Friday Facts for February 12, 2021
Been lax on these, life gets in the way but I have a couple of them in the chamber, ready to fire, starting with the results from the Survey we posted a couple weeks ago. Enjoy!
This will be a long-ish post, so I'll apologize in advance (i.e. Sorry, not sorry)
A couple of weeks ago, we posted a survey link asking for your input. Ya'll delivered!!! 937 responses!!!
We've closed that survey now, and I'll try to share the data as thoroughly as possible.
First of all, a disclaimer(or two); This was not a scientific survey; The groups we choose to share this survey to were "Conservation centric". This was a calculated decision. Even though we may have hedged our bets, we still received more than a few "Smallmouth are delicious" and "Fry the Fighter" type responses. Baby steps, right?
I am still not sure what, if anything, I'll do with the data. Maybe use this first survey to refine our approach and ask more detailed questions, in more "diverse" groups? I am open to any constructive suggestions, but for now this will remain mostly anecdotal data, meant to prove a theory; The river Smallmouth is the Ozarks premier gamefish. According to the results: Hell. Yes!!
There were 7 questions in this survey; 6 multiple choice and 1 "input required".
I have added pictures of the table data from the multiple choice questions. you can make your own conclusions based on the responses, but what really surprised me was the answer to Q1: Over the last five years do you feel Missouri smallmouth bass fishing has improved or declined in numbers?
"Somewhat Improved" and "About the same" led the way. To me it reflects the push to release smallmouth and protect the resource.
Question 6 was "Where would you like to see more attention to Smallmouth regulations, or new Special Management Zones?"
This was "Participant input" question. I've put a few screenshots of the most relevant answers in the pictures, but here are some of my observation (Yes, I read all 937 of them):
Lower Creel limits were a popular theme
CnR areas were mentioned prominently
You fellars on the Meramec hate Spotted Bass; Like deep seeded, vitriolic hate. I need therapy after reading some of the responses..
Habitat loss is blamed for population declines as much or more than creel limits
Better enforcement of existing regulations(i.e. more agents on the water)
In order of precedence, here are the waterways you want to see more, or better enforcement of, regulations:
Missouri
1. (tie) Current/Meramec
2. James River
3. Jacks Fork
4. CreekX (no, I won't tell you where this is publicly:-)
5. Big River
6. Black River
7. Big River
Arkansas
1. Crooked Creek
2. Kings River
3. Spring River
4. Mulberry River
5. UIR (Upper Illinois River) This one surprised me; The UIR is an amazing fishery, and needs protection.
Well. There ya go. We sincerely appreciate the time you took to complete this survey.
Ozarks Smallmouth Alliance exists because of you. OSA has always had one mission; to Protect, Preserve and Promote the Ozarks Premier gamefish; The Smallmouth Bass.
We have another "Facts" in the hopper, and I may post it tomorrow evening. We'll see.
In the mean time, please feel free to discuss and comment on this post. Open dialogue is the only way we will accomplish our mission to
Free. The Fighter!!
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