So Much for catch and release

[MSD]

In my opinion, I see no harm in keeping bass or any other species of fish. I often see many bass fishermen who are fishing for crappie during the spring spawn and they are not practicing catch and release. It seems to me it's ok for them to catch a limit of crappie, but people who are not a bass tourney fisherman have no right to catch and keep "their" fish. We all pay the same price to fish and as long as the rules and regs are followed; i see no problem in keeping a limit of fish, be it bass, catfish, crappie or any other species.

[fisheater]

I love eating fish though i dont keep very many bass.I prefer to have good fishing in all places that i go so i watch what i take.But if i think one is hooked bad or i need just a few more fish for a good fish fry ill turn some bass into poo.

[DJD]

I was thinking more in terms of larger tours, $4500 entry fee - $50 is a drop in a the bucket, maybe $10 for a BFL. Just throwing out some ideas. Don't get mad because you catch some weak fish. (totally kidding - lol).

Lol...actually I was being a little conservative! (inside joke)

[bevo]

mmmmm dinner.

[RANGER519]

in my opinion the tournament fishing is hurting the bass fishing more than the guy who catches them to eat.we were camping & bass fishing at barren river a few years ago right after they had a big bass fed. or something tournament towards the end of the week we found a lot of dead fish all around the lake. i.ve noticed the same thing on cumberland & dale hollow. its made the fishing a lot tougher on these lakes. i do catch bass to eat along with crappie,bluegill & other fish.i feel like thats what the LORD made these fish for not for some guy to go out & win a tournament & make money off of them.
i used to fish tournaments to until it got to be where everyone was after the almighty DOLLAR & took the fun out of it.

thanks ranger519

[wkerber]

Again I must say you guys are no different than PETA here, \with out knowing it you are another special interest group primed and ready. You guys see them everyday, our country is run by them and this is how it starts, not everyone is a tournament fisherman. I still say they have the right to catch and keep what they want as long as they follow the rules. I sad before I practice catch and release, but if my mother wanted a mess of bass to eat, I would bring them home, might take a PIC of them. I think the guy took the Pic with the pose he had as a joke in referents to an incident with a newsmen pic that almost cost him is job last year at wbko. As I live in the USA I hate it when a small group of people try and tell me what to do. I fish tournaments and see lot of dead bass after weigh-ins pitched back in, pretty sad. Bigger tournaments haul them, fewer few are took home to eat, who would want to eat a bass that has been dead for 5 hours in a live well in 80+ water. Catch and release or take some home should be an Individuals right and should not be persecuted of it.

I agree with tfmuch. I think you guys are building the next step argument for PETA. Do you know how to grow a lot of huge bass?... Outlaw fishing period.

I would rather see a guy take his legal limit of bass than for one of these tournaments to bust out of a marina. And, I would never hunt again unless I was starving, but I'm not going to join the ranks of anti-hunting. With that said, I haven't kept a black bass in 25 years, but that's because it was my choice.

As for the regulations and creel limits, they aren't set so someone will catch a trophy, they're are set to establish and build quality fisheries for all to enjoy, legally.

[dc chopper]

Those of you who think its fine to keep every legal bass have more confidence in the creel limits in our KY lakes than I do.

you go ahead and keep keeping fish. And wonder why you never catch 10lbers in ky.

AMEN Andy!!!!

[davidsa]

I guess to each his own and as long as the law is not broken then all goes.

When I want to eat fish, I go to Red Lobster If I want to catch fish to eat, then I fish for something that tastes good like a crappie or walleye.

Bass fishing to me is more of an art. At the small waters I fish, I'm certain that I have caught some of the fish multiple times. I like the art of catching them different ways like a game.

When I'm on big bodies of water like KYL or Barkley, I seek to have quiet time alone in nature. I try my best to avoid tournament times and dislike the disruptive behavior that happens every now and then and the crowds that always occur with tournaments. If I had proof that tournaments hurt the fish population, I would go from tryng to avoid them to wishing they did not exist at all.

[LarryG]

Last week, my lady friend and I were spider rigging for crappie, in a lake in georgia. This is the first time she has fished in a lake, I've taken her on the cumberland river a few times. Were about a half mile from the end of the creek, and here comes this 20ft triton, full throttle, 10 ft of water. Thery hit a couple of docks[fishing], and here they came full throttle. My friend asked whats wrong with those guys, nothing I said, they're bass fishermen, more like bassholes she said, right on the money.

[davidsa]

Last week, my lady friend and I were spider rigging for crappie, in a lake in georgia. This is the first time she has fished in a lake, I've taken her on the cumberland river a few times. Were about a half mile from the end of the creek, and here comes this 20ft triton, full throttle, 10 ft of water. Thery hit a couple of docks[fishing], and here they came full throttle. My friend asked whats wrong with those guys, nothing I said, they're bass fishermen, more like bassholes she said, right on the money.

I hear you Larry! Most bass fishermen are super people as are most of the fishermen and women I meet. A few unfortunately think they own the water and that it is OK to invade your space at high speeds. The same can be said of some drivers of cars, right

I always slow down in close quarters and avoid peoples space. This can be difficult to do at times. Down a KYL guys park out in the middle of the channel to crappie fish; basically sitting in the middle of the lake in the only way to get up and down the lake. The Channel is wide enough so that you can go buy without risk and in this case I may not slow down. My boat does not put out much wake on plane but puts out lots at slower speeds. I'd rather have a bassboat go by on plane +150ft away from me rather then slow down and create wake. These can be tough judgement calls at times as you approach another boat at high speed. All this said, I think respecting peoples space and being polite is the way to go and 99% of the time can and should be done.

[buckdroppings]

I tournament fish and eat bass. I don't see anything wrong with either one of them as long as they are done in moderation. Hence creel limits and shock surveys. Many of our lakes are "over-fished" for bass mainly due to tournaments. I don't think that hurts the population though. It just gives'em tighter lips. I personally think taking a few home now and then actually helps the overall population.

In the end though, nothing has an affect on our bass as much as mother nature herself, floods droughts lack of habitat. KDFW are not restocking because so many people are taking fish home. Bass are a product of their environment and bass in particular are fairly fragile. Same goes for the 10lber comment. Where the habitat and growth rate allows it we have'em otherwise we don't.

[C-Marshall]

Well said Adam,I agree.I too tournament fish and would like to see all fish released but everyone has a right to keep the legal limit.That said, there are better eating fish than bass! Who is too say what is right or wrong.JUst dont be too quick to judge someone else.