Whack'emGood

If you get them quickly into the boat and don't let them wear themselves to a frazzle then you have little if any problems ever with this. I have a question for you: Do these fish build up lactic acid while chasing shad and such and die also? I don't think they do. Bass are just really not that fragile... now trout-- there is another story altogether. Oh, one more thing. The use of Rejuvenade or Catch-n-Release formula in the live well aids in replenishing the slime coat, reducing stress, treating any wounds to avoid infections, etc. It works great. Also- using the aereator pump in your livewell and dissolving ice in your livewell does a great job in oxygenating the water. It also works great. Here's some info about the aforementioned: http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/bassmas..._alive_livewell

1) Yes 2) Extremely low 3) Absolutely - unless they are gut or gill hooked really bad. 4) Nobody would to my knowledge-- where did that come from?

I think that is a great analogy FlyGuy. Great post. Good luck on the water. Whack'em

No problem! You have a nice weekend too Jon.

You are right that Joe Shmo doesn't practice catch and release, and that is fine with me... he also doesn't catch very many keeper sized bass. Also, you are right to be 100% sure that the bass population on TR is not in trouble. It is largely because "BASS FISHERMEN" catch 99% of the bass, and are overwhelmingly catch and release fishermen and advocates. The MDC takes into account those very facts when they make and enforce the regulations. I respect your opinion and your right to keep keeper sized bass. I would never heckle you on the lake or at the ramp either-- but please take no offense that I am glad you are in the minority of fishermen at TR-- and the majority of the keeper bass caught on TR are and will be released because of the catch and release practice. Please keep in mind that we catch and release guys are of this opinion for one basic reason-- to ensure that the lakes we like to fish have plenty of fish for everyone to enjoy (whether they just like to catch and release them, or catch and eat them). I say let's all just put this to rest, get along, and go out and have some fun on the lake-- we can all agree that we do what we do because we enjoy it... so let's enjoy it. Whack'em

I'm with you Vacation. I don't care if a guy is fishing out of a 1942 Clunker Classic with a 1-man (oars) motor and chawin' tebakey plugging up some holes in the bottom... I will still give him all the respect he deserves, and then some. Hey Motoman-- I don't blame you one bit for getting irked. If you ever see two guys flingin' lures in a 2004 Nitro NX882 (White with silver and black) and a 150-horse Merc on the back, come over and say hello. We can shake hands and swap some stories. I would be glad to meet any Ozarkanglers member out on the water anytime-- except maybe that guy who snobbed you! Whack'em

That was truly beautiful Bill. My sentiments exactly. You are a true Champion of conservation. Keep up the good work. Thank you Bill. Whack'em

Don't worry about the Shriners T4W. There are alot more tourneys with even more boats going on all the time Spring thru Fall at TR also, but there is plenty of water for everyone. It is definitely more likely that someone may be on the spot you are trying to fish, but usually it works out. Just go out and have a good time... you won't notice them as much as you think. Good luck out there. Whack'em

I am not going to argue with you over your obvious opinion to catch and fry, but you are wrong on these statements that I have quoted here. At least 90% of bass fishermen are catch and release, and this is why Table Rock is such a great bass fishery. If the majority was catch and fry, as you say, then TR wouldn't be even a decent bass lake. I will respect your catch and fry policy, as it is your right, and say no more. Good fishing. Whack'em

I replied to clarify that I wasn't threatening anyone because you quoted my post (Post #68) in your post (Post #69), and then under the quotation you said you were "trying to hold your tounge on this." That is probably why I thought you were referring to what I said and implying that I was threatening Rangerman. If you'll look back at your post (Post #69) then you'll see what I saw. As far as the "taunting" part... I was referring to what Rangerman said about taunting other fishermen out on the water. I was just saying that it is not advisable for him to taunt and get into a fight with someone out on the lake. It doesn't matter to me though at this point... You and I misunderstood each other and things are cool-- and folks just need to agree to disagree on this subject as well, because one side will never be able to convince the other side to change (and vice-versa). It is what it is. Good luck out on the water Ozark Trout Fisher. Whack'em

Nice job Motoman... and thanks very much for the report. Whack'em

I think you misread it. I didn't say me. I think getting into it with someone about these types of things is not worth it. I'm pretty much saying what I just stated... it's not advisable to taunt someone and get into a fight about something like this. Not to mention childish.

I wouldn't advise it. You might smile at the wrong guy. I'm not saying me... I'm just saying some guys wouldn't appreciate that too much. Good luck with that though.

I would've told him... "You caught that fish out of my boat... you're releasing it." He would have had to knock me out or drown me in order to have kept it. Whack'em

The XM signal comes via satellite. You should get reception anywhere on the planet that is not directly under a tree or where a big building is blocking your view of the sky. Reception should be great out on the water. Whack'em

No length or creel limit either.

Wow. That is surprising to me. Of course, I haven't been up there yet this year. We have a tournament out of Mill Creek tonight at Table Rock, and I am thinking we are gonna have to bring in close to 20lbs to squeak into the money! They'll come around up there soon... hang in there. Whack'em

Exactly-- I was talking to my dad the other day about that one I caught that went almost 7lbs the other day, and I wondered aloud how many times it has been caught (AND RELEASED) up to that point in it's life. If somebody would have caught and killed it already, I wouldn't have had the chance at catching (and releasing for someone else to possibly catch, yet) such a beautiful fish. Yep, their lips surely get holes poked in them but, 95% of the time (at least, I hope) they live to fight another day. Whack'em

Hey Jason. Thanks for the luck wish-- we have a few fish located and all we need is to catch a really bigun or two to go with them to sqeak into the money... easier said than done though. Should be fun either way though. We launched at Mill Creek and fished from there to just below Campbell Point, with spots spread out all in-between. I sent you a PM-- maybe we can get together sometime for an evening of fishing. Whack'em

Top notch, FlyGuy!

Way to go guys... Thanks for the report. Nothing like fishing with good friends... and catching with good friends is even better! Whack'em

Man, what a tough night for us last night. We fished 12 spots/areas last night and only found them on one spot. We caught 6 with 2 nice KY keepers in about 20 minutes in one area, but left it right after the second keeper because we are pre-fishing for a tourney and didn't want to mess it up. The rest of the night we flailed at 'em but ended up only catching a bunch of goggle-eyes on the jig. Dang goggle-eyes! They about drove us batty. Just when you think you get a bass bite... Oh yeah... we couldn't hit on a spinnerbait either. I guess the good news is... we left a handful of areas alone where we caught them last week, as not to mess them up before the tourney Friday night. Hopefully they will still be there Friday, but who knows. Whack'em

I have a question for you and then I'll get back out of this thread... You said TR is probably the best fishery in the Midwest... We are extremely catch and release minded around these parts. I want to point out that I respect your opinion, but-- Do you think TR would be "probably the best in the Midwest" if we weren't etremely catch and release minded around these parts? There are several reasons why Table Rock is consistently "one of the best in the Midwest" and catch and release plays a big role. Also, I think keeping "shorter keepers," as you stated, would only result in there being less keeper sized fish to catch. I am not a fisheries biologist, however, so this is just my opinion of course-- which I know is not any better than anybody else's. Whack'em P.S. I, for one, would be a proponent of making Table Rock a catch and release only lake during the spawning season-- no keeping fish and only paper tourneys during this time. Also, I think Bill's idea about making certain parts of the lake off limits during the spawn might work.

Sorry man... Feet in mouth for Bill and I! Good luck tonight-- I hope you catch a big "limit." My dad and I are going this evening as well, and hope to catch a big limit ourselves. Whack'em

I assumed that also.