I have access to a small lake I fish year round. It has some big fish in it. We went yesterday and had 1 over 3, 2 pushing 5 and broke one off that was 7+. Anyway, here's the therapy part... There was one other boat sharing the water with us yesterday. The guy in the front was pitching a jig and obviously knew what he was doing. Later in the day they pulled up next to us to chat and he pulls a 6+ out of his livewell. After that he tells us he has 5 in his well that go 19 pounds or so. I asked if he was keeping them and he said he was going to take pictures later and release them... Well, there was never any closure. We never saw any picutres taken and never saw the fat females released. I talked with them back at the ramp and asked if I could take pictures of them holding the fish. He said, "no, we already did that..." I seriously have my doubts that those fish were released... He also told me at the ramp that he's been out there 4 times in the last week and has caught 3 over 6. So... why would you carry 19 pounds of bass, full of eggs, around in your well for hours if you plan to release them???

I'm just tore up about this and needed to vent, get some feedback... And buddy, if you are on this board, I hope you really did let those fish go. Our lake will continue being a quality fishery if we take care of, and release, the big fish. Take pictures and get them back in the water as soon as possible.