Dam Level's

[wizard]

Should we fish Dam's till they are bone dry??

What if the rain's come tomorrow??

I saw Moogerah dam(Boonah) when it was at less then 4% and dead eel's were floating on the water and it was shocking to look at.
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # Wizard

[mackmauler]

Wizard, my best bass fishing trips were at moogerah when it was 3%, big bass that fought hard and tasted great, 4 in a row over 50cm

[caveman]

y stop fishing as theyt will only let the water out for the irrigators until there isnt enough for them to swim anyway

[wizard]

I suppose the next question/poll will be "when does it go from being sport to slaugther"

I thought that fishing was a sport??

Easy to shoot a Deer that is trap in a 10ft x 10ft shed hey!

[Fisheasy]

Why should we only going fishing under difficult circumstances? Sometimes we get it good, sometimes we don't. If the fishing's good, why not go for it?

[Graham_N_Roberts]

In put and take areas (most dams) it is logical to keep fishing as the water drops to avoid seeing dead fish. Surely as the water disappears, so does the available feed. That's why the fishing is usually better at these times, the buggers are starvin'.

[Mattman]

hi fellas

i didn't vote as i believe you should keep fishing below 10%
If we stopped at 10% i'm sure in a few years time of the Darling Downs that you wouldn't be able to fish many dams at all.
Leslie dam in 7% and the fish are still hard enough to catch and there still is a bit of water for the fish to hide in so I wouldn't draw the line at anything over 3%.
My thoughts
Cheers Matt

[Remo]

I am afraid that I have to agree with wizard in part. The fish are trapped in a small spot as Moogerah is now. However, in saying that it is good fishing and it would be hard to keep people out. So probably, a good compromise would be to release all fish caught. Bag limit 0
If they die of lack of oxygen or excessive temperature changes, then so be it. [smiley=anxious.gif]


Regards
Ray

[Mattman]

Hi fellas

I'm sorry Remo i don't understand, you could be doin a fish a favour(somehow) by taking it home if u catch it at moogerah coz it prob wil die anyway as u say.
I know bass and yellas are excellent eating so what is the difference in keeping a few fish for a feed and them dying there in the dam ??? It will make no real differe nice if the fish die anyway.
Cheers Matt

[stevo]

I have caught alot of fish(bass 30) in one day,from borumba dam when it was at about 10%,all returned to water.the biggest being 53cm with another 20 being between 40-50. sure it seemed afew fish,but i think it depends on which dam your talking about,10% can still be alot of water to move around in. [smiley=idea.gif]
Lets hope for more rain anyway [smiley=2thumbsup.gif] [smiley=happy.gif]
steve

[Fitzy]

I think dams should be fished at all levels. Mainly because of the fact that 99% of the target fish are stocked & are there for the sole purpose to BE caught. If we stop fishing at a spot because of low water, we need to ask "what if it it dries up all together"? Are those fish then wasted?
The only exception, I think, should be a temporary closure on the taking Mary River cod and Saratoga as these fish are quite rare in lakes & will breed.

I think the question to be asked is "should dams/lakes be ALLOWED to be dropped past a certain level"? Then my answer would be 10% and only water for human consumption allowed after that. No water for battery style piggeries to make another squillion bucks, no water for irrigation to get sprayed into the air only to evaporate before it hits the ground etc & definately not a bloody drop for cotton.

Fitzy..

[swano]

here here fitzy
i think most of us agree with that , one example is the menindee lake system in nsw last summer , they had tonnes of rotten fish of all breeds ( including huge cod) scattered over the drying lake beds. and where do we think the water went ehh. i heard even the fisheries suspended all catch limits , even to the netters just to get rid of the remaining fish before the last puddles dried up. how long will that fishery take to rebuild ??? ???

[Rev]

,........................................ no water for irrigation to get sprayed into the air only to evaporate before it hits the ground etc & definately not a bloody drop for cotton.

Fitzy..

Pardon my ignorance, but isn't that exactly why the dams are there in the first place?

[Remo]

Rev,

You are right in what you are saying, in regards to dams and their use. However, I think that Fitzy is saying that the dams have reached a level where they are classed dry only hold 2or3 % Water. IE Moogerah Dam currently.
This couple of percent remaining sustains another industry for the long term. Where this little waters would only serve farmers for a month at best.

Lets just hope it rains soon, and for a couple weeks

Ray

[wizard]

Quick update dams are not allowed to run dry as it plays up with the main dam wall! I spoke with DPI and they said that dams are stocked for"high water quality purposes"and NOT just for fishing.