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Old 03-30-12, 10:41 PM   #1
Crankbait
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Default Do we have a responsibility to BASS?????

Bassfishkansas posted an article called remove or remain but I want to go a little further.I’m not sure if there is a right or wrong answer. I would get upset at one of my boys when he would keep a 9 or 8 when he already had a ten…and this was only at a certain lake. There is this reservoir that although is electric only used to be one if not the best bass lakes up here in NC. It closes in the fall and opens in the spring so bass do have a chance to catch a break sort of speak. It used to be on opening day that on opening day anywhere from 10 to 15 tens would be caught with a few 11’s or 12’s. But that was ten years ago. Now on opening day your lucky to see on ten caught…..there is a reason for that. With no Park Rangers bothering to patrol an electric lake people were coming out with their coolers full of 8’s 9’s and ten’s. I don’t object to anglers eating fish…..but here’s my thought…..our population is growing…..not shrinking and as more anglers come out (which is great for the sport) it means more fish will usually die weather by being eaten, the stress of the catch, or some type of injury sustained in the catch. Just imagine what it takes for a bass to get to just five pounds. I’ve heard that here in NC that fish is anywhere from 5 to 7 years old (no I’m not a fisheries biologist). I know in Florida it takes less time because of the climate and further up north that same 5lb bass could be more like 7 years or older. But just imagine what it takes for that fish to make it to that age and size. Not only does he have to avoid predators from older fish of the same species, to turtles, snakes, birds, otters, minks….you get the idea. But on the other side of the coin that fish has to eat to get that size and I know that there are variances in this factor to like what kind of bait there is and how much competition. Another example is on a small 175 acres lake that a buddy turned me on to when I got back it to bass fishing. It was my 2nd home always on it. It taught me to fish shallow cranks and flip and what it was like to have a 38 pound sack. I won my first $500 in a tournament on this lake so it was my baby….only removed one fish an 8lb 5 oz that died after I released her. It had a great shad population and is riddled with stumps. My boy and I told many an angler about this place and I can say I wish that I had kept my mouth shut. I posted to many pictures of nice bass at the concession stand. I don’t know how many 5’ through 9 pound bass were removed from the lake after we spilt the beans. I don’t know how many days I came of that lake with my five best going 25 or better but it was quite a few. One of my boys would ask what was so special and I would tell him I prefer to catch 10 to 15 bass in the 4 to 6 pound range with a few 8’s and 9’s in there as opposed to the lake I spoke of earlier with the potential of catching a 9 or ten but usually coming away with 2 or three dinks. Eventually I had to wean myself of this lake so I could learn other techniques and face other obstacles. But the lake went down and down fast. We struggle to catch half the bass we used to. People were taking out bass just to show their boys….i don’t call them anglers :/ But let me wrap it up with don’t we as anglers whether you are the eat whatever is biting type to the throw every bass back type have a responsibility to the waters and fish that we oh so love to swing on. I truly believe that our waters are going down not getting better (for the most part) whether from increase pressure, pollution, or these droughts we’ve been having. There was only one other thing (football) that gave me the adrenaline rush that fishing does….and my football days are long gone! I want to keep having that rush and want others to experience it as well!!! Just my thoughts.
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Old 03-31-12, 07:05 AM   #2
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KENNETHDAYSALE posted an article called remove or remain but I want to go a little further. But let me wrap it up with don’t we as anglers whether you are the eat whatever is biting type to the throw every bass back type have a responsibility to the waters and fish that we oh so love to swing on?
Crankbait...The Tale of Two Lakes in your post is a story that could have been written by thousands of fisherman from all over the country. I will however add that it is also timeless. In 1969 my Uncle took me to remote 200 acre N. Fla lake that was a true double digit factory. As a 12 yr old kid with a budding obsession and fascination it was nirvana. Fast forward 10 years and instead of catching a 10+ twice a month we were lucky to catch one twice a year. What happened to that lake? Too much pressure? no A few greedy show-offs or meat fisherman? no Alligator or Otter invasion? no if you listen real close you can hear elton john in the background "its the circle of life". That is to say that it is really really tuff for any body of water to maintain the delicate balance needed to keep a lake producing old heavy bass (just by itself not to mention the angling pressure you pointed out). Here's the Good news! Barring some environmental disaster, a lake that has all the neccessay fundamental ingredients (genetics-water quality-topography-forage base-good watershed-etc etc) to produce big bass can do it again. That N Fla lake from my childhood has gone through at least 3 peak cycles that I'm aware of!
Regarding the 2 lakes you mentioned I would guess that as soon as the stupid ignorant rapist can no longer nut off there they'll move on to their next victom and guess what? The lake will recover nicely, this time no pics at the concession and tell everyone your catfishing only

