Problematic Paylakes with Aaron Wheatley and Greg Schwipps

National Wildlife Federation Outdoors

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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