Then and Now - Catfish regulations in Illinois

Editor's note: I talked with Rob Maher summer/fall of 2003 for this piece which was never used for Procats eMag.
When the first Procats issue came out, the Lake Texoma world record blue cat was the big news story. There was talk of revisiting the topic, but we went with other stories. 

Interesting to revisit this piece, as regulations for flathead catfish went into effect in 2015 on the Fox River in Illinois from the Wisconsin border through the Chain O' Lakes to the mouth at the Illinois river. (The regulation limits harvest to 1 fish per day 28" or larger and only 2 fish between 13" and less than 28"). The new regulations resulted from a partnership between Fox Valley Flatheaders (http://foxvalleyflatheaders.com/ ) and ILDNR that started around 2008. Anglers tracked the hours fished, as well as the number and size of fish caught and released. Eventually this led to flathead population surveys by the regional DNR biologists, which supported the existing regulation. Who says a few concerned anglers can't make a difference?

 

DNR indicates more study needed to implement trophy catfish management

In 2003, I talked to Rob Maher about a number of issues regarding catfish management in Illinois. He manages the Illinois DNR commercial fishing program, and participates in catfish population sampling on the Illinois and Mississippi rivers. Maher has been involved in fisheries management with ILDNR for 10 years, and in charge of commercial fishing for 4 ½ years. A few topics of discussion measuring catfish populations, limitations due to DNR staffing 1evels, hot spots for large Blue and Flathead catfish, and possible regulation of catfish harvest.

Maher acknowledges an increase in catfishing popularity, including trophy cats. “From what I’ve seen first hand, there seems to be an increase in catfishing popularity for sure…it’s becoming a much higher profile thing than it was 15 or 20 years ago.” It’s because of the current interest catfishing, the DNR is now directing considerable efforts to monitor catfish populations.

A few spots widely known for catches of big catfish continue to produce. The Kaskaskia is a good flathead river, and always has been. The Rock River is an exceptional flathead river, with a very healthy flathead population. Baldwin Lake in Randolph County has had reports of lots of 50 and 60 pound blue catfish. Maher gave particular mention to the Mississippi River stretch from Lock and Dam 26 to the mouth of the Missouri as an outstanding fishery. They netted one blue catfish that year which was 90 pounds. (In a single net they caught 13 fish totaling over 420 lbs., including the 90lb one!) The fish were caught in 35 feet of water in very heavy current off a wing dyke. * The current world record blue catfish was taken in this river stretch in May 2005.

  

The DNR employs two sampling methods to assess catfish populations:

· Electrofishing, which gives an account of “young of the year” and smaller cats. This allows the DNR to determine spawning success and overall population data.

· Hoop Net sampling, which specific targets larger blue and flathead catfish to measure those populations.

A few years ago, ILDNR used some hoop net sampling techniques to get a handle on the big cat populations. These efforts started a few years ago with the Rock River, and the same techniques are have been expanded to other large rivers in the state. Trophy catfish population data before implementing techniques to specifically study big cats was sketchy, and often based on anecdotal accounts from fishermen. As Maher explains, “Were really just now starting to come to grips with these big fish. They’re a difficult fish to sample; it’s taken us several years to even figure out how to collect a meaningful number of fish. Were still at the early stages of this catfish management. But, everything we’ve seen is very promising. It’s very impressive the quality and health of the fish – large robust individuals and lots of them.” There was data on Mississippi trophy catfish populations, due to a long-term resource monitoring effort in place there. But, other than that the DNR did not really have a concentrated effort to measure big cats prior to their efforts, which started on the Rock River.

A variety of sampling is used on small streams. The DNR performs “Basin Surveys” working intensively in a specific river basin on a 5 year rotation. They use mainly electrofishing, although there are some netting efforts are going on. Sampling efforts are focused basin by basin on this rotation to be able to collect meaningful data. With the increasing popularity of catfishing, they’re taking techniques developed on big rivers and using on some of the smaller streams with success. Maher confirms that they are in the early sages of assessing all of the interior stream catfish populations. “We have been electrofishing some of the basins for around 15 years, so we’ve got a reasonable handle. We see very good populations on the interior waters also.” This rotation accounts to why annual ILDNR Catfish Status reports don’t always mention smaller streams – the data is generally reported when it is current.

The 5 year rotation reflects ILDNR manpower limitations. They are covering around 6,000 miles of interior streams containing catfish with only 10 Streams Biologists. In addition, there are a few vacant posts currently in the northeast portion of the state. This leaves the DNR spread thin with only two biologists to cover this area, which receives especially heavy fishing pressure.

