Quote Originally Posted by Chubminnow View Post
Mhall - That's pretty interesting what you mentioned about the KDFWR would rather peopel keep fish that are keepers because they're reaching the end of their life cycle anyway. Dag gone...I guess I should have kept that 21 1/4" 6 pounder that I caught back in April!!! Dag gone it!!! I was wanting one that was DEFINITELY longer than 21", say like 21 1/2, 3/4 or maybe even 22" so there would be no doubt when people see it that it's definitely a trophy, no questions asked. Oh well...I'll be back fishing Dale again this fall, this time I'll probably keep that keeper over 21" for the wall.
Like I said Chub I don't know if I 100% agree with what they were saying. I guess averages are just that. Some of us will live to be 70 while others will live to be 90, fish are no different. I can only assume a 20 year smallmouth would be in that 8 to 10lb range and the only way to get her there is to release it. You did the right thing releasing that beauty and good job on a dandy brown fish. When you think of the 11lb 15 oz bronzeback that came from Dale you have to wonder just how old that fish was and how much longer was she going to beat the odds, one just never knows about nature.