10lb bass caught on public lake on Jefferson Forest

[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.

[Dr. Phil]

This particular 5-acre lake we're talking about is Tom Wallace, one of the Fishing in Neighborhoods (FiNS) lakes. It is re-stocked regularly with bass, catfish, bluegill, and occasionally, trout, and if you ask KDFWR, these are all "put-take" stockings.

OK.....Here is my 2 cents worth. Bass are no longer stocked in FINS lakes because of the expense. Tom Wallace was last bass-stocked in 2007. Clearly this fish was not one of the last stock. Tom Wallace does get regular stocking of trout and bluegill. It does get a LOT of fishing pressure. On any given weekend, when the weather cooperates, you can hardly find a spot to bank fish. This 10¼ lb'er was a miracle catch on this lake (pond).

Now, for the 5 cents worth.....Has anyone noticed that even though this kid caught a trophy bass, he had NO IDEA what he had....Even his dad said that he thought it was a tarpon.

Man, and we call ourselves 'Bass' fishermen and this kid takes the cream-of-the-crop without even knowing what he had. The kid probably didn't know the difference between a bass and a carp....His dad definitely didn't know.

Congrats to the kid for catching a big'un


"Kids who fish, hunt and trap don't steal, deal and murder"

[RoadToad]

OK.....Here is my 2 cents worth. Bass are no longer stocked in FINS lakes because of the expense. Tom Wallace was last bass-stocked in 2007.

KDFWR put 500 bass in Tom Wallace on 10/23/2008:
http://fw.ky.gov/finsfallbassstockings.asp

There was a gentleman from KDFWR there doing creel surveys when I was there yesterday morning. Talking with him, I got the impression that FiNs stockings were still going strong.

[Dr. Phil]

KDFWR put 500 bass in Tom Wallace on 10/23/2008:
http://fw.ky.gov/finsfallbassstockings.asp

There was a gentleman from KDFWR there doing creel surveys when I was there yesterday morning. Talking with him, I got the impression that FiNs stockings were still going strong.

I was told that the KDFWR quit stocking largemouth in 2007 but did stock striped bass in 2007 and 2008. I should have specified largemouth bass in my previous post. Tom Wallace and other FINS lakes do get trout, catfish, and sunfish. This is just what I was told by a trusted source and by no means should be taken as gospel.



"Kids who fish, hunt and trap don't steal, deal and murder"

[RoadToad]

I was told that the KDFWR quit stocking largemouth in 2007 but did stock striped bass in 2007 and 2008. I should have specified largemouth bass in my previous post. Tom Wallace and other FINS lakes do get trout, catfish, and sunfish. This is just what I was told by a trusted source and by no means should be taken as gospel.



"Kids who fish, hunt and trap don't steal, deal and murder"

No disrespect to your "trusted source," but they're wrong on this one. KDFWR did actually try stocking hybrids in Tom Wallace, Miles, and a couple of the other FiNs lakes in 2007. It was a miserable failure, not likely to be repeated. But they're still putting largemouth in there regularly.

[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

[SlopFishin]

First off, I don't keep and mount bass. Not that I catch any true hogg. LOL

Anyway, I've seen a ton of replicas and have never seen one that looks any more realistic than "Billy Bass". In fact, Billy looks alot more realistic. Replicas are a joke. Having said that, what's so wrong with getting some good pics of that trophy fish? That'll be just as good as any mount.

[the_donger]

What's wrong with pics? I have seen pics of the Grand Canyon. Not the same as actually seeing the real thing. Much more impressive in person. Mount away fellas!

[SlopFishin]

What's wrong with pics? I have seen pics of the Grand Canyon. Not the same as actually seeing the real thing. Much more impressive in person. Mount away fellas!

I prefer not to mount but if somebody wants to mount their fish I have no problem with it. It's a personal decision. But, like I said, replicas look like crap. I've NEVER seen one worth a flip.