say leave the 6 hour rule in tact. Besides, I've heard the batteries in Cooch's super accurate scale run out in 6 hours. After that he's back to "winning prefish" with his patented estimates! HAR HAR!

.....NaCl

ps I kid Cooch a lot (same with Dobyns, kb, sTony and just about anyone else who I consider a friend). But, if I was going to hire a guide on the delta he'd be in my short "A" list of choices, along with such notables as Steve Sapp and 3-time fishing Hall-of-Famer, Dee Thomas. Now that's some mighty fine company on that list!

[NaCl]

1. Benefits target species. Spotted bass and smallies are caught mostly in our cold water reservoirs. The 6-hour rule isn't really needed for them. On the other hand, most of our dominant largemouth fisheries are places like the Delta, Clearlake or small SoCal "ponds" where surface water temperatures are far more threatening to fish survival. So, the rule (on a very practical level) ends up offering far more protection to largemouth bass than to smaller species. I consider this a good thing.

2. Compensates for irresponsible anglers. Like it or not, there are some among us who just do not take care of their fish. They don't fizz fish in winter and they don't compensate for low dissolved oxygen levels in warm livewell water. It is not unreasonable to impose a general rule that reduces the exposure of our resource (quality bass) to the threats from morons.

3. It really is NOT a "restriction"!!!!!! We fish tournies in December or January that blast off around 8 AM and weigh in at 3. That's 7 hours of fishing. Nobody bitches about the "short" competition day. In summer, most events blast off around 5:30 AM and typically weigh in at noon or 12:30....uhhhh....that's 6 1/2 or 7 hours! What the hell is the big deal????????????

While some of Cooch's answers were obviously tongue-in-cheek, he hit the nail on the head about avoiding water lice, drunk boaters and spending time with family. To me, the 6-hour rule is the best of both worlds. Get to fish tournaments. Get to avoid the ski-diots. Get to spend time with family. My God, what could be better?!

Just my $.02

.....NaCl

[Tobe]

Hey Cooch,

Give me some real reasons why we need the D.F.G for this.
Again, I'm not saying nothing needs to be done but pretty soon we will have seasons imposed by them.

[Fishin' Dave]

...plus if you know what you are doing, what do you need more time for? Crap or get off the pot I say! Plus everyone has a 250hp motor now days, so you can run from Russos to Shasta dam and back in 1hr. Just locke through!

[Cooch]

the rule is good for both the fish and the image of the sport.

That really was my first answer. Then I said, that answer was boring, I need a smoke. NOT! Then I got ta thinkin, what would Sault do, post the logical or post a parody? Obviously I'm not tempted at the logical answers at the moment!

Dean really hit on some points that I originally was gonna post. And since I don't fish a whole lot of tournaments any more, it really don't matter to me, well cept fer number two on my list! HAR! Why break something that's not broken here. It's a good rule, and the DFG has stuck with it and not pushed fer anything more than that since it's implimentation. This is not a new rule, it's been around a while, and it's not a typical, California Novelty rule, other states use simular restrictions. Hell, some restrict fishin in the spring fer bass, PERIOD! Look at the slot on Trinity???? Now there's a strange rule, like that lake get's the pressure to require a slot on bass.

t's really not a bad rule Tobe, and I think yer vote count speaks with me.

[Fishin' Dave]

boy if we're worried about the image of the sport, you're in trouble Dude!

[Cooch]

It's about lessoning the amo involving dead fish, that the PETAphites love to load their fish bustin guns with.

[Fishin' Dave]

That is still is bad for you. The PETA guys take one look at you and see "meat eater"

[Tobe]

If this is about "Image" then;


Keeping the culling rule for tournaments would be "good for our image"

Banning the use of nets because it removes the protective slime from bass would be "good for our image"

Restricting bass tournaments during the spawn would be 'good for our image"

Hell, if we gave up using hooks all together and just snapped photos like the Audubon Society that would be great for our image!

Unfortunately, I'm afraid this is where the future of bass fishing is headed, where do you stop and take a stand?

Can we look forward to shoot and release duck hunting?

[Fishin' Dave]

Sweet, stun gun deer hunting

6 am to 3pm sucks in the summer. I think even if you could, not many would.

