Omtt

[CMAC]

I fish Lake of the Ozarks religously and this weekend, while I wasn't targeting bedding fish I hooked and landed two large fish with fat bellys from very shallow water in and around docks. Both fish were beat up looking and very, very, green and colorful. Were they spawners, probably so, were they released back into the water, you bet.

Do I feel bad for catching these fish, not at all. Will I continue to fish for large mouth and continue to be a conservationist the best way I can and promote the outdoors to leave it better than I found it, no doubt. What does all this mean, hell I don't, just felt compelled to respond.

[Hogfan]

You guys know that most of the fish you are catching using other methods (not looking at them) are most likely on beds as well, right? You can always take mid-April thru mid-May off if you are really concerned.....or April 1 thru June 1 to make sure their are no early spawners or fry guarders....Studies have shown time and time again that fishing during the spawning season and little or zero affect on the population or the fishing quality, especially on a lake like TRock. Now, if you dont like sight fishing or think it is not fun, then that is fine....as far as talking "ethics" you better re-think your argument. Most people that are negative about sight fishing are usually frustrated by not being proficient, have an unnecessary guilty concsience, or are making assumptions that are just ignorant of the facts.....

....those shaky head, C-rig, and jig fish are most likely spawners.

I agree with you 100% on this!

[cofobasser]

My take is that people have been fishing these bed fish for years and years and our fishery has not sufferd one bit. I also agree that people who are catching these fish on shakey heads, jigs, and more than anything split shot, are pulling cruisers and fish off of the beds this time of year. Its not un ethical at all.

[Bill Babler]

Gent's, my take was not at all on the bed fishermen, or women, but a general area fishing report. When people see these large bags right now, and I am seeing it from my guide clients, they want to swarm the lake and also wonder why we guides are not catching boat loads of 4 to 8 pounders.

These huge bags are coming by specific techniques, that we as guides just cannot, will not or do not do.

When I see people on this board saying "Wow, I am heading down and catching 20 pounds of big boys." It flat Ain't happenin.

Here are Beck and My last two days guide trips with average clients 32 hrs on the water. 6 clients 9 keepers and 25 short fish. Nothing over 2.3 pounds, until today, as Bill just called and said they are biting a bit better.

What I was trying to say in a very uneducated style was don't let the derby weights influence you in any way. Derby fishing and fun fishing are two cats of a very different color.

Most of the derby winners this time of year that are bed fishing are extremely astute at this and it is a job. I really know of know one that likes to do it. It is a one man game on the rod, and is a frustrating task at best. Pure and simple it is money fishing and that is it.

We fun fishermen, are not catching 20 pound bags, its toughter than a boot.

[Champ188]

Agreed in full, Bill. I admit that I sort of took offense to Fatboy's comment about Larry Herndon only fishing during spawning season. Maybe he does only fish then, and I overreacted. I just happen to believe that Larry is a man of strong ethics and I hated to see him take a rap for doing something entirely legal. As I've stated on here before, I have some guiding experience and you're dead right — guide clients nor fisherman of average skills aren't capable of catching a big bag of bedding bass. Takes lots of skill, experience and perseverance.

[Fat Boy]

I never said any thing was illegal about bed fishing, when I started off 30 some yrs ago as a boy on a creek it was there I learned alot about bass by catching bedding fish. I don't have a problem with it I just don't do it, and I never questioned Larrys ethics just made a observation about the younger but as Bill said it is money fishing. Don't have a problem with them doing it , it is the same as a good grub scrubber it is a tool and it's all part of the game. 2 things I need to get alot better at .

[Gone Fishing]

Thats a record. It only took 17 posts to close the chapter on bed fishing. Who says we can't all get along.