Opinions on paylakes

[MidWestMike]

I posted a pic of a large blue I caught at a paylake, and someone made a comment, to which I respect a lot, about there being no sport to it. And for the fish themselves, lack of food source, over crowding and other thoughts along these lines. Never really thought of it from that point of view. Just want to see what other opinions are out there on the subject.


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[Glasman]

The paylakes around here only have channelcats, and they are all introduced at 1 pound. They also have insane amounts of bluegill and sunfish, so id say there is plenty of food for them to grow. The largest ive cat ive seen come out of the paylakes near here was just under 15 pounds.

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[Chub_by]

Paylakes are ideal for people that don't have a fishing licence
Other than that it is better in nature

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[kingofthejungle]

The paylake in eastern wv close to me has some decent fish that I've seen but they make you throw back anything over 2ft for breeding purposes. But they have a cash prize daily for best catch at which time they wil buy it back.

Long live the king

"Stand for something of fall for anything"

 

[Glasman]

The one near me has a $100 prize for largest and smallest channel cat caught. Ive thought about picking up a 3 incher from the LFS and taking it in with me

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[JasonsPlecosCichlids]

I see nothing wrong with it...to an extent. They are good places for you to catch the biggest fish you will probably ever catch if they are known for big catfish or carp, good place to take kids, good place for old folks and in general at least the few I have been too are good lakes to have a good time at. Some of these paylakes are not run well, they over-crowed with fish and people, lots of garbage in and around the lake, etc.

Ive been in arguments about this many times and I dont see why there was even a discussion about it. Other members tell you to go to the river, go to a big lake, dont fish subdivision lakes, etc. Well all this time I was the one posting photos of big catfish and big grass carp, fish between 15-51lbs, and these keyboard cowboys are posting nothing, members think they are better than you because they dont fish paylakes and whatever other excuse they dish out.

I see it as this, you are out fishing having a good time, enjoying yourself. Dont let anyone tell you different.

No matter where you are at, when you toss your line in, you are not guaranteed whatsoever that a fish will bite, doesnt matter where you are at, a small pond with thousands of bluegill or a river with thousands of migrating salmon, or a paylake stocked with big catfish. We have all been in these situations where these bodies of water have a ton of fish and at times we even see these fish but just didnt catch anything.

I say go out there and have fun fishing where you can, even if you have to pay.

I won $200+ two years ago at the paylake I fish in Ohio, they basically paid me back what I spent and then had enough to get in there for free and also won several free passes.

 

[joe jaskot]

There are fishermen and then there are guys who go fishing. Pay lakes are for guys who go fishing. LOL! Wouldn't be a bad place to take a young kid to teach him/her how to fish. Almost guaranteed to catch something. Not real sporting though.

 

[JasonsPlecosCichlids]

Ive been to paylakes before and not caught a thing, Ive been to the river and not caught a thing, Ive been to a state lake and not caught a thing, Ive been to a creek and not caught a thing and I have also been to each and caught fish.

Whats the difference between a paylake that is stocked with fish and you have to pay to fish versus a lake that is stocked by the state or an individual and you get to fish for free or lease or even pay in some situation or even work to fish there? The fish in these lakes and rivers didnt get there on their own. They were stocked at one point. Lakes around the world are constantly restocked, some of the money we pay for licenses go towards that stocking.

We have a trout stocking at Big Bone Creek every year which that states puts on. I guess this is sporting either....but yet hundreds of folks line up on the bank of all ages and fishing experience to catch trout.

I realize you pay for a license from your state and you pay a fee to fish a paylake, but its still fishing, its not any easier, fish are still fish and they eat when they want to eat, fight just as hard, and so on.

 

[jworth]

It is a legal activity from a fishing standpoint and a commercial fisherman standpoint so if you choose to do it, then you are entitled to do so. I have made my opinion clear and I choose not to go there. Paylakes can have their place but they should be stocked with hatchery fish (just like MasterB was talking about with trout and channels), its probably good access for those who are handicapped etc... What I dont agree with is stealing MASSIVE amounts of trophy class fish from natural waterways. Harvest of catfish is UNREGULATED right now in the Ohio River, which directly affects me since flatheads are migratory and I fish those tributaries. What about our license money and tax dollars that is supposed to preserve our fisheries? That's not happening when all those catfish "disappear" into some paylake. That is the issue I have.

 

[MN_Rebel]

Isn't most paylakes holds non-native fishes that they bought out of the state? I know white catfish and tilapia got stocked in the paylakes for fishing purposes.