**my remove or remain thread among other things was to try and get us to examine why many of us (blindly) adhere to a C&R motto instead of examining each body of water's unique situation and deciding whats best for the fish in that lake now. It was certainly not meant to encourage people to irresponsibly kill a bunch of big fish just to drag all over town-photograph and then toss in the ditch.**

Finally I will say that I have noticed a big increase in DNR activity and C&R around here, even among the toothless rednecks...........so Hope springs eternal
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Old 03-31-12, 10:05 AM   #3
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I think that we all owe it to ourselves and everyone that might fish in the future, to be good stewards of our sport. There are enough people out there that would like nothing more than for us to make it easy for them to cast disparities on anglers as a whole. If we do nothing to practice conservation of resource, choose to pollute and destroy habitat, we give them the foothold they need to make our hobby a thing of the past.

My Grandfather taught me to leave things better than I found them, pick up your own trash and some that your buddy may have missed. This attitude IMO is why our generation still have places to enjoy, and if we practice the same attitude, our kids and theirs will still be able to enjoy this incredible hobby.
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Old 03-31-12, 11:36 AM   #4
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Ken and Tav. You both bring up good points . It was a long post but I was generally saying our natural resources are not growing.....we're not getting more land or water so its only natural we take care of them
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Old 03-31-12, 12:11 PM   #5
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It was and has good points Im mostly catch and release but also have a fish fry every now and then just dont take any big fish to do it,and each and every body of water is different.
The state of Tennessee is increasing its wetlands not using them up,and while doing so protecting it.We are not heavily populated like fla,but each and every refuge will get protection wont be drained wont be filled in,they are buying up old wetlands that were drained years ago and now flooding them,old canals etc,they fill in some sections so not as much current.
Part of the obion canal system

Their are no ramps ,no roads thru it,but one can use a cartop or yak,fish,photograph to hearts desire,wade if you dont mind cottonmouths or one the few tn gators(protected species)
Ps bass in there up to 4lbs,that I know
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Old 03-31-12, 03:36 PM   #6
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I only want to say I agree with all of the above. Due to the evironmental efforts of the past and increased awareness, I do believe that today there is more of an effort being made to improve upon the habitats we have and to create new. I know in my area, wetlands are being preserved more than ever before and many are being reclaimed by the DNR and private entities. Respect what we have and do what we can to preserve and protect. I release most of the bass I catch. I take just a couple 2-3 pounders a few times a year for dinner. I see nothing wrong with that. Anything of real size is released. The larger bass are a freak of nature as it is. Few ever make it to lunker size. Photograph and release, and perhaps, she will add a few pounds before the next angler has the pleasure of landing a bucket mouth. I have one lake I fish, Flint Lake, that had shad introduced to it a few years ago. The lakes bass population has exploded with quality fish. Very healthy and thick. On a good day, one can catch 40 or so. But there are guys out there I see throwing everything they are catching into their livewells. You never see a DNR officer anywhere near this lake. So I guess they figure who's to stop them. Thats the mentality that will kill bass fishing in this country.
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Old 03-31-12, 03:47 PM   #7
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Originally Posted by keithdog View Post
I only want to say I agree with all of the above. Due to the evironmental efforts of the past and increased awareness, I do believe that today there is more of an effort being made to improve upon the habitats we have and to create new. I know in my area, wetlands are being preserved more than ever before and many are being reclaimed by the DNR and private entities. Respect what we have and do what we can to preserve and protect. I release most of the bass I catch. I take just a couple 2-3 pounders a few times a year for dinner. I see nothing wrong with that. Anything of real size is released. The larger bass are a freak of nature as it is. Few ever make it to lunker size. Photograph and release, and perhaps, she will add a few pounds before the next angler has the pleasure of landing a bucket mouth. I have one lake I fish, Flint Lake, that had shad introduced to it a few years ago. The lakes bass population has exploded with quality fish. Very healthy and thick. On a good day, one can catch 40 or so. But there are guys out there I see throwing everything they are catching into their livewells. You never see a DNR officer anywhere near this lake. So I guess they figure who's to stop them. Thats the mentality that will kill bass fishing in this country.
You know Gomer Pyle is not the only one that can effect a "Citizens Arrest"! Wouldn't that be fun to pull off.
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Old 03-31-12, 11:23 PM   #8
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I completely agree with everyone on here. This forum gives me hope for the future. Everyone on here is very respectful and to put it simply good people. I think we definitely have a responsibility to our kids and the future fisheries to keep them healthy.

