In our latest episode, we sit down with two Midwestern fisherman and catfish advocates. They have grown increasingly concerned with "paylakes" in their region. We discuss what paylakes are, how they operate, and how they are decimating the public resource of catfish by largely unregulated and unethical means. We detail the situation, what it's meant for average anglers, fishing tournaments, invasive species spread, management, and for the rivers of the Midwest that grow very large catfish. Last we touch on how you can learn more, and get involved in helping to better manage the resource and getting a fair shake for regional anglers.
Links:
Lots of info about paylakes: www.exposingpaylakes.com
Indiana Catfish Conservation Association
https://www.facebook.com/IndianaCatfishConservationAssociation
Home site of the catfish tournament Aaron Wheatley started:
https://www.monstersontheohio.com/
National Wildlife Federation's work on invasive carp in the Midwest
https://www.nwf.org/Our-Work/Environmental-Threats/Invasive-Species/Asian-Carp
Show notes:
1:00 - intro to episode
2:08 - intro to guests
4:45 - Greg's recent small mouth fishing trips
6:10 - what is a paylake
9:05 - the situation in Kentucky
13:15 - monetizing a natural resource through paylakes
15:30 - methods of take and "netting"
19:45 - what did it look like for average anglers leading up to this situation
22:05 - the Monsters on the Ohio catfish tournament - how this paylakes situation has degraded the tournament experience and local tourism
26:45 - catfish are being exploited all over the Midwest
32:45 - one thousand people in the crowd at the Monsters on the Ohio tournament
34:57 - a message from the Artemis sportswomen podcast
35:30 - the scope of the problem
40:12 - problems with transporting live fish
43:00 - how the current paylakes situation exacerbates invasive species issues
46:45 - we know large catfish are feeding on invasive carp
48:15 - what do we need to do about this
51:00 - pushing for no transportation of live fish in KY
55:00 - the need to change limits, take methods, and size thresholds
1:00:20 - the need for cooperative interstate regulations
1:03:20 - checking out the "exposing paylakes" website
1:08:15 - fighting this fight for the next generations
1:08:30 - listening to the side of those who operate paylakes
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