Regarding a possible “closed wintering season” to protect vulnerable big Flathead and Blue Catfish from commercial fishing, Maher stated “There’s been some discussion of that, I work real closely with those guys. The trend we’re seeing with commercial fishing in general is a downward trend. We lose at least 100 license holders a year. Since I’ve had the program, we’ve lost several hundred licenses. The guys who are doing it have been doing it for years, and haven’t really impacted the populations yet.” Maher also confirmed while the number of commercial licenses was in decrease, the number of actual devices in the water was about the same. He continues, “Their catches are pretty impressive during the winter, there’s no question about it. The thing you’ve got to keep in mind, is a lot of those crews have been working those areas for 25 or 30 years and they’re seeing more catfish now than they ever have, in the Mississippi.” They’re reluctant to do anything to restrict the guys making a living commercial fishing. He did confirm that if DNR did feel there was a problem with the population, they wouldn’t hesitate to close winter fishing for blue and flathead catfish if that was in the best interest of the resource. Maher feels the commercial fishermen are as concerned about the resource, as anybody else. He explains “that’s how they make their living - if the catfish population crashes, they’ve got no way to make a living.”

I asked Maher if limiting harvest of only the biggest catfish would adversely affect commercial fishing. He confirms some commercial fishermen would claim limiting take of these top sized catfish would impact their catch. He also explains “as the commercial fisheries manager, I have to look out for my constituents, who are the commercial fishermen.” 

Another topic of discussion was the recent proliferation of the asian carp. As he explains, “The biggest problem on the lower Kaskaskia, and one that were seeing unfortunately spread throughout our interior streams, are these Asian carp. It’s actually dangerous to boat that river. Take what you’ve seen on the Illinois and multiply it by about 3, and that’s what you have on the Kaskaskia.” When asked if Carlyle dam would impede the invading carp, he explained “Fortunately, it appears these fish haven’t gotten up into the lake yet, but it’s really just a matter of time. These things are so aggressive and powerful, they seem to be able to get in anywhere. They’ve gotten above Lock and Dam 19 on the Mississippi, so they can pass through that structure. There’s probably not much that’s going to stop them.” One of the serious concerns is that they could affect the food chain at its lowest level by filter feeding a lot of the plankton that every fish depends on at an early life stage.

The first time I spoke with Maher, we discussed genetic influence on catfish. He commented, “I think jury is out on whether real large fish have some exceptional genetics, or whether are just living long enough to reach that size. If healthy population of catfish that are exhibiting good growth rates throughout the population, you’re always going to have those bigger fish. That’s just my opinion. It differs from quite a few in the field…” When later asked about the age of big catfish, Maher responded “We haven’t aged very many big catfish. Missouri biologists aged an 80 lb. blue catfish at 13 years, and an 85 lb. Ohio River blue cat was estimated to be 16-17 years old.” He was reluctant to confirm the accuracy of these estimates, however. “It’s true these fish seem to grow fast”, he explains, “but more research should done on this subject.” Forage base, water temperature, and length of growing season are some of the keys to catfish growth.

Finally, we also discussed the lack of statewide regulations for catfishes. One reason cited is an abundance of natural reproduction occurring in streams and rivers. The majority of current regulations are in place to protect stocked populations, where there is no natural reproduction. He did confirm “If we see problems develop we will put regulations on. Anything that we do we want to make sure it’s based on sound biological information, and will have a meaningful positive impact on the fish populations.”

Writers Commentary: The acknowledged lack of understanding of many of our blue and flathead catfish populations due to a combination of infrequency of data collection in some stream basins, and sampling techniques that primarily measured small cats (until recently) is of great concern, in this writer’s opinion.

Misadventures in Catfishing: part one

 One time and you're hooked on rivers and catfish 

I'll never forget the first river camping trip we had. My father's Aunt, and cousins (true river rats, in the best sense) had a place they used to stay at on the river "roughing it." Decades ago, before there was talk of  "selective harvest", they would bait trotlines (throw lines) and bank poles for channel catfish on the Kaskaskia river between Shelbyville and Vandalia, Illinois. Okay, so we weren't roughing it too bad...there was a refrigerator and a stove (run from a tank of LP gas) and we stayed in a trailer. Town wasn't that far away if supplies were needed. Later a screened in porch was added on for additional sleeping room.

When they first described the river to me, they said "there's a nice beach and swimming hole...but don't go into the channel as it's deep and there's current there." Of course with my 11 year old imagination, I pictured a wide, clear, shallow pool with a rope swing, and maybe an inlet and outlet on the far edge where the stream came in and went out in an opening of a dark forest...

