Originally Posted by
Les Young
I personally don't think cumberland needs anymore exposure. I had a pro at the cumberland event tell me the only ones pissed off about the reduced size limit were the ones that weren't getting any money out of it. I then told him that what a dumb*ss comment that was. I also think your comment about bringing in a lot of money & exposure isn't the greatest one i've ever heard either since the local government is trying it's best to exploit cumberland in every way possible simply for a buck. If the size limit hadn't been changed they would have still had a full field of boats & you can believe that. Cumberland is hammered all summer long with tourists & local pleasure boaters alike spending money on hotel rooms, gas, food, beer, campsites, launch fees etc. & it has way more 100 plus boat tournaments then you may believe too. There are a large amount of high school events held on cumberland & a lot have between 150 & to over 200 boats. There was 165 i think my buddy that fished it said in last weekends event & one last year had 265. As far as bass fishermen go most use livewell additives & lots take time to fizz there fish to if needed, but the vast majority believe it or not are strictly catch & release on the spot. Also about the locals crying believe it or not there are those of us that pretty much smallmouth fish only & dead set against a reduction in the size limit on them. They are above average size & extremely healthy like most local lakes like Laurel, Green & Dale Hollow & we'd like to keep them that way. I'd love to see largemouth 18" too on cumberland & there are some pretty healthy spots also so why not go to 14 anyway while they're at it. Don't get me wrong i like fishing tournaments from time to time & do, but i also think they should have to abide by the same rules as the every day local guys too. I also according to the pro i was talking about absoluitley believe the bit about a mortality study is pure horsesh*t. Flw claims they're " the best anglers in the world" now prove it with having the same size limit next year that the rest of us go by every day. By the way do you work for FLW or just fish their tournaments? Please let us know. LOL