10lb bass caught on public lake on Jefferson Forest

[Fntsyfbgod]

I think you are oversimplifying this a little. Smaller public lakes tend to get more pressure and you are not taking into account habitat, water hydrology and other factors.

Yeah there are other factors but I think the main reason smaller lakes are not as good as you would expect for the most part is major effect harvesting quality fish has. I have seen several lakes under 50 acres in this state and others that are catch and release only for bass and certain species for this reason. Its a matter a matter of opinion but I think if the lakes I mentioned were catch and release only for bass or had stricter regulations they would all be much better. And even the state thinks mentions harvest ruined Smokey Valley lake and a couple others.

[smuckey41]

i just got one mounted got it back friday i cought it about 3 weeks ago and it is a 7.8lb large mouth i figure it will be hard to beat that here in ky, i have felt bad becouse i hate to keep any bass but that is proubly a once in a life time fish unless i go south.

[WwiskerswW]

you have too much time on your hands

I cant resist throwing my 2 cents in. First let me make it clear that I am happy for the fella. He'll probably tell stories about that fish when he's an old man. I have nothing to say regarding the mounting of it, really makes no difference to me, especially due to the fact that it came from a small pond I'll never see or fish.

I just thought of this after reading the posts in this thread, this is NOT in reply to the actual story beginning the post, but concerns the thread itself. I know some will not like what I say here but I mean it in the most respectful way possible and dont want to come accross wrong.

But, I think we really need to reconsider the value of releasing a trophy class bass. "That fish would probably die soon" is an assumption. There was one fish in KY that reached 13.10 and I have seen two near record size without a doubt. A fish that is much more rare than many of our endangered species for that matter is one thing to think about. Im sure none of you would kill and mount a bald eagle even if it was legal. In Texas and California it is becoming unheard of to mount bass. And for those that do, they run a risk with some of the locals (I dont advocate that but its a fact). Lake Fork taxidermy no longer does real mounts even. It seems like in places that trophies are so much more common, catch and release of trophy fish is common practice. Maybe the two go hand in hand.

I agree that 99% of ky anglers would mount that fish, but I venture to say that 99% of Texas bass anglers would release it without question. Im not saying Texans are better than we are or anything for sure, but I am saying this is a way of thinking I'd like to see more of us Kentuckians adopt. There is no excuse for the low numbers of fish this size caught in many of our lakes. We have the growing season and the potential to produce bigger largemouth. I know releasing the10+ bass wont immediately transform anything- but it sure wouldnt hurt anything.

BTW-dont get angry over this. Maybe Im to obsessed with big bass. No, theres no maybe to it