Very controversial subject. One thing you have to trust is that the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife is regulating our waters the correct way in order to grow a successful fishery in the state of Kentucky. Now ethical to keep a bass? Why wouldn't it be, it's a fish, no different from keeping a bluegill.....
BUT personally I never keep any bass, I am soley a catch and release guy. I'm out there for the sport not to catch me a sandwich. When I hook into a hawg and she gives me a memory that will never be forgotten, the least thing I could do for her is to let her go and to create another memory for someone else.
If I want some fish, I will post up on a spot and catch me some crappie, gills, cats, or hybrids. There is just something about those green and brown fish that I can't find myself ever keeping them. Now if there is alot of little ones in a small lake, and the hawg population goes down, then I will start keeping the smaller ones to spread out the population, but that is really the only case scenario I will keep one. I've got one on the wall, which is enough...unless I hit double digits then she may be my next decoration the wife can complain about. While we're on the subject of catch and release, my father started me out at an early age. I remember camping one time at Rough River, fishing the bank and I stumbled upon freshly cleaned bass (like 5 4lbers) just laying on the bank. That was one devastating experience to say the least!
Eric
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