Tn Hills Posted March 17, 2008 Posted March 17, 2008 First off let me say I keep almost every legal fish I catch. I understand releasing the big females but why are bass held in such high esteem compared to the other gamefish? If you catch a mess of crappie or cats it's almost a given that you keep em for table fair. Mention keeping a limit of bass and you'll catch a lot of flack from hardcore bassers that talk like they own every bass in the lake. I just don't get it. Every species is a renewable resource so what's the big deal with keeping a few bass for the table? I catch a lot of flack from some of the guys at work for eating bass just because they fish bass tourneys. My only response is : every fish fish I catch gets eaten,nothing goes to waste. Why are bass so special?
flippinbaits Posted March 17, 2008 Posted March 17, 2008 First off let me say I keep almost every legal fish I catch. I understand releasing the big females but why are bass held in such high esteem compared to the other gamefish? If you catch a mess of crappie or cats it's almost a given that you keep em for table fair. Mention keeping a limit of bass and you'll catch a lot of flack from hardcore bassers that talk like they own every bass in the lake. I just don't get it. Every species is a renewable resource so what's the big deal with keeping a few bass for the table? I catch a lot of flack from some of the guys at work for eating bass just because they fish bass tourneys. My only response is : every fish fish I catch gets eaten,nothing goes to waste. Why are bass so special? first off, not just females are important to breeding. you need the males to make the beds and help protect them as well. You ask what the big deal is well, is you were on the west coast salmon fishermen are out of jobs due to their being no open season anymore. Japan has almost harvested all their tuna left to them. Thats what happens if everyone started taking 5 away from the lake. Plus small fish have had chances to spawn as well. Those 12-14 inchers have already been through a year of spawning. So it should be looked down on as well for keeping those guys. If you want to eat fish really bad, help out nature and go to places that need to be thinned out a bit. Eat those. Bass fishermen dont get stocking like trout fishermen. People catch a stringer of trout and they are replaced the next week by fish and game. Bass fishermen dont get that.
Super User Gatorbassman Posted March 17, 2008 Super User Posted March 17, 2008 Back many moons ago, People kept every bass they caught. Bass tournaments were 7 fish limits and you kept the bass on a stringer and cooked them after the tournament. Bass fishing became very popular and many people noticed a sharp decline in the pass population due to over harvesting. Ray Scott started the Catch and Release program in his BASS tournaments and it caught on throughout the country. Now it's like a religion. Now because it has become so popular many of the lakes are becoming overpopulated with small bass and they are crowding the big bass out. Now every year we hear more and more about Selective Harvest. This is the act of keeping a limit of the smaller more tasty bass for the table each time you go out. I heard somewhere that Ray Scott has endorsed this practice. So it's not bad to take some bass out of the waters you fish, but if you want those waters to continue to produce good bass you will be selective on which ones you take.
Super User David P Posted March 17, 2008 Super User Posted March 17, 2008 Bass fishing is the most fun fishing I have ever done. I release them partly because I want to keep the fish around to catch for another day. Each year, that fish you caught today, will continue to grow, you never know in 3 years you'll catch that fish and it will become your new Personal Best. If you want to eat fish, there are 10 fish that taste better then bass do, and aren't fished for sport. Why not keep the sport fishing of bass, alive and well by releasing them? You nailed the releasing females, but what about releasing the males? They're the ones protecting the eggs. You keep the male, and by by eggs. Keep some smaller ones, 12"-15" during the summer / fall and even winter months. But during spring, keep'm around.
Super User Jimzee Posted March 17, 2008 Super User Posted March 17, 2008 I look at it this way dude, if you're obeying the laws and not exceeding daily creel limits, you have every right to do as you please just as I have the right to release them. Some people take it to heart a little more than others. That's why I mainly fish C&R lakes so I don't have to see it happen. BTW, is the site speeding up for you now? :
BassResource.com Administrator Glenn Posted March 17, 2008 BassResource.com Administrator Posted March 17, 2008 .... every fish fish I catch gets eaten,nothing goes to waste. Why are bass so special? *sniff, sniff* Me thinks I smell a troll....
Guest muddy Posted March 17, 2008 Posted March 17, 2008 .... every fish fish I catch gets eaten,nothing goes to waste. Why are bass so special? *sniff, sniff* Me thinks I smell a troll.... That's a lot more polite then what I was gonna post Isn't this the why is the site so slow, first post guy?
bassnleo Posted March 17, 2008 Posted March 17, 2008 .... every fish fish I catch gets eaten,nothing goes to waste. Why are bass so special? *sniff, sniff* Me thinks I smell a troll.... I was thinking the same thing....another one crawled out from under his bridge.
Popeye Posted March 17, 2008 Posted March 17, 2008 Ask the same question on the Musky Hunter's Forum and insert Musky instead of Bass and see what happens IF you think our thoughts about C&Ring bass as being something special is special.
Super User Grey Wolf Posted March 17, 2008 Super User Posted March 17, 2008 Why are we responding to this nobody ?
RobbyZ5001 Posted March 17, 2008 Posted March 17, 2008 I think if you want to bass in the lake to grow larger you would keep the ones just making the cut such as 12-14 inches. Thinning the smaller bass out will make more food available for the others and space thus making the others larger. You can do whatever you want like Jimzee said as long as your within the law. I know most of the guys on this site are pro catch and release. Since you have been around for a year I don't know if you are trying to stir up a fight or what. Either way it will be fun to watch!
Super User senile1 Posted March 17, 2008 Super User Posted March 17, 2008 Quote Back many moons ago, People kept every bass they caught. Bass tournaments were 7 fish limits and you kept the bass on a stringer and cooked them after the tournament. Bass fishing became very popular and many people noticed a sharp decline in the pass population due to over harvesting. Ray Scott started the Catch and Release program in his BASS tournaments and it caught on throughout the country. Now it's like a religion. Now because it has become so popular many of the lakes are becoming overpopulated with small bass and they are crowding the big bass out. Now every year we hear more and more about Selective Harvest. This is the act of keeping a limit of the smaller more tasty bass for the table each time you go out. I heard somewhere that Ray Scott has endorsed this practice. So it's not bad to take some bass out of the waters you fish, but if you want those waters to continue to produce good bass you will be selective on which ones you take. I think there was a time in Missouri where the limit was 12 bass, if I am not mistaken, but that was before the modern era of bass tournaments.
HesterIsGod Posted March 17, 2008 Posted March 17, 2008 If you catch a mess of crappie or cats it's almost a given that you keep em for table fair. First I would like to say : and ;D. Secondly, a normal panfish population is over 300 fish an acre and the normal bass population is about 100 per acre. Also panfish reproduce several times a year so that is why people keep more.
apachebob Posted March 17, 2008 Posted March 17, 2008 Bill Dance said when you take home a 4lb. Bass it will never be a 8lb. bass :-[
jrhennecke Posted March 17, 2008 Posted March 17, 2008 The "member" that started this thread got the reaction he was looking for I am sure. Like I've said before those that want to keep the fish will and those of us that practice C&R will.
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