In reality, it was a typical midwestern stream winding it's way through the floodplain. Being there was like stepping into another world.
And getting there, well that was a trip!

Bang! We'd hit a pothole in the road while going up a hill, down a hill, back up again, around a curve, then finally, down into the river bottoms to the lane to the trailer. It was nothing like I imagined. It was on a rare straight section of the stream with a steady slow current and muddy water. I soon learned how much fun there was to be had. At first I didn't help bait lines or go in the boat much. But there was swimming, camp cooking, staying up late, spinning yarns. I brought home sand in my fishing reels, and left hooks and lines in the trees. There was so much to learn about fishing... I'm sure they wouldn't have needed to buy hooks for a while after I came!

I'll never forget some of the wild and strange stories we heard stories about some local "hoggers" (or noodlers as they're often called). There was a big hollow log anchored to the river bank on one end and open at the bottom of a deep hole in the river near where they stayed. They would put sandbags in front of the open end of the log and trap a fish using a long pole with a big hook on it. Then reach in there and grab the fish by the mouth and drag 'em out. Did I mention even in the lowest water the open end was about 6 feet below the surface. So they did this while holding their breath. It was
said one old hogger could hold his breath so long you were sure he wasn't coming back up. But of course, he would. I guess their sons and grandsons are still doing this. The last I heard, they were. Nowadays, many conservation minded catmen understand the potential impact of pulling large catfish (the hoggers also took carp as well) from spawning sites. Not to mention the inherent danger in sticking your arm into dark crevices in logs and river banks, where who knows what might be lurking! Not for me, no thanks!

Continuing Education
Subsequent trips yielded more information about how to catch fish. And how to catch and gather bait. At first I caught carp, drum, and redhorse suckers. There's that river mystique: you never know what you might catch. One relative would holler out "redtail!" when he got ANY fish on! My cousin was the best fisherman I knew of. He was proficient at catching walleye, smallmouth bass, catfish, whatever. Any fish caught were either released, or cleaned and saved for one of their big fish frys. He wasn't much for bragging: once a large bass was mounted and hung-at his brother in law's house!

In time I learned about baits, where to set lines, and how to fillet the mostly smaller catfish we would catch. We kept fish in a "live box" until time to clean them, maybe every other day. Then into the freezer. He showed me where it was deep, and where it was dangerous. I learned about cutbanks, holes, and snags, and much more. We baited throw lines and bank poles. We'd bait them at dark. Then, they were baited and checked for fish around midnight or a little later. We'd catch a few hours of shut-eye, falling asleep to the sound of crickets, tree frogs, and other wild critters. We got up at sunrise, or about 5:00 am, and "run" the lines again.

In the morning, a haze often blanketed the river bottom, being burned away as the sun rose in the sky. This was a great time for a walk around, or maybe a quick cast. Then time for breakfast. Even with just three of us, we would knock off about a pound of bacon, some eggs, toast, and coffee. Did I learn the value of coffee! We drank coffee to stay awake and alert to run the lines so late/early. After breakfast we ran them the last time, then that evening after supper, we'd start again. I remember when I finally caught my first catfish on rod and reel that we put in the live box. Okay, it was a tad small. (the joke was that they would save it just for me at the next fish fry).

 

Occasionally, our boat trips went way up the twisty river. We would be fishing here and there along the way back. Once, after a long boat ride back downstream my Uncle "Fat" exclaimed "Who in the hell's place is this ?" It was their place. Mostly we stayed within a few "bends" of the trailer. I still remember the smell of the
percolating coffee, and the sound of the boat coming down the river, through a dead spot where you would lose the sound, finally emerging from the last big bend upstream from camp.

It was farmland around there, but along the river it was forested. In the river too. There were numerous snags or brushpiles in the river. One we called simply "The Brushpile" was massive. And there were beavers around. You could see the marks on a tree, and rarely you might glimpse one. Even when it was hot, there always seemed to be a breeze. There was sure plenty of shade. Once in while, canoers would come down the river and stop by. Often they would ask how far along are we, or WHERE are we?


'
 It was one crooked stream, and it was many river miles between some of the bridges. There always was something interesting happening on the river. They had frequent guests, other friends who came to stay and fish, so you never knew who might be there when you arrived.
When the river was nearly bank full, I remember getting out of the way for parts of trees floating down the river (which had broken loose from snags.) Also, once when the river was UP the remains of a hog floated by. It was ok for swimming by the time I arrived that week, I remember the mixed blessing of a summer deluge. River will be rising, fish are going be hittin'! But we may have to move a few of the lines, and we may not be able to drive out tomorrow (you didn't need anything from town did you)?

