My Opinion On What I Heard Watching The Weigh In

[Sac River Jim]

first of all fellas i dont wont to cause any trouble on here but i got pretty upset at some of the comments i heard today watching the weigh in that i decided to post my opinion on my fb wall to blow off a little steam. i also sent it to one of my good friends on here and he urged me to post it. so heres a copy and paste of what i wrote.

ok bass elite series anglers heres the way I see it. Some of you were whining and crying about catching tons of short spots today. table rock lake has a forage base big enough to support alot more bass than it does. A couple of you suggested the length limit be reduced and we eat the 13'' fish so bigger fish can be caught. You come here every few years and some of you always complain because you struggle. We struggle on this lake every day we fish it but we've learned how to fish it (knock on wood.) Who do some of you think you are telling us how to manage our fishery. Some of us that fish it all the time like it just the way it is.I got news for you any given day anyone can get that big bite, ya don't have to be a bass elite to do so. As some of you can see Yes I'm PI$$ED and DISAPPOINTED. BASS has been one the biggest supporters of catch and release and you suggest we keep and eat our future generation of 3lb. spots smh!!!!!! This is a prime example of what happens when you forget where you come from. Maybe some of you should remember what your grandpa taught you about the sport!!!!!! FYI this post is only directed at a couple three of you and much respect to the rest of you. To the ones I'm referring to, you did a pi$$ poor job of representing our sport and sportsmanship in general today. There are young anglers that idolize you andsoak up every move you make and is your whining and crying what you want them to learn.

''The Rock'' is a wonderful place to get away from the stresses and pressures of everyday life and I can't think of a better way of doing it than running up the Kings in the spring and throwing a wart, sitting over a brush pile in peach orchard cove and catching big slabs, hiking up to Taylor's shoal and hauling in the whites then being worn out carrying the them back to the truck and even sitting here at the house reading all your posts and knowing you share the same passions as I do for that pond in the middle of the ozarks we reverently refer to as ''The Rock.'' Most of us have fished it for many years and some of us our first and dearest memories as a child came from sitting in an old raggedy boat asborbing every last word our fathers and grandfathers were teaching us about fishing and as i got older I realized they were teaching me about life in general. I for one am very proud to have the freedom and opportunity to get out on the lake now and then and it upset me to here professionals put down a place I hold very dear to my heart because they were embarrassed because they only brought in a 12lb bag of fish. Again I dont want to make anybody upset but I feel that I needed to speak my mind on this subject. Tight Lines Everyone.

[Old plug]

I imagine they complain a lot. I have never been to a tournament like that and wont be going.

[Sac River Jim]

it just really rubbed me wrong. maybe i'm off base but i grew up on this lake and i just hated to see it put down like that.

[terryj1024]

I grew up fishing the rock with my grandpa and I absolutely agree with everything you said, thank you for saying it.

[Feathers and Fins]

They complain about all the White River Chain, they are tough to fish and do not have the giant Floriduh strains in them. I love it when I here the name "Elite Series" I think they get to the point they think they should catch big bags everyday because of their status and then they run in to the White River Lakes and get the Humble Pie with a side of Crow.

I think its good they get the humbling these lakes can give you. I have many great days but then one of the Gals decide to feed me the Pie and those days are very special as well and what keeps me coming back trying to figure them out. I understand the Pro-fishermen in BASS are after Bass and cannot turn to other species but that is the nature of the beast.

I say BUCK UP BOOBY STOP YOUR WHINING AND PUT ON YOUR BIG BOY PANTS YOU ARE ON THE ROCK! If they are so "Elite" this is a lake that will show if they are or are not. But what is hilarious is they know how tough these lakes are and if it was me and knew I would be having to fish it I could promise I would be making connections with locals and guides and fish it during the (tournament season) to try and learn it. Hey let BASS and FLW have a season where they have to fish all the White River Chain I bet you would see a lot of "Elites" humbled.

[Bill Babler]

Jim, thank you for posting that. Very well done and said. Not but a few years ago they could not catch squat and most were wanting MDC to stock fish immediately. I can remember the Gman saying this is a wonderful fishery, but if you locals don't catch and release here you are going to be in trouble.

Now several of them that I guess don't like catching hard fighting smallmouth and spotted bass that are sublegal want to rid the lake of an over population. Those guys were just insane. For that matter, who in the world weighs in 15 inch K's or smallmouth with any hope of winning. Not going to do that here anytime soon.

This is one of the best Northern Spotted bass fishery in the country. It takes those spots and smallmouth time to grow here this is not Texas, Georgia or Florida. I am simply tickled beyond a shadow of a doubt for folks to be able to come here and have a day catching and releasing 2 pound bass.

I really think BASS needs to address those that made the fish fry comments and we need to have an apology.

[Old plug]

There is other things about some if those guys that might rub you wrong as well. Some will indorse anything that pops up. A lot of them have their name trade marked. I know of one that his home town had a bill board up along the highway saying that they were his home town. He threatened to sue them if they did not pay for the rights to do that. Lovely is it not. Just remember that when something comes out with some guys name on it he is getting paid. They look like walking adds for any and everything. Some are nice people some are not. some got on that elite stage buy hard work and proving themselves some did not.

[Ham]

First of all, I think the BASS pros are entitled to an opinion about the lake. They spend lots of days on the water all over the place, they know a liittle something about fishing. Now, if they let one tough day color their opinion that's silly. I don't think their opinion should carry any more weight than Sac River Jim's or mine or anymore else that fishes here. But, management decisions should be science based in conjunction with the desires of the local fishing community.

We've had interesting discussions about the 15 inch spotted bass limit before. We can discuss it again, but those that are passionate about it are not likely to change their opinions.

[Flysmallie]

No need to get your panties in a wad over some guys that will be whining someplace else next week.

[Champ188]

Maybe they should take a lesson from FLW pro Dan Morehead, who spent his time fishing instead of whining a few years back and caught a SPOT that weighed 6.75 pounds.