Last Couple of Weeks

[lakebumb]

Well, after reading this whole thread I felt like throwing my 2 cents in so I registered and here I am.

I have been Bass Tournament fishing for 21 years, the last 10 on Table Rock and the first 11 on Kentucky Lake. My father-in-law is a guide on Kentucky lake so I understand these 2 sides of this discussion.

In the last 21 years I have kept close to 12 bass to eat. Mostly fish that have either been hooked to deep or just did not make it through a weigh-in. Nothing aggrivates me more than bringing in a nice limit of Bass to a weigh-in area just to find the tanks just in front of the scales at about 100 degrees. I work very hard to keep my fish not only alive but in very good condition and I fully expect the fish to be treated well after it is weighed. My goal is not to just weigh the fish but have it returned to the lake with an excellent chance of survival. I take it personal when one of my fish dies but sometimes it just happens.

The guides and tournament fisherman have or at least should have the same goal. Return as many fish possible to be caught again. Like Bill said earlier about catching the same bass, I too have caught the same fish after releasing it.

When I take friends and family fishing, the first thing I tell them is that we will not be keeping any bass today.

Then they have the next word WHY??

My answer is always the same. "BASS ARE GREEN, THE SAME COLOR AS MONEY. A LIVE BASS IS WORTH MUCH MORE THAN A DEAD ONE"

This statement works for tournament fishermen, guides, resort owners and everyone in the area that makes a living from the tourism.

I don't have a problem with other people eating bass. Its just not going to happen out of my boat. Its my boat payment, Its my rules.

With that said, let me climb down off my soap box.

Good luck to everyone that fishes, may you catch the next state record!!!!

[CaptainJoe]

Bill,

I must disagree with your statement: "The Florida strain is an extreme shallow water predator and simpley could not or would not adapt to deep water."

This is simply not true. Most of the best bass lakes in CA (Casitas, Castaic, and almost all San Diego lakes) hold the FL strain bass. Casitas and Castaic, which I have fished for the past 8 years is over 200 feet deep throughout the lake. We routinely drop shot in 50 to 80 feet of water for the fish. Something else went wrong on OK, because FL strain bass live very well in deep water.

Take care,

Captain Joe

[Sam]

CaptainJoe - I agree. We lived in Southern California for years, and I fished Castaic, Casitas, Isabella, Henshaw, Vail, Matthews, etc. before there were so many people and so much fishing pressure. I've caught a bunch of Florida bass, including some over 9 lbs. I've caught Floridas in deep water as well as shallow water.

They're a great fish - I wish we could have them here, but we can't. From what I read about the failed Oklahoma stocking, they can't tolerate water temps of less than 55 degrees. So, in our country that limits them to Florida and the deep South, Southern California, and maybe southern Texas. I don't know what Oklahoma was thinking of in trying to stock them - I guess they figured it was worth a try.

Those who know SoCal will get a chuckle when I say I've fished Lake Matthews. That's a big reservoir that's part of the L.A. water system, and it's completely closed to the public. There are guards, patrols, and heavy fines for those who get caught sneaking in. The L.A. politicians, including some past mayors, use it for their private fishing preserve.

I can tell you this from my mis-spent younger days - a fishing trip to Matthews had to be planned like you were sneaking into North Vietnam, but the fishing was GREAT.

[Bill Babler]

Capt Joe, Thanks for the info. Mine came from the Oklahoma dept of consevation. They felt as Sam mentioned that the Florida bass became extremely lathargic in temps under 60 degrees. Also their studies showed that the stocked fish had extreme high densities in shallow water. With the lack of forage as the water cooled and the response of the bass to the cooler temps, they assummed this contributed to their demise.

I also spoke to some of my cohorts about Castaic. Though many had caught Florida bass suspended over the depths you mentioned, none had caught any of these fish at the 80ft. depth mark.

Most had caught these fish at the thermocline from 26 to 32ft. suspended over greater depths. I have no doubt that if you said you have caught them at 80ft. that you have. Thanks for the SoCal info.

Sam, I agree with your local tournament startemnts. The weeknight tournaments out of Shell Knob are a Blood Bath. Usually really nice Blacks floating all over the ramp. Manley in the summer. It's a cryin shame. If they kill them they better cookem.

I have delibertly not lanched at the ramps following the tournaments to avoid clients seeing dead fish on the water. It's not right.

[CaptainJoe]

Bill,

Sorry it took so long to reply. To busy fishing and entertaining visitors. I can attest to the fact that if you move by the lake, they will come. They came and more are coming.

Anyway, not to argue the point about deep water bass fishing in CA. If you get Bassin Magazine, please see the article for May/June 2005, by Margie Anderson where she covers "Get Extreme" bass fishing to depths 80 feet with regularity. She discusses the use of downriggers to get deep and stay deep. The article also has a side bar on "fizzing" a bass to release the air in the swim bladder. Anyway, enough on this subject.

Finally got to fish Grand Lake. What a lake. Too bad I could not land the fish I hooked. But, it was sure fun trying.

Take care,

Captain Joe