Tablerock Spotted Bass Length

[roy_eros]

Good point no matter what the limit is set at wether it be 10 inches or 24 inches there is going to be more fish just under the limit than just over it.

And on the subject of catching spots for tournaments a few springs ago i was fishing a tourney and spent about 30 minutes trying to catch a spot off of a bed. It would have been my last keeper but when i finally caught it she was a 1/4 inch to short. Talk about frustrating. I still finished in the top 20 with 5 spots so tournaments can be won with out largemouth.

I just want to throw this out there several times i have read Arkansas Fish and Game while it is actually Arkansas Game and Fish just thought u might want to know.

[Wayne SW/MO]

The thinking behind this is related to the growth rate of the fish. When Spots share the same length limit with fish that grow faster and larger, you run the risk of allowing their population to expand at a faster rate then the others. Eventually you run the risk of them becoming the predominate species of Blacks. I doubt that this will happen on TR, but it wouldn't be too far out to expect them to make a dent.

[hoover25]

I guess I'm speaking out of hat... I saw alot of anamosity towards a fishery biologist at a gathering last year at Forsyth and afterwards I talked to him (MDC guy) and he told me he had threats against him because he had suggested the 12 inch limit on spots. And yes they were big tournament guys. Reason? I have no clue. I don't know much about the sport of tournament bass fishing so I can't speak to the issue. But I agree with your accessment.... and I guess so does Ark Fish & Game.

Guys...this has a very simple answer that I am surprised many people have not thought of yet.....and I think that it may be a slightly valid one.

Many "Joe Fisherman" that come to TR a couple times per year like to keep and eat their fish, including keeper largemouth. Most "Joe Fisherman" can't tell a 12 inch Kentucky spotted bass from a largemouth bass. IMHO, the tournament guys feel that large numbers of sub-legal largemouth will be killed by the filet knife of ignorant "Joe Fisherman."

The tournament guys are generally extremely dedicated C/R anglers and care deeply about the largemouth fishery at TR. I don't really have an anology for this so I am not going to try. I am just guessing that, like a lot of people, they don't want change.

Just my to cents.