RichF Posted April 20, 2016 Posted April 20, 2016 3 minutes ago, J Francho said: http://tpwd.texas.gov/spdest/visitorcenters/tffc/sharelunker/ These are the same idiots that say there no smallmouth in Lake Ontario, lol. That's exactly what I'm referring to ahahaha!
Super User J Francho Posted April 20, 2016 Super User Posted April 20, 2016 The guys at the TPWD are on to something. They only work with largemouth - BIG LARGEMOUTH.
Red Bear Posted April 20, 2016 Posted April 20, 2016 i dont even eat fish at all, but i will defend a mans right to legally keep fish. A couple things i see that i dont like or agree with are the crowd that are naive enough to believe removing a few bass from a large body of water is ruining the fishery. The other are those who get mad at people who legally keep bass solely because they catch and release themselves. You really have no right to be mad as long as no laws are broken. Just because one is a catch and release fisherman doesnt mean you need to try and force your ways on other people, and doesnt mean that others are wrong for keeping bass either. but that is the attitude you portray. its not a good look... 6
Super User Catt Posted April 20, 2016 Super User Posted April 20, 2016 1 hour ago, RichF said: By all means, enlighten me. So you are saying you are not aware of what TP&W has done? 1
Bass newb Posted April 20, 2016 Posted April 20, 2016 2 hours ago, J Francho said: Actually, it's science, not silly. Especially in smaller, closed systems. So if man doesn't intervene, bass will over run the water ways? Yeah that isn't science, it's silly.
RichF Posted April 20, 2016 Posted April 20, 2016 50 minutes ago, Catt said: So you are saying you are not aware of what TP&W has done? Selective breeding of different bass strains to grow trophy sized fish.
Kevin22 Posted April 20, 2016 Posted April 20, 2016 2 minutes ago, Bass newb said: So if man doesn't intervene, bass will over run the water ways? Yeah that isn't science, it's silly. Of course not. But find me a lake where people don't harvest the bass's food (panfish). When you take the food but don't take the predators you create an unbalance. I have had the pleasure of fishing private ponds where the owner does not allow any fish kept, they are a real treat to fish! Panfish are of all sizes (including huge!) and the bass are the same. A balanced ecosystem is simply amazing to see. 1
RichF Posted April 20, 2016 Posted April 20, 2016 55 minutes ago, Catt said: So you are saying you are not aware of what TP&W has done? According to their website, they do what most other DNR/DEC type organizations do (or claim to do).
Super User J Francho Posted April 20, 2016 Super User Posted April 20, 2016 11 minutes ago, Bass newb said: So if man doesn't intervene, bass will over run the water ways? Yeah that isn't science, it's silly. You might want to do a little research, on your own. We have several articles and videos by Bob Lusk. Try the googles, too. 4 minutes ago, RichF said: According to their website, they do what most other DNR/DEC type organizations do (or claim to do). I'm not sure very many are working with fish of that caliber. Not Florida strain LMB, anyway. If you want to talk about what the NYDEC does, you're on the wrong forum. Try salmon crazy.
Bass newb Posted April 20, 2016 Posted April 20, 2016 1 hour ago, Kevin22 said: Of course not. But find me a lake where people don't harvest the bass's food (panfish). When you take the food but don't take the predators you create an unbalance. I have had the pleasure of fishing private ponds where the owner does not allow any fish kept, they are a real treat to fish! Panfish are of all sizes (including huge!) and the bass are the same. A balanced ecosystem is simply amazing to see. Imbalance. Yes I'm aware. Bass are predated and a predator. Fish, otters, birds and snakes all predate bass, as well as other animals. 1
Red Bear Posted April 20, 2016 Posted April 20, 2016 32 minutes ago, Bass newb said: Imbalance. Yes I'm aware. Bass are predated and a predator. Fish, otters, birds and snakes all predate bass, as well as other animals. youre missing the point. its not about bass overrunning a lake. its about bass not growing to the size they should because there are too many bass competing for the same food sources. too many bass + not enough food = small fish. and bass are not only competing with each other for food. they are also competing with crappie, catfish, striper/hybrids, etc...also, those other fish, otters, birds, snakes, etc. also go after more than just bass, theyre also competing with the bass for the same food sources. having too many predators and not enough food is a real problem in some bodies of water, thats a fact, not just hearsay... 1
Kevin22 Posted April 20, 2016 Posted April 20, 2016 One a bass hits 12" theres not much out there that will eat him. A big flathead or pike/musky, pelicans also probably. the small lakes here are completely messed up. The DNR says no bass can be kept under 15" so we have lakes filled to the brim of 12" bass. One out of 100 caught are over 15". Theres just not enough food to support all the bass in there. 2
Super User J Francho Posted April 20, 2016 Super User Posted April 20, 2016 For anyone else that cares to learn more, we have an entire subset in our library of articles on the subject. This is the official I have stuff that supports my statement post. http://www.bassresource.com/lake-management/ Pondboss magazine is another good resource, by Bob Lusk. http://www.pondboss.com/ I'll add my college background in fisheries management, and ten years as an aquatic livestock manager to my bona fides.