 It was particularly quiet while the nearby bridge was dismantled (it took a few years to rebuild). Necessity being the mother of invention, one summer during low water, we discovered a submerged sandbar going completely across so neighbors could come across without even getting their seat wet! Then the new bridge was finished. Non-descript. The cost of progress I suppose, as the old bridge was a handsome rusty iron suspension bridge like you rarely see these days.





Once, when they were leaving for town, some distant relatives arrived. It was like "hell's angels" crashing a frat party. They were wild, rough and ready. I was actually instructed about where the shotgun and ammo was in case there was trouble! Of course, there was none. Actually, they were friendly folks. I do remember the largest of them jumping into the river from several feet up on a high cutbank at a nearby curve in the river. This big guy was casually diving into the deep, swift water of a sharp bend in the river!

Pee Wee's Hole
One of the neat places there was Pee Wee's hole. My Uncle "Fat" used to like to set up shop there. He'd carried his lawn chair and some bait up the river and would start fishin'. I remember him nearly losing a pole when a big carp tried to make off with it! And demonstrating what to do with gars...prop a stick in their open mouths, carefully! Then toss them back in- and watch 'em struggle! (since they breathed air, they would drown). I found it a good place to set up myself with some dip bait to catch a few catfish, or just have a nice quiet morning bank fishing. I'm sure there were some large fish milling around that spot, but fishing with "crappie" minnows, and dip bait I didn't realize why I caught only the small ones. Maybe "Jaws" lives there now!

 Jaws!
One summer, we had a lot of fun around the cabin discussing the legend of "Jaws." It seemed there was a fish that made off with a well anchored bankpole near "the brushpile". They had tried to catch this huge flathead, catfish with some large baits, a "hay hook", and rigs including a doorspring nailed to a tree, and a giant hook attached to some surgical tubing: creative techniques you didn't read about in the IDOC fishing regs! But then, flathead catfish are the stuff of myths and legends anywhere they inhabit. There's always stories about divers checking this dam, or those bridge pilings, seeing fish "AS BIG AS A MAN...and I AIN'T going back!!!"

For all their troubles, I think all they ended up with was a few straightened hooks, and a stretched doorspring. The fish may still be in there! They caught one 30lb flathead, and I remember it's head seemed as big as mine. Times are different now, and I can't imagine keeping more than a few smaller fish per day. These days, I release all flatheads that I catch. Selective harvest is a good thing, since those large fish have the most contaminants in their flesh anyway. Small channel catfish on a camping trip, that's another story.

I've fished for catfish off and on ever since. Sometimes more off than on and there's still so much to learn! I quickly learned to appreciate catching fish on rod and reel much more and how good catfish could fight. Nowadays, I like to get out a few times throughout each summer on some of the rivers close to home. One thing I have learned...how important it is to know your river. A meeting with a mid-stream rock just below the surface will remind you of that truth! Good thing my boat was heavy duty... I would never consider myself to be a river rat. But, I'm grateful to have had the privilege to known and learned from some!

CABIN FEVER!!!

Sounds crazy, but I have very fond memories of shoveling snow
for my great uncle. After the work was done, time for a few cups
of hot coffee and some homemade cookies. And our conversations. Obviously, it was the coffee and conversation I enjoyed. And
coffee and cookies are still a favorite snack anytime...


January is the time when thoughts begin to turn to outside activities, fresh air and good company. Whether we talked about an April outing in search of crappies in brush piles, or tales of trips before I was born fishing on the Mississippi river, where my father would sometimes stay and fish with them.
Their Mississippi exploits stories were legendary to us. They employed a number of "techniques" many of which were creative, and a few of which were downright illegal. There would be substantial fines assessed after being caught were the cost of such activities, and there WERE fines! (But, I think he paid for everyone's). I certainly don't condone any illegal means of taking fish, and it should be noted my uncle was always a responsible outdoorsman on all of the trips we took together.




All this reminds me of an old fishing joke...

Three guys regularly went out on the lake to return with the boat full of fish. they never failed. Word got around that they must have been doing something illegal to have such consistent "luck." So, one day their friendly game warden invited himself along.
"Sure, get in the boat. here's a cold one." "No thanks. Sounds good but I AM on duty ya know" "Suit yourself"... they cruise leisurly out to a nice bay off an inlet where they open a wooden box full of Dynamite sticks. "Fishing with explosives is again the law" spoke the game warden. the fisherman without saying a word pulled out a stick, then carefully lit it... handing it to the game warden, he offered the follwing instruction "Want to Fish!?!

