I think this question has so much nuance to it. As a FFS owner, I personally love learning more each time, perhaps more importantly being able to study fish behavior, I’m a nerd in that regard I guess. I also am very cognizant of the fact that if used to the limit and improved, which it likely will be, severe consequences to fisheries will be coming. And speaking primarily as a crappie fisherman, the species I love dearly will be significantly impacted due to their basic nature. I for the record do keep fish to eat but am very conscious of not abusing bites, and lakes when I do decide to keep with selective and smart harvesting.
I’ll be the radical and advocate for the ban and reduced bag limits, I’d be content, not necessarily happy, but content with both. And yes, I would give up my FFS for an overall improvement in the quality of WI fisheries. Losing the money would suck but if it would mean a return to the “normal” but also romanticized stories of how fishing was in our state 30 to 50 years ago, I’ll happily sacrifice my investment in the technology. That is a privileged take, and I acknowledge that, but I’d do it. I do not expect that others would do the same. I’m of the mindset that we live in a nation that preaches way to much, me, me, me, and not nearly enough we. If cooperation is what’s needed to work together in limiting the negative impacts of FFS and also reducing limits, sign me up. I’m sure that take will be an unpopular one, but I’m ok with that.
But as others have mentioned where is the line? Then do we ban houses, gps, lake maps, lake-link, ido, information sharing? Because I don’t need FFS, if a friend dials me up a text that says, “hey they are biting on lake X we always fish out by that weed edge in front of that one yellow boat house.”
As far as the regs go, I’m in favor of managing lakes in a variety of ways, have certain lakes be catch an release only maybe for a few years on a few targeted species. I know property owners wouldn’t love that but if it improves fish quality and health it may be worth it. Drop down significantly other lakes and if they lakes get too jammed with fish gradually bump the limits up.
One final thought, how does reducing FFS and technology impact the recruitment of future anglers? I know of some younger kids, as I am a teacher, who have become more interested in fishing after being shown how a livescope works. I think the basic video game nature is appealing to some who otherwise are not the outdoorsy types. As someone who has had so much joy over the years in fishing, I’d also hate for new limits on tech. to discourage younger people who might miss out on the true joy and passion that I associate with fishing.
Granted, that may be a small number of people, but I’d bet many of you would say that fishing has truly changed your life for the better. And maybe worse too on those rough days, but even then on those days that make ya want to quit, fishing teaches so many lessons and values. I think of the days of freezing cold on the ice for a few bites teaching me resilience, and patience that I probably would not have acquired doing other things kids tend to do in the world today. I know I care so much I’m willing to sacrifice on some of these things even if my experience becomes a bit less successful and more inconvenient for the sake of fisheries, but likely I’m in the minority.
Just my three cents.
