My Opinion On What I Heard Watching The Weigh In

[ryan]

I think they are speaking from experience that they have on other lake/state management fisheries. I know that some Arkansas lakes don't have any length limit on Kentuckys they say this is due to the fact that a good majority of fish don't reach 15inches in their lifetime. Don't know how true that is, have a buddy who is a fisheries biologist I could ask him. My own opinion is that I like the 15in length limit on all bass species because it keeps the lake full of bass and our Ks run big on Tablerock. It's been 5-6years ago but I caught a Kentucky that weighed just over 5lbs, seems like there are a good majority of them over 3lbs in the lake. Plus I don't care if they are 12in or 20in they are a blast to catch. Everybody's got an opinion but even the pros can't argue heat an incredible fishery we have here. I mean we all have to make excuses about why we didn't catch a good sack on tournament day. I've come up with tons of them ;-).

[duckydoty]

I fished up in the James River arm with Phil yesterday and was surprised we did not see any of the Elites up there. It's been full of them all week. Phil and I could not keep them bass off of our jigs while looking for crappie. We were joking around about how our best 5 went 30. We did not catch one skinny bass up there. They all looked healthy and like they were eating good. I might be concerned with over population in I never caught a chunky one.

[Champ188]

Plus I don't care if they are 12in or 20in they are a blast to catch.

You said a mouthful there. One of the great things about TR is that you can pick up a spinning rod just about anytime and find some K's willing to play. I'm glad we have them.

[RSBreth]

When someone has it figured out they don't complain, when they haven't, they do - simple as that.

[wdberkley]

Don't let a few off color comments by a frustrated few overshadow what the majority said - it's a gorgeous lake, caught tons of fish, just didn't get that big bite. I for one won't complain if I run into 20-30 of those pissed off 2 lb spots every day next week....

[dtrs5kprs]

These folks are spoiled, plain and simple. Starting with the ESPN buyout, they have been fishing too many lakes in FL/TX/AL/NY (are there lakes outside AL?), during the peak times. It does a great job of putting big fish on TV, but not sure it poses the challenge we used to see when they fished IL, MS, etc. When were the elites on Truman, Ross Barnett, a tough Mississippi R pool?

Those of us who fished during and after the dark days of the kill will almost come to blows when eating bass is suggested here. Table Rock is not an overpopulated farm pond. As has been said, there are plenty of good fish. If you are catching short K's move. It is possible to fish here for several days and hardly catch a K. Just have to be in different places. Have to fish differently (as in slower).

It took several years of unusually high water, and unusually successful spawns to produce all those fish. We are in a neat window that hopefully holds up for a while.

[dtrs5kprs]

When someone has it figured out they don't complain, when they haven't, they do - simple as that.

Yep. Instead they sing "Victory In Jesus" all day long.

[moguy1973]

Sounds like some of these "best of the best of the best" fishermen need to spend a little more time on White River lakes to try to figure things out.

If it was easy to catch them, we'd all be professional fishermen right?

[*T*]

Some folk"s oplnlon of Table Rock could be changed prettty quicky. At times this lake can have a mighty narrow pattern for bigger fish. Other times, not so much. Hope a few of the Elites bring in a 20+ pound bag today to make some others rethink their approach and opinion.

It is pure hell to have to weed through all those 14-1/2" fish. I realize this is the professional fisherman's livelyhood but I, for one, will never complain about short fish.

[laker67]

Well said there SRJ, and glad you said it. I am not a bass fisherman, but that is not the issue here. Representing the future of the sport is the same in all types of fishing. I am a trout fisherman, and we have this saying. "It is all about the chase and how you play the game." Catching fish, and enjoying the outdoors is a secondary bonus.