Being young sometimes it gets very depressing how many ignorant people there are in the world and how they treat it. I am currently taking a natural science class and it could be one of the most depressing classes out their

Documentaries like The Cove, Food INC and SharkWater were huge eye openers for me this year. I think everyone should watch these movies and become aware of what people are doing. Its a shame how people treat other living things like nothing at all.

Me myself love fishing and do not bash on anyone to that takes home a little dinner now and then. Its the people that I see blatantly killing fish for fun or taking that huge trophy fish home that is bothersome. A fish of large size should always be let go no matter what IMHO. In my mind its a respect thing lol... I know I probably sound like a tree huger, but trust me I'm Far from It. I like hunting and fishing...Manly things, but have no tolerance for ignorant people that pollute and destroy this world like its some play ground
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Old 04-01-12, 09:11 AM   #9
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Boss Hog i agree, as young angler of 23, i kinda worry about the future, after the weekend warriors tournament there are usally dead bass floating along the boat ramp, i am talkng like 5 or 6 lbs, somthing i have only seen on tv or here in the braggin board. It makes me sick knowing if a un-helped circumstance didn't come up i would neatly put those bass back. same thing we people catching record catfish or stripers, break there neck to get a record and a good 80% of the time they die, damn fish was probably older thant them. if pased down a story lives for ever, a trophy chips away or a mount rots...

yea i jumped on the pisser boat sorry
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Old 04-01-12, 03:03 PM   #10
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Boss Hog i agree, as young angler of 23, i kinda worry about the future, after the weekend warriors tournament there are usally dead bass floating along the boat ramp, i am talkng like 5 or 6 lbs, somthing i have only seen on tv or here in the braggin board. It makes me sick knowing if a un-helped circumstance didn't come up i would neatly put those bass back. same thing we people catching record catfish or stripers, break there neck to get a record and a good 80% of the time they die, damn fish was probably older thant them. if pased down a story lives for ever, a trophy chips away or a mount rots...

yea i jumped on the pisser boat sorry
Sorry, but if I had a choice between letting a record largemouth swim away....or it dying and me gettin $100,000.00 from Mustad.....Sorry fish lol
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Old 04-01-12, 03:11 PM   #11
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yea, but i say all of those world records werent register and yea i didnt factor that, thats a million, but how many anglers really register for that. compared those who have.
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Old 04-01-12, 05:53 PM   #12
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I have, but even if someone didn't, they'd still be making big money by calling the rod maker, reel maker, line maker, bait maker.......

They'd be getting paid
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Old 04-02-12, 09:57 AM   #13
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All have good points and that is what I would like to see….we as anglers thinking ya know. I’m not against keeping fish. When I caught my one and only ten she sat in my livewell for 15 minutes before I slipped her back in. For me it’s the picture. Holding that fish…better yet seeing me hold that fish is priceless (sort of speak). It takes me back to the moment that I caught her! But I didn’t have a tripod the picture was horrible so I was a little dissatisfied. So I’m looking for the next ten!
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Old 04-02-12, 12:50 PM   #14
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lol crankbait
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