Times have changed

Hey guys,,just wanted to ask all who have been fishing for more than 20 years if you have noticed a change in the size of Bass you catch ?,,As far back as I can remember (45 years),my parents have taken myself and my brothers and sisters camping and fishing every summer,,We could be found on Ky.lake or Barkley lake for at least 2 weeks every year,unless there was a tournamnet at another lake,I can remember fishing and a 4lb.bass was pretty common,,,now days it seems to be way less frequent,,I know that bass fishing over the past 20 years has increased in popularity and the lakes are stressed from more and more tournaments each year but it just seems to me that its getting harder to catch a nice size bass ,,,,sure miss those days when life and fishing was easier,,,

Thanks for reading,,,

I think I catch more 4-pound + fish than I used to and I have always attributed that to more catch and release anglers now than back in the 1970's and better management. Now, the lakes are all getting older and that makes them change the way they fish. Lots of cover that was in these lakes in the 1970's is now gone. I had a discussion with Stephen Headrick one day and we talked about the fact that with less cover, the fish seem to suspend more.

[QUOTE=airnet;485873]Hey guys,,just wanted to ask all who have been fishing for more than 20 years if you have noticed a change in the size of Bass you catch ?,,As far back as I can remember (45 years),my parents have taken myself and my brothers and sisters camping and fishing every summer,,We could be found on Ky.lake or Barkley lake for at least 2 weeks every year,unless there was a tournamnet at another lake,I can remember fishing and a 4lb.bass was pretty common,,,now days it seems to be way less frequent,,I know that bass fishing over the past 20 years has increased in popularity and the lakes are stressed from more and more tournaments each year but it just seems to me that its getting harder to catch a nice size bass ,,,,sure miss those days when life and fishing was easier,,,

Thanks for reading,,,[/QUOTE]

hear we go again with the tournament thing, except for the really big tournaments most of them are made up of local fisherman and would be on the lake anyway,like in our club out of Lexington KY, if we did not have a two day tournament their the guys would go anyway, and like you and your family people will go to KY and Barkley to vacation and fish, more people fishing, both those lakes have great fish in them, keep after them you will find them, good luck....JMO

Gary

The tourney thing is annoying during the week. We try are best to plan around them but this yr can't. If it wasn't for the tourney fishing at least half the folks wouldn't be on the water. To me it is popular because TV made it big. Come fish win $100,000. Now on big lakes they handle the pressure better. Like ky and Barkley the food source is unbelievable and they're so many fish they replenish. But small waters take a beaten. The private lake i fish up north for example was alittle taste of heaven, til tournments have hurt it bad. Lots of small fish and when you catch them they have hole in their faces and broken jaws etc.
But with the tournment comes tons of fishin knowledge. More ways and how to's and advancements that would have never came if money wasn't on the line.
With the technologies of today I been catching bigger fish than I ever have. It just takes more thought and preperation for me. More thought to when where and how and with what. Pressure is here ya just have to deal with it and learn to cope. Am I going to act like a jerk, cut people off, come in on someone, NO! I just try my best to the right thing! And learn to fish smarter!
I be giving it my best shot the 3rd wk of apr. this yr. Two wks early this yr but with the conditions we have to adapt.
I'm done. My soap box is over. Lots of luck all.