[Tobe]

You might be right with that Dave, but I'd rather see the anglers make that choice.

[Jon]

I have followed this site for a long time. In fact I remember a post by NACL that spoke of sitting down to eat lunch and throwing out this new bait called a SENKO on a long tapering point. I believe the lake was Millerton, Not sure. Anyways, a lot of stuff is brought up on this board now, most of which I don't care to read. I put them into 3 catagories. Bragging, which are fun to read and informative. Complaining, which means you are unhappy with something AND trying to find a solution, which is productive. Then there is just outright bitching. Talking about something without you, yourself trying to be proactive in producing an outcome which is to your own liking. If a person feels so strong about an issue, spend the time yourself, go to meetings,voice your opinion. That is what our country was built apon.
Thanks
Jon

[raverfusion]

tobe your right. as I see it there are many more reasons why you get dead fish. for one..(none meantions btw) you all with your fast boats running and gunning giving those fish some stir in that blender, you call a live well. thats gotta give those fish some sort of head trauma. long days are the least of the fishes problems...I have yet to loose a fish to death in my live well..but yet again I just have a 18ft tracker.with a 60. so 35mph dont hurt as bad as a 250 going 75 on the delta... but agreed with all who posted some dont know how to take care of them...

[raverfusion]

*NM*

[RougeBass]

kb, Cooch, and Dean pretty much hit the nail on the head. I am a prime example why this rule should be in place. Back in 92 when I first started fishing tournaments I had an old aluminmum Bass Tracker live wells under the seats. And they were aluminmum. i was fishing a tournament at Pine Flat in July. I had a nice limit by 8:00. at 11:00 I went to cull a fish and everyone of my fish were "DEAD" the water in those live wells was "HOT". I was very inexperienced and unaware i should have been changing the water and icing them down. I have fished club tournaments with coolers as live wells and a small fish tank pump as a aerator. I do agree our boats today have better live well systems. And there are more things on the market to help use with fish care. Bottom line here is it is the law no matter how "Silly" we think it is when a club or organization intenionally breaks the law it is a reflection on our everyone involved in tournament fishing.

And one more question why is it everytime a rule or law infraction is mentioned on this forum someone has to ask "Did you speed on your way to the tournament?" What you did before or after a tournament is really irrealavent; Tournament rules and law are in place to protect the safety of the of the anglers, to ensure a level playing field and conservation.

[raverfusion]

some always asks (meaning me) because it seems as if these little rules are taken so seriously by you all...that you forget that you all break some sort of laws. Im sure that the state would be more interested if you speed towing a boat, then if you fish 7 hours in the summer. for the touney its not relevent but for the safety of others it is RELEVENT. everyone speeds at one time or another. thats why the illustration is used all the time by everyone. so people can relate.
its all the same in the sense that a law is a law. and like you said no matter how "silly" we obey. so when you (as in a general sense) see clubs or what ever breaking that law..think about how we all are imperfect and break something...I honestly dont think that they are "Intentionally breaking that law" maybe they dont know about it or even have a permit...I asked my old club and they said they dont get permits. but they also are not money tournys,..and if that is not right...or legal, so what when it comes down to it, no one will do a damn thing about it. people will fish as long as they want..too...
DFG fine em if you have too..
CHP give em that ticket!
and we all can b!tch on this forum together
raverfusion... OUT (on this one)

[BassTraveler]

Hey Tobe,
I believe the BBAC, had a lot to do with having the 6 hour rule put in place.
I also like the rule and it's really easy to get around, have double weigh in's. They are fun and Korny does the best job at them.

[Tobe]

The BBAC, is that the British Baloon and Air Club ?

Hey Sieg, I'm all for the conservation of bass and what is good for our sport, if the BBAC lobbied for this rule then thats great and I agree with it.

Like I said in my original post, the bass anglers are responsible for the protection and success of this species.

I was under the impression it was like the culling rule!.

[BassTraveler]

Tobe,
FYI
Black Bass Action Committee.
I talked to my partner, Don. They had nothing to do with the 6 hour rule. He did tell me however, that DFG used to say that anytime the temp. reached 70 degrees...the 6 hour rule was put in place. That was hard to enforce, thus June 15-Sept 15.