Much of the fun for me was derived from actually getting the bait as opposed to the easy fishing...midnight commando runs into hostile territory, crazy livewell contraptions, laundry baskets, throw nets, beating my competition to the bait, embezzlement, treachery, disguise, paranoia, lies...I experienced it all...:laugha: It didn't seem wrong because everyone else was doing it and I learned largely by observing the "pros." :angel:

I have way too much to lose now so I wouldn't engage in much of the above stuff ever again (except disguise) even if they legalized the netting of herring.:devil:

I actually do better on rubber anyways in terms of fish size. Lots of times the 30" fish would decimate your bait supply before you hooked a real big one, although my canal best of 47# was taken with a live herring on a sunny mid may afternoon just west of the cribbin.

I don't know what I miss more fishing for free or fishing with herring. Both are easy enough to live without but losing any liberty doesn't sit well with me.

Ya...you would have in the early ninties.........at least at the ditch.......

Never much fished with bait, fresh or salt, except when I was a child. Never did try herring. Most of the challenge is fooling the fish for me. Wouldn't use herring if they made it legal.

As fisherman,, who wouldnt enjoy a nervous herring or any other scaled bait for that matter at the end of your line? herring was the perfect bait for guys who are not boaters to experience that kind of fishing...hell yeah its worth it!

And those of us who prefer quality over quantity (which is most)...its a no brainer ?

caught my 1st ever keeper live lining river herring about 20 years with my dad.
i dont really think i miss it bcuz i really wasnt that into it at 12 so it doesnt make difference to me, they could open it 2moro but what does that do help wipe them out even faster then they already are declining. i enjoy artificial baits bcuz it gives me more of a challenge to catch something and gives me a great sense of accomplishment when i do catch and release something whatever it may. i say leave the herring alone we're doing just fine without them but?