2013 Big Bass Population

[magicwormman]

Now vrs 10 years ago is simple...................much better!!!!

But, I believe the virus hit in 1999 and it's taken a long time to recover. I remember in the Spring of 2000 a local guy (Jim Dopp) won a BASS event on this lake and never weighed in a largemouth. In fact I believe they only weighed in a couple of largemouth in the whole tournament. I've fished the Rock since the early 70's and it will probably never be as good as it was than. Lots of 7,8, and 9 lbers. I will say most of the big fish were caught at night, but it was common in the spring to catch 50-60 bass a day. Now if I catch 10 bass a day I'm thrilled. On a bright note, I feel the lake is getting better every year and with the right conservation practices, the lake will continue to improve.

[troutgnat]

IIGGGGGgdddfmnkdmfkdmfvmvmkdGentlmen, I'm not knocking catch and release at all because I do my fair share of it but realistically speaking I think we may a see a change coming. Maybe not with the hard core tournament/bass fisherman but the regular joe fisherman and weekenders. With the economy in the dumps and gas prices through the roof fishing does not come an easy to come by recreation for most anymore. The days of survival are to come again. It's going to be hard to spend a day's pay to go to the lake for most and come home with no food. Just some "food" for thought.

[Bill Babler]

IIGGGGGgdddfmnkdmfkdmfvmvmkdGentlmen, I'm not knocking catch and release at all because I do my fair share of it but realistically speaking I think we may a see a change coming. Maybe not with the hard core tournament/bass fisherman but the regular joe fisherman and weekenders. With the economy in the dumps and gas prices through the roof fishing does not come an easy to come by recreation for most anymore. The days of survival are to come again. It's going to be hard to spend a day's pay to go to the lake for most and come home with no food. Just some "food" for thought.

Could not disagree with you more. I guided 269 trips this year with a large portion of them on Table Rock for bass. Never once did I have a person ask me to kill a fish.

This is not the days of the meathunter. There is no way you can pay for a pan fishing trip with a limit of fish that would allow you to say "Well, what I'm eating paid for the trip." No Way.

Even the the 1960's and 70's at our resort on Lake O. when we pretty much harvested everything we caught, not one time did I ever hear a fisherman or a guide client say, a limit of fish, paid for his or her weekend. Most often, the thought was, Now that is a really expensive dinner.

If a person has to justify a day on the water or a day relaxiing fishing and make it a money making proposition, better look for some other recreation, and buy some steak at the grocery store, cause it is way cheaper than fish.

[exiledguide]

Back then a trip to Brickhouse slew at west alton was a big trip with a one dollar rowboat rental and who could afford steak..............I also remember asking

Lowel Pierce, when he visited his parents one year at Christmas when he brought up a cooler full of duck breast what he had done with all the big bass he and Virgil caught on the show when he fished with Virgil he told me he traded them for steaks because who coud afford steaks and believe me bringing home fish makes the bride a lot happier and you meet a lot better group of people fishing than you do on the gulf course.

[Jerry Rapp]

Brickhouse Slough. Thanks for a brain cell rejuvenation.

[straw hat]

Bill, I think that what trouynet was getting at was that things are about to change. Many major economists are projecting that by the end of this year we will be in a major recession or even a depression. Two top econimists have predicted that we will be in the same state as Greece and Spain. That is 25% unemployment. We have the "fiscal cliff" approaching Jan. 1st as well as two large debt payments soon afterward. I am not smart enough to know if they are right but there are a lot of itchy econimists right now!!!

[Quillback]

If I was going to fish for meat, I'd run a trotline, do it the right time of year and work at it, you can get a load of tasty cats.

[exiledguide]

Brickhouse Slough. Thanks for a brain cell rejuvenation.

How about Harbor Point and Portage Des Sioux? Fishing the pipe that ran under the road between Portage and the Our Lady of the Rivers Shrine and giving that old red headed lady who owned the house on the downsteam side a Pint of Old Crow so we could park and fish out of her back yard.

[troutgnat]

Not trying to stir the pot. Everyone's got some great opinions here. Yes, I was trying to get more of an "economical" outlook here. What is this economic downslide going to,.....or should I say "how is this economic downslide going to affect our fishing? Let me ask all of us........How is the "current change of times" affecting your fishing? I'll start......With gas for boat and truck round trip, food/ice it's over a $100 bill for me to take a decent trip to the lake. That's a day's pay for me(not asking anybody to go into finances here, just stating for an example). So, my thinking has changed:

-I don't run to the lake everyday off now

-I choose my days wisely(weather channel)

-I take short runs from the ramp(try to plan my fishing around my put-in and stay relatively close)

-I fish ALL day to get the most out of money

-When the timing is right I target "food species" to load the freezer.....This is moreso the case now than previously, crappie and bluegill are my friends.

-I try to take a buddy to share in the gas bill(anybody having problems finding a friend that will stay out on the water all day?, not always an easy task!

-I make more of my own tackle than ever before

-I'm doing a full restore on my old Ranger 374 because I didn't want to take on another payment

How bout you?

[troutgnat]

Bill thanks for your reply. You would be the guy to know. I, like everyone else has heard all the stories from the past. My grandpa has told me of times past and yes, NO food went wasted. Meaning if it was caught or killed it went TO the table. I didn't exactly mean that keeping fish to "pay for the trip". But I am curious to know if this economic downslide will revert us to days of old.?????