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This is only my opinion. This sounds like the first step to stop ALL fishing. When you increase the size limits without a biological reason, it sounds like PETA to me.
If you want to eat what you catch, kill (or harvest), this is your right.
If the bass size limit is raised don't you think those same people eating them now will not eat a 21" bass?
Getting carried away with wanting new laws and regulations is not the answer here. How about enforcing with an iron fist the laws that are in place first? Make examples of people regardless of their excuses for breaking the law. Education is the key, new laws are hardly ever the answer. JMO:)
The KDFWR take into account a lot of factors when determining size and creel limits. Catch and Release is taken into account, as well as those who fillet and eat their fish, and tournament releases. Watching people fillet bass may not be seen as a good thing by catch and release advocates, but it is just something you have to accept - it's just part of the equation! The KDFWR does what it can to maximize the enjoyment of EVERY fisherman without compromising the integrity of the fishery. I put my trust in the fact that the KDFWR knows what they are doing because in my 20+ years of bass fishing they have never given me a reason to think otherwise.
this is b.s.!!!!! good bye
If you really target smallmouths they are hard to catch,I agree with everyone they are not good to eat. I thought that that was the reason that we had walleye in the lake. they are the erie strain so there will never be trophy fish so catch them and eat them and they are good to eat, same with stripers if you like to eat them. The smallmouths are our lake tresures that should be protected like they are on Dale.
:) [QUOTE=SSKY;293454]If you really target smallmouths they are hard to catch,I agree with everyone they are not good to eat. I thought that that was the reason that we had walleye in the lake. they are the erie strain so there will never be trophy fish so catch them and eat them and they are good to eat, same with stripers if you like to eat them. The smallmouths are our lake tresures that should be protected like they are on Dale.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=SSKY;293454]If you really target smallmouths they are hard to catch,I agree with everyone they are not good to eat. I thought that that was the reason that we had walleye in the lake. they are the erie strain so there will never be trophy fish so catch them and eat them and they are good to eat, same with stripers if you like to eat them. The smallmouths are our lake tresures that should be protected like they are on Dale.[/QUOTE]
Extremely well put..........
[QUOTE=cumberlandguy1;293360]Hey...18" isn't big enough to keep??? If you want a true trophy fishery, make the limit 27". Then the lake will be FULL of smallmouth for you to catch and throw back. My main question would be why would anyone even bother to fish for bass in a lake where there are a ton of stripers that are on average MUCH bigger than any bass is ever going to get in the same lake? I throw ALL of those "trash" brown fish back as they are too small....even the 5-7 lbers....I wouldn't even keep an 8 for mounting. I know I'm gonna catch some flack from elnut for calling his brown fish trash.[/QUOTE]
He he he trash brown fish, that's a classic. I can't wait for Elnut to see that one.
[QUOTE=cumberlandguy1;293360]Hey...18" isn't big enough to keep??? If you want a true trophy fishery, make the limit 27". Then the lake will be FULL of smallmouth for you to catch and throw back. My main question would be why would anyone even bother to fish for bass in a lake where there are a ton of stripers that are on average MUCH bigger than any bass is ever going to get in the same lake? I throw ALL of those "trash" brown fish back as they are too small....even the 5-7 lbers....I wouldn't even keep an 8 for mounting. I know I'm gonna catch some flack from elnut for calling his brown fish trash.[/QUOTE]
And to think I USED to like Cumberlandguy1 until he trashes my breed. Are you kidding me, 5-7 pound Smallies are too small. I am glad that you would throw back the 8 pounders for someone else will have a chance to catch them. I have caught my fair share of Stripers out of Cumberland with a 29 pounder being my largest, a couple more over 20 and a bunch in the 16-18 range, but there is ABSOLUTELY no comparison in the fight between Striper and Smallies. Pound for Pound, tie their tails together and a Smallie will drown a Striper. Catching a 20lb Striper on 14-17 lb test, 7'MH rod on a Shiner pulled behind a planer board or downrigger in no test in fighting skills at all. I don't meat fish, I fish for the fun of it and love a good fight. Anyone that has landed a 6lb Smallie on a 6lb leader on 10 FNF rod knows the definition of a FIGHT and the best one at that. I will say the enjoyment of a topwater bust by a Striper at night in April or May on a Sliver or Redfin is very exciting, but the actual fight is not a good as a Smallmouth. Hell for the fight, lb for lb, there is none better than a 3-4 lb Brownfish from Dale in December, considering the speed, jumps and flat out mean attitude. Stipers fight good, but they are still behind the Smallies and even Hybrids pound for pound. Keep chasing those TRASH-FISH Stripers and leave all the Smallies to me and both of us will be happy. At least, I know of one fisherman that won't be adding to the traffic at Dale for a while.
The C/R of the big catfish are important as well. Those big cats takes years to grow into trophy fish.
Sing it Woody, Sing it, hell I'd divorce my wife for a ten pounder. I also agree with Bonefish, it's not just about the smalljaws.
LOL...I knew that would get elnut stirred up. I've yet to catch an 8lb smallie and probably never will as I quit bass fishing years ago. We do catch quite a few 5's and 6's with the occassional 7 thrown in while striper fishing. (they all go back) My biggest striper from the lake is 51lbs to date and I doubt I'll ever beat that from the Big C. I also don't use any live bait. If smallmouth got as big as stripers, then I'd probably still be fishing for them, but I've never hung a smallmouth that I've had to follow with the boat to keep from getting spooled. Elnut, I hope that you continue to catch your share of smallmouth and mine too!