RichF Posted April 20, 2016 Posted April 20, 2016 There may be some confusion about bass management on small/private/trophy lakes and ponds vs. large public bodies of water circulating through this thread.
Super User J Francho Posted April 20, 2016 Super User Posted April 20, 2016 I believe I qualified my statements with the phrase "smaller, closed systems," but, yeah, I think you're right for some of the posts. Harvesting a limit of smallmouth on one of the Great Lakes probably neither benefits nor harms the fishery. On the flip side, hit the northern pike spawning grounds on the same waters, just post spawn, and remove a few large (over 10#) specimens, and 30 little hammer handles will take their place. In that fishery, the big ones cannibalize the small ones, and keep them in check. Doesn't work that way with bass. 1
Josh Smith Posted April 20, 2016 Posted April 20, 2016 I probably should have kept the smallie I caught Monday but didn't feel like cleaning it. It was 1lb and maybe outside the slot. Sub-12" tend to be pretty good. Bigger, not so much. Josh
wnspain Posted April 20, 2016 Posted April 20, 2016 5 hours ago, J Francho said: Except they taste like crap compared to walleye, jack perch, and salmon. IMO, crappie is very mild tasting. Why do you think on most fishermen put them in the live well, because they taste like crap? I eat walleye and salmon too, but I'd rather release all bass, except for sea bass 1
Super User J Francho Posted April 20, 2016 Super User Posted April 20, 2016 What part of, "I don't like everything that you think tastes good," are you gyuys not getting? LOL. 1
avidone1 Posted April 20, 2016 Posted April 20, 2016 7 hours ago, J Francho said: Except they taste like crap compared to walleye, jack perch, and salmon. thems fightin' words in these parts. LOL crappie are mighty fine eating, and I don't care how you cook em. My favorite is to fry up some bacon, then plop some breaded crappie fillets (I like corn flakes) into the sizzling bacon grease and fry em up real good. UMMMMMMMMMMMM,..UM! Now that's crappie YeeeeeeeeeeeHaaaaaaaaaaaaaaw
Super User Catt Posted April 20, 2016 Super User Posted April 20, 2016 2 hours ago, RichF said: There may be some confusion about bass management on small/private/trophy lakes and ponds vs. large public bodies of water circulating through this thread. You are aware that Texas has over 6,000 public lakes & all but 1 is man made! That means TP&W started with little or no bass in these lakes! 90+ % of those lakes produce multiple double diget bass annually! TP&W lead the world in bass management!
RichF Posted April 21, 2016 Posted April 21, 2016 2 hours ago, Catt said: You are aware that Texas has over 6,000 public lakes & all but 1 is man made! That means TP&W started with little or no bass in these lakes! 90+ % of those lakes produce multiple double diget bass annually! TP&W lead the world in bass management! That's great. I'm not sure how this relates to my initial comment though. I think I did say that harvesting small bass is a common practice when trying to grow trophy bass.
Super User Catt Posted April 21, 2016 Super User Posted April 21, 2016 11 hours ago, RichF said: I have a degree in Biology and have worked in the environmental field for 8 years conducting scientific studies and monitoring projects. While I do not have a degree in Fisheries Biology I do have a degre in the Philosophy of Science. I've spent a couple dozen years studying the research do by & working with some of TP&W top fisheries biologist. I suggest you do a little more research other than clicking on TP&W's website, then maybe we'll talk!
contium Posted April 21, 2016 Posted April 21, 2016 Most of the lakes I fish here in Southern California have warnings about eating top level preditor fish, mainly LMB and strippers. The funny thing is that these same lakes supply drinking water. One would think that if the lake is polluted enough to make fish unsafe to eat, it wouldn't be safe to drink.
Super User WRB Posted April 21, 2016 Super User Posted April 21, 2016 California is well known for it's trophy LMB, Smallmouth and Spotted bass.....it's not because of a well managed fishery program, fresh water bass are not managed after initial,stocking. All bass are imported and non- native in California. Most fisheries are managed to provide a sustainable population of catchable fish species. Texas is head and shoulders over every other state when it comes to LMB management. Tom 2
wnspain Posted April 21, 2016 Posted April 21, 2016 12 hours ago, J Francho said: What part of, "I don't like everything that you think tastes good," are you gyuys not getting? LOL. What makes you think anybody's not getting it?? Of course your taste is different from mine or anyone else, I did preface my comment with IMO.... There are plenty who beg to differ with your opinion of what's good tasting or not, that's all, tight lines my friend.
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