Check Out This Smallmouth

[gabe]

Keep those smallmouth swimming in Table Rock!!!!

[JoeSki]

Great looking fish. I too would much prefer a healthier bass population in TR than at bass pro.

[ozarksfishin]

Not to start any heated debate on wether or not to keep any fish or to give them to Bass Pro, I can see good arguments for both sides. I still think putting a fish like that in a tank is better than taking her home and putting her in the freezer to mount someday. Just my 2 cents. (P.S. please be easy on me Babbler, LOL!) And yes Jeremy that is a 6lb. plus smallie, nice one! Anyway, Mike emailed me and sent this in reply:

Phil thanks for putting the photo up.I cant see it for some

reason but i heard it was up.Also if you could tell the people that the

reason I put her in basspro is so my kids and grand kids can see him

and

everyone elses kids as well .What a life you will never end up in a

skillet

and you dont have to go far to eat.I put a 5.15 in 2 years ago and now

it

weighes 8.10.It is in the springfield store.Also we now have allmost 50

stores now so its not like we are just stocking springfield.These fish

are

seen all over the country by thousands of kids every day.Hopefully

these

fish they see will keep them dreeming about the big one they can catch

and

thats why i put one or two fish a year in our stores.Thanks MIKE WEBB

[ozarksfishin]

Almost forgot, if Mike released that fish back into Table Rock, who is to say that the next guy who catches it wouldn't take it home to the freezer and mount it? Just food for thought, and again please Babbler be easy on me LOL!!!!

[crappiefisherman]

Id say the fish in a Bass Pro tank eat better then in some of our inpoundments.Also I get to see the kids marvel at the fish tank everyday at my employer.And if you watch the small ecosystem you can tell what the lake fish are up to. I like to see the fish also.So im my opinion is differing from the others but thats what makes life interesting.

[Danoinark]

I put her in basspro is so my kids and grand kids can see him

and

everyone elses kids as well .

Good for you!

Dano

[Chief Grey Bear]

Phil thanks for putting the photo up.I cant see it for some

reason but i heard it was up.Also if you could tell the people that the

reason I put her in basspro is so my kids and grand kids can see him

and

everyone elses kids as well .What a life you will never end up in a

skillet

and you dont have to go far to eat.I put a 5.15 in 2 years ago and now

it

weighes 8.10.It is in the springfield store.Also we now have allmost 50

stores now so its not like we are just stocking springfield.These fish

are

seen all over the country by thousands of kids every day.Hopefully

these

fish they see will keep them dreeming about the big one they can catch

and

thats why i put one or two fish a year in our stores.Thanks MIKE WEBB

Maybe Bass Pro should build their own hatchery or purchase fish from a hatchery. I agree with the point about the children, but you may also be robbing a child from catching that fish.

It was also said that the fish eat better at BP. I guess the same could be said of the prisioners in jail. They live a pretty good life but I bet if you ask them if they had a choice......

Now for a question.....why are Bass Pro fish always bug eyed? They are the only fish I have ever seen in a tank that it looks like their eyes are about to burst out of their sockets. Is the glass magnified that much?

[JoeSki]

Bug-eyed bass usually indicate bass that are older.

[Bill Babler]

This is my last post on the subject. First off let me say that I love Mike Webb to death.

He is one of the nicest guys I have ever met. Always a smile and a kind word.

Would do anything for anyone. And I guarantee you I would walk across burning coals for him.

This is just an area that we tend to differ. It was his fish and he can do what he wants with it.

Over 90 percent of the cold, fresh and saltwater fish in their aquariums are hatchery raised fish.

There is no reason to take a spawning female out of the rock and put her in with the nameless herd.

Ask 1000 people leaving BP if they saw the 6 and a 1/2 pound smally and what tank she was in, and I'll bet under 10 people could make the ID. Then ask that same 1000 people if they think she is better off there than pro-creating and swimming in her natural enviornment and see what you get.

Again, Mike has a fishing lic. and can do what ever he wants.

I believe a big framed picture of Mike and the fish would have gotten a lot more views, with the caption," She is still out there spawning huge offspring for you to catch."

Heck! After her celebrity tour, she can still do that, hopefully.

Best Wishes, and for sure no hard feelings.

[Phil Lilley]

And I guarantee you I would walk across burning coals for him.

I'd love to see that!