Back to our coffee and conversation... I heard about the time they lost most of their gear when their canoe capsized on Lake Shelbyville...it wasn't a total loss: the whiskey bottle didn't sink! They also tubed and canoed the Kaskaskia river south of Shelbyville without incident. He told how they got his daughter up on water skis on the Mississippi behind their fishing boat with a 22 hp motor!

By the end of the morning, we were psyched about the upcoming season. Discussion about readying gear would naturally follow. Of course. Reels need to be cleaned and lubricated, old line stripped off and replaced, hooks sharpened, and tackle boxes organized. We'd discuss what to use in what situation: "cane poles for crappie fishing in the brush; and for bass and panfish those new ultra-light setups are sure fun!" I became the heir of some of his old fishing gear, like an old Pflueger baitcasting reel with 'buggy whip' steel casting rod.

It all adds up to one thing: cabin fever!!! Every winter, it sets in. 

He's been gone a number of years now...but his spirit of adventure,

enthusiasm for fishing (and occasional mischief) are thriving!

  Call of the River

There’s something about a river that just draws some folks to it. Like a moth to a flame. While it’s difficult to define this magnetic attraction, I suppose it has to do with two of the qualities personified by rivers: timelessness and perpetual change. Follow the Mississippi downstream from St. Paul and you always wind up in New Orleans, by way of St. Louis and Memphis, of course. Yet the rivers path constantly changes. Such changes go mostly unnoticed in our lifetime. Even those catastrophic New Madrid earthquakes of 1811-12 were but a slight diversion in the river’s history.

 

Also ironic is how these same rivers which early settlers used for travel and colonization are the same waterways America's original inhabitants used for their travel. These rivers now are some of the last wilderness areas in many regions. Even though the US Army Corps of Engineers channelized, straightened, wing dammed, dredged, rip-rapped, locked and dammed the Mississippi , it's still a vast wildlife area. Not to mention some of the local "establishments" where river folk stop for refreshments! 

One thing though…the rivers call doesn’t speak to everyone. To paraphrase author Tom Wolfe, either you’re IN the boat, or OUT of the boat. After a canoe adventure featuring equal amounts of paddling and carrying, and few freakishly hot and cold camping trips, my wife no longer shares my enthusiasm for camping along the riverbank or paddling down the river. Since you’ve made it this far, we’ll assume you’re IN the boat.

Maybe you have a favorite spot to go to when you need a little "time out." Look around, you’ll notice something has always changed since your last visit. Each spring brings a new riverscape with new snags/drift-piles, holes, and changing currents. Maybe a few more trees have fallen in. A favorite snag may have washed out. It’s still your familiar, comfortable spot. Visit the river at different times of the year, and you’ll see a creature of many faces. 

Take along a thermos of coffee in winter, and enjoy a quiet morning watching migrating canvasback, goldeneye, or bufflehead ducks. If you’re real lucky, you might spy a bald eagle up in the treetops. I like those winter walks because it’s so quiet. Of course, the fall pageant of leaves is beautiful in the deciduous forests lining our interior rivers. Go after some spring rains and witness the powerful forces of the river in action. In late spring, time to scout out some new fishing holes. Maybe catch a few fish. Summertime, the river often provides comfort in the form of shade, and often, a light breeze. And catfish. If it gets too hot, try a swim at a shallow sandbar. Unless you live in gator country, then you might want to pass on the swim!

Along the river you find a diverse assortment of wildlife. All sorts of animals, plants, trees, fish, and birds make up the ecosystems lining our rivers. In the trees live the hawks, eagles, birds, and tree frogs. In and around the water live river otters, ducks, geese, snakes, muskrats, beavers, and a wide assortment of fishes. Typically, the greatest diversity of fish inhabit our streams and rivers. Where else can you still find ancient critters like paddlefish, sturgeon, dogfish, and alligator gars all living together like some dysfunctional family?

Don't forget that rivers support a great collection of humankind too. Try bank fishing a popular dam and stand side by side with farmers, firemen, professionals, and factory workers. You may see other folks like commercial fishermen, engineers, tavern owners, and barge captains who make their living off the river and its traffic. You'll find more colorful and interesting folks along the river. The river is a metaphor for America.  

While some of these observations relate more to big rivers like the Mississippi, really they to all rivers and streams. So if you haven't been down to the river yet this year, it's about time! The river is always there for you when you need it, the ever faithful companion with interesting and new features to observe each trip. Another thing you can count on - you may leave the river, but the river never leaves you.