Need to Eat More Bass!!

[URL]http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/bassmaster/conservation/news/story?page=b_con_CandR_200809005[/URL]

We need to eat more bass!! Which lakes in Ky do you think will benefit the most from this?

Maybe it's time to have a few tournies that don't release? Make it mandatory that they don't get them back if the fish is under a specific length.

I know some small lakes that are crowded with short fish like Beaver Lake and Corinth Lake. Speaking for myself, I won't eat em' but it's only because of the filth that goes in the lakes....and nothing to do with catch and release.

I think the article is spot on. With that said, I don't know any lakes around here that are overpopulated, but a lake with a lot of hungry fish could be fun day fishing.

This is something I have often wondered about. With animals like deer, turkey etc. hunting is used to control the population but with the catch and release ethic (which I practice about 80% of the time) there isn't a lot of controlling the population.

In my opinion, Rough River could use a little thinning of small fish. Nolin would probably benefit too! There are not very many, if any lakes in Ky that are over populated. A state wide slot limit would most likely be a good thing. Overall the bass population in Ky lakes is terrible. Fishing takes a back seat with management funds and programs. This is why I go to Alabama or Texas when I have extra time for fishing. Ky should adopt the programs these states have for Bass fishing, because what they do now *****! It has been this way far too long!

Be careful of what you ask for...Lake Guntersville was dead this past summer and fall and most of the guides down there are fearing for their livelihoods. Lack of tournament supervision/high bass mortality rate during said tournaments and a high number of bass being kept for eating purposes are what the locals are blaming it on.

We're very fortunate here in KY that our KDFW does a great job on our waterways researching fish counts, size, health, etc. I believe each waterway is different in their management plan and I trust the KDFW to regulate them according to
1. what's in the best interest of the animal (in this case bass)
2. what's in the best interest of the sportsman

Case in point - some smaller lakes (and the pond across the street from my house) would benifit greatly from having a few bass removed...not enough forage to feed all the bass. However, every bass that is taken out of the Ohio River is sorely missed! There just aren't that many "quality" bass in that water way. And if you eat a lot of bass from the OH river, that would explain why your skin is bright green and your hair is on fire. :D

[QUOTE=Luveatnbass;435584][URL]http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/bassmaster/conservation/news/story?page=b_con_CandR_200809005[/URL]

We need to eat more bass!! Which lakes in Ky do you think will benefit the most from this?[/QUOTE]

good post, hope some of the hard liners read it, the limit is 6 for a reason JMO

Gary

[QUOTE=bassin bruce;435601]In my opinion, Rough River could use a little thinning of small fish. Nolin would probably benefit too! There are not very many, if any lakes in Ky that are over populated. A state wide slot limit would most likely be a good thing. Overall the bass population in Ky lakes is terrible. Fishing takes a back seat with management funds and programs. This is why I go to Alabama or Texas when I have extra time for fishing. Ky should adopt the programs these states have for Bass fishing, because what they do now *****! It has been this way far too long![/QUOTE]


We don't have the growing season that those states have. Every body of water is different even in our own state. You could put the same regulations that those states have on our lakes and it would not produce the same results.

I always keeps bass and eat them, specialy the little ones as they are quite tastie. Face it them bass are pretty dumb critters and easy to catch, even the big ones dont put up much of a tussel.

For me Im more of a battlin type fisherman, I like the critter Im catchin to be full of pull and fight. Thats why i fish for carps and cats most times, nothin like a 30 or 35 pound carp pullin yer string. You bass guys dont know what yer missin, its just to bad that carps taste like **** or they would be the ultimate fish. Even big cats arent good eatin, just the little ones.

You boys just let me know where I can get a bunch of them little basses and Ill clean them out for ya, but I dont want none from some sess pool full of poop and stuff.

50% of the time if I catch a bass between 12 and 15 inches it is thrown in the livewell. I think bass are as good as crappie if prepared right. I dont keep much tho since I am the only one in the house that eats fish and bluegills are 100000 times easier to catch and taste better with beer. Wilgreen used to be BAD with tons of bass between 10 and 11 3/4 inches long but since the shad have blown up in the lake they too have blown up in size, you just dont catch the numbers like a few years back. I am all for keeping fish to eat, just dont overharvest. Say you fish a place like Stoner once a week and keep 4 bass every outing and you go all spring, summer and fall, you alone are pulling over 120 bass out of there. That will hurt over a few years on the small bodies of water.

Shawn

I have said for years they need to increase the limit of 12-15 in bass on Barren to 2 fish instead of 1. But it isnt like the smaller fish have overpopulated Barren to the point that they all look like skeletons. They still have more than enough to eat, so maybe its fine.

I for one think the KDFW does an incredible job at making our waters some of the best fishin one could ask for.

As for me, I filet and eat every keeper largemouth between 15-18 inches (unless I only catch one... not gonna dirty the filet knife over one fish). Above that I release... they dont taste good when they get that big anyway. I also clean and eat any Kentucky Bass big enough to filet. We tend to fish a whole year and freeze the filets then have a huge family cookout once a year. Its nice being able to choose between bluegill, crappie, and bass when you hit the food line.

Guys, this subject has been debated a great deal here at different times and it seems that guys that take bass home seem to be chastised for that. Now that somebody has written an article it is all of a sudden ok with bass fishermen. that seems a bit hypocritical to me. I have always taken whatever bass I wanted for the dinner table,they are a pretty good fish to eat. Personally I agree with the previous poster ....the KDFW has done a great job with most of our wildlife so why can't we respect other fishermen who follow the legal limits....I do feel you should not take "braggin" bass home if you really don't want to eat them but if somebody chooses to do that it is his business and not our place to attack him.