FISHING REPORT LAKES OAHE/SHARPE FOR WEEK OF AUGUST 7TH THRU AUGUST 13TH 2017

[Hutch]

I had a few days off then took the Clarence Wohlwen family fishing following up with Doctor Pete Looby and son for a two day fish out of SUTTON BAY RESORT/GOLF COURSE. A couple of nice customers that I enjoyed. I fished Sharpe for the first trip and Oahe the second trip. Both trips we didn't picture the fish. We caught possession limits on Sharpe in a lot of boat traffic with no smallmouth but on Oahe the smallmouth fishing is starting to go now with the fish schooling up in 20 to 40 fow and catching them along with walleye was real nice for the Looby's. The bass were caught on minnow /bouncer rigs and the walleye went for nightcrawler/bouncer rigs in around 12 fow out to 30 fow. For those who like less crowed waters Oahe is the best choice with eating size walleye and real nice bass coming in. I get a lot of negative comments on keeping the smallmouth bass but they are good eating and I believe a balanced harvest of all species makes for a healthier over all fishery. I guided for 28 winters on Lake Fork in Texas and never kept a largemouth bass but that was an entirely different set of circumstances. Fork is around 35 thousand acre lake with a tremendous amount of fishing pressure so the balance of fish wasn't considered to be as important as a total wipe out of the bass fishery hence catch and release was important. Smallmouth eat more of the same bait fish that walleye and other species do and have a tendency to take over a lake if not harvested equally as witnessed in Lakes like Mille Lacs in MN. There you can not even keep a walleye any more in what used to be one of the greatest walleye lakes in the country. There are other reasons on this lake than smallmouth over population but it is certainly an example of under harvesting one species. I am not a biologist just a fishing guide so the above statements come from observation rather than a formal education but I believe them to be true. Most of the guides up and down the river recognize the eating value of the smallmouth and harvest them for there customers and I personally think it is the right thing to do. I also know that keeping bass gets some bass fishermen up tight but I think most people prefer a balanced fishery with walleye being most peoples main choice to fish for. I think before fishermen put out negative comments about eating a nice meal of smallmouth they might look at what can occur when you under harvest any species in a lake big or small. Catch and release is a great way to go especially on bigger fish but on a balanced basis of walleye smallmouth northern etc. I think when GF&Parks disagree they need to make different regulations to protect what will support the best fishery and I think that limits are something we can all agree on and honor.

HUTCH'S GUIDE SERVICE

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