OK, here..
https://www.flwfishing.com/news/2018...-at-cumberland
“Tournaments are good for the area, and we get several requests for lower size limits,” she continues. “But we don’t have any information on how the lower size limits could impact the lake, so as part of the study, we will look at two spring and two fall tournaments on Lake Cumberland and also Cave Run Lake. We will be monitoring fish mortality during the [Tour] tournament and for one week following the release of the fish. We’ll do that by going to each release site and carefully surveying the area.”
So people fishing tournaments have asked to lower the size limits. That is exactly what has been insinuated and discussed in this thread. If the FLW was against the change, its really easy for tourneys to install their own rules as long as they do not conflict with local regulations.