Originally Posted by
bassmaster
So do you all think that our fisheries have been affected by tournaments (Bass mostly)? If so, has anyone studied tournament results and compared them from year to year? I have noticed in our USA Bassin Green River that the weights have generally went up from the early years of that division. The weights and average weights have increased or remained steady. Green is pounded weekly by tournaments and has been for years. Yet in 2015, a five fish limit weighed in August weighed over 27 pounds! That weight was the largest for five fish USA Bassin in the states where they are held (all over southeast including Alabama and TN) until late that season some team had 28 plus on KY Lake. Now we haven't had a 27 pound bag weighed since then, but I have had a few days with that just fishing in last couple years. My point is that fishing in general kills some fish (Even immediate catch and release or harvest for eating), the limits set are there for helping to sustain a viable, healthy population. And within those limits, people can choose to keep and eat Bass or they choose to release them. I, for one, will not select a moral compass as which to judge other fisherman as long as they go by the rules. I may be a rarity but I fish tourneys, fish for fun, and fish for food (including Bass, YES Bass!). FLW and the one other tourney (High School I believe) had the smaller limit, I don't agree with it and enjoyed last years event, maybe more so than this years. I didn't attend either but know some high school and college fisherman who did and enjoyed the interaction with those who took the time to talk to them. I believe Stripernut could have won that tourney anyhow! Jeff catches them better than anyone I know on that lake and knows what he is talking about. I don't think that KDFW will start doing the lower size limits on a regular basis or maybe not ever again, just my opinion.