hambone80

There is no implication about keeping bass to eat is wrong. However, I was making a point that this guy was ignorant about the laws and after I informed him of the laws he didn't even bat an eye. Personally, I don't like the way bass taste and prefer to let them go, but if they're legal then go for it. It still going to bother me though. That's just my personnal feelings here. I wasn't trying to make this guy sound inferior for keeping bass. The issue I was discussing was blatant disreguard for the law.

It says plain as day at the tailwaters there shall not be any black bass harvested until after May 24th. It is considered the James River.

Yeah, I think bass in general aren't that good to eat anyways. Crappie and walleye are incredible, but everyone knows that. In Missouri rivers and streams it takes about 5-6 years for a smallie to reach 15" or so. The hybird the guy had was a trophy bass for sure, but he didn't even know it or appreciate it. If I would have caught it I would have had it measured and released. Replicas of fish can be very well done these days. CPR(catch,picture,release)

I was appalled earlier today! I was at the tailwaters of Lake Springfield and the water was much higher than I thought it would be. This wasn't what really bothered me though. I didn't have any luck catching any bass today, but one fisherman sure did. This guy was more than likely fishing for cats, but I witnessed him catch a good sized largemouth on a shad. Then he put the bass into a bucket that he had. It really disgusted me. First of all I really believe in catch and release when it comes to bass, but the main thing is this guy was breaking the law. No black bass can be harvested until after May 24th. I walked over to the guy and asked him what he had in the bucket and he showed me. He had the largemouth that I saw him catch and two smallmouth(one of which was a lunker). I was totally shocked by his this. I mean the one smallmouth was as big as the one I caught earlier this week. Then he pulled out a giant of a fish. It was probably at least 4 and 1/2 pounds! This bass must have been a hybrid. It had the reddish/amber eyes of a smallmouth and the mouth of a smallie too, but the color was that of a largemouth. However, it didn't have the marking of either fish. It had some light markings along the side where a largemouths lateral line is and then it had light markings on its head like a smallie. I know of smallmouth and spots creating hybirds, aka mean-mouths, but what about largemouths and smallies? I guess anything is possible. Anyways this guy had the incredible smallmouth and completly awesome hybird as well as a respectable largemouth and smallmouth and was taking them for dinner. I made sure that he knew that he wasn't able to keep the bass because they weren't in season, but he didn't care. I wasn't about to get into a physical altercation with the moron, so I called the MDC to report it, but that was useless. People like this sicken me! Don't just let them get away with it. Say something to them if you see people in the wrong. Don't get into a fist fight over it though. I could have "made" him release the bass, but they were good as dead anyways because they had been in a five gallon bucket for some time. Semper Fi

Thanks for the update smallmouth man. Much appreciated. Any smallmouth is a good smallmouth.

Well it wasn't four pounds, but over 3 and 1/2 pounds for sure. I just wish I had my camera. It was only my second smallmouth ever! I must say that these are my new favorite bass. I have always had a love affair for largemouth and always will, but smallies are awesome fighters and beautiful specimens of fish to. I caught in on a full size jig and craw I was using for largemouth.

Hey, I was just wondering what's going on with the fishing on the river? I heard the goggle-eye are being caught, but what about the smallies? Also, does anyone know how big is a lunker river smallmouth in Missouri. Just wondering because I caught a real good one earlier this week, but didn't get a photo. It was pushing four pounds though. Thanks.