September 5Th 2014

[Champ188]

What part of "don't matter to me" was unclear to you guys? I repeat, I don't care. Anything that has to do with Beaver Lake is not going to get my hackles up. However, F&F frequently laments the lack of reports from the bass crowd. Right, wrong or indifferent, the bass guys in general aren't gonna contribute any info to a forum where bass are kept and cleaned.

[Feathers and Fins]

Actually THEY DO but will not do it on a forum and most I have spoke to have said they do not want ridicule or crap from fellow friends or club members. Now James can you explain that to me, I'm not being a smart butt here, I am asking an honest question as you are a bass fishermen. If as many people say kids are the future of our sport then why are Bass fishermen so much more concerned about their piers than helping others catch fish?

[Tanderson15]

I'm tired of bass guys who accidentally catch walleyes and keep and eat them. What's the difference whether it's bass or walleyes. Bass fisherman need to get off their high horses. Buy the way I have never eaten a bass.

[bluebasser86]

I'm tired of bass guys who accidentally catch walleyes and keep and eat them. What's the difference whether it's bass or walleyes. Bass fisherman need to get off their high horses. Buy the way I have never eaten a bass.

I'm a bass guy but I turn all of my big fish loose, walleye included. Admittedly, I probably would keep a bit bigger walleye than I would a bass, but they tend to have to be larger to keep in the lakes I fish. Honestly, I keep very few of the walleye or crappie that I catch accidentally unless I'm with someone who wants to eat them. I've eaten about every kind of fish in the area that grows big enough to eat, including some big bass. Big bass aren't fit for human consumption in my opinion. Maybe that's why it gets some folks so upset, they see them as poor table fare. Believe it or not, drum are better eating than a big bass, they eat almost nothing but craws and mussels and have a very firm, white fillet, somewhat similar to a big crappie I guess. All the bass bigger than about 18" I've eaten are terribly fishy or mossy tasting, regardless of species. Small bass are pretty good eating though and keeping some helps keep the balance of a lake. There's some local lakes I wish a bunch of people would start keeping the bass. They're 13-18 inch slot lakes with very few fish in the slot and almost no overs, but thousands of 12 inchers that eat almost anything.

[Champ188]

You nailed it, bluebasser. I also eat bass but only the smaller spots that are also prolific in Beaver. It's just hard for me to keep a 15-inch fish or larger. The spots do need thinning, which is the logic behind the AGFC removing the length limit on them at Beaver this year.

Scott, bass fishermen can be a tedious bunch for sure. I think the real issue is that Beaver is a tough nut to crack and guys just aren't willing to share what they've worked hard to figure out. The core group of Beaver bass guys are also a bit quirky and just as hard to figure out as the lake itself.

As I've done on occasion in the past, I will give you a bass report for Beaver whenever I can. I talk to someone from the bass crowd every day, and sometimes several. Don't mind passing on what I hear/experience for myself.