Buster's Big Walleye Had A Gut Full Of Bass

[Feathers and Fins]

Randy you bring up something I hear and have heard so many times. I can honestly say I have never eaten a fish that was (X) size that was better or worse than the same species of (Y) size. I hear people all the time say a 18 to 24’’ striper is the best size to eat yet I will take a 20 plus fish day in day out and there is much more meat and thicker so I can do more with it.

I can’t tell you how many times I have hear that Catfish and Halibut are bottom feeders and not worth eating or that this duck or that duck is better eating. To me it is in the care of the game and the person cooking its culinary preparation abilities.

That said the one exception I put to that rule is saltwater reef fish, but that is because of the high risk for Ciguatera potential.

[dtrs5kprs]

And the take home message remains...Buster has been on them for a while now.

[kwall]

Buster , that's one fine looking walleye and nice to see the picture of it -- definatly a fish to be proud of

As for Bass fisherman : its amazing to me how bass fisherman justifiy in there minds that walleye are only for eating and bass are for catching and that a person should be "burned at the steak" for keeping bass --- I'm here to say , it's ok to throw back keeper walleye and keep just as tastey a keeper bass once in a while -- the chunked up batter fried tourney winning bass are the tastiest in my book -- keep what ya' want the regs are what they are for a reason

[Bill Babler]

Ya, I don't think that one was released with the dead bass lying in the picture below on a filleting board.

Here again and we have broached this topic many, many times, as with Table Rock the recruitment on Bull Shoals is extremely poor. It is stocked as a put and take fishery once the fish have obtained a legal length. Better not be keeping 16 and 17 inch walleye there.

You take the trout stocking away from Taneycomo and the trout are no more. You take the walleye stocking away from Bull and it would not take long to get the same result.

[Bill Babler]

Buster , that's one fine looking walleye and nice to see the picture of it -- definatly a fish to be proud of

As for Bass fisherman : its amazing to me how bass fisherman justifiy in there minds that walleye are only for eating and bass are for catching and that a person should be "burned at the steak" for keeping bass --- I'm here to say , it's ok to throw back keeper walleye and keep just as tastey a keeper bass once in a while -- the chunked up batter fried tourney winning bass are the tastiest in my book -- keep what ya' want the regs are what they are for a reason

Again lets put this in perspective. Walleye are stocked for harvest in Bull Shoals and Table Rock. Just as trout are stocked in Taneycomo. They do not reproduce in harvestable numbers.

BASS ARE NOT STOCKED. They can reproduce in sustainable numbers as long as "conservation" minded fishermen catch and release the majority of what they hook. Conservation means wise use of. Wise being the key words here. They are also pursued at a rate of over a 1000 to one in comparison to walleye in our Midwest, White River impoundments.

Lets not try and stir the pot. Lots of folks on this board catch and release large walleye for the reason that the only way they are going to get to be trophy size is to not be harvested. As far a proliferation of the population on Bull and TR. do to releasing, that is not an issue with the walleye.

[Ham]

Lol- Save a bass, Eat a walleye.

It's nice when we can all agree on something.

My take home message is "Follow the regs and trust the AGFC or MDC to manage the resource."

I keep the walleye I catch when they are legal length. I do release them > 26 inches. Not being tender hearted, just don't like to deal with them past that length. I'm NOT going to keep fish for other people ; catch your own.

I keep crappie from 10-13 inches. I release my crappie over 13 inches because I want to.

I keep Spotted Bass and Largemouth when they are legal and when I want to, the vast majority of the time, I don't feel like it. I also selectively harvest. My larger bass are going to be released. I don't ever see me keeping Bass > 18 inches in length and I'd rather be somewhere that allows LMB to be kept from 12-14 inches.

I don't keep Smallies to eat EVER. Not going to allow it in my boat either. All smallies caught in my boat are released. IF you want to keep smallies, fish with someone else.

Catfish and other panfish are just fine to eat. I don't usually target them for consumption because I didn't do that growing up.

[Quillback]

I'm a bass fisherman and I usually release walleye. I like fried fish, but not 5 times a week. I just hope the folks out there who fill the freezer with fillets eat them before they get freezer burn.

And if you want fish to eat, these big lakes have an over abundance of big bluegill, they are easy to catch and good to eat. Never understood why those who fish for food don't go after those gills.

[ollie]

Very nice pig indeed! That is a great Walleye!!

[Jeff Olson]

Good and interesting comments! Bill, or anyone else, I am just curious, has the MDC or AGFC given any natural reproduction percentages on the walleye in Bull Shoals? I know conditions vary yearly, but just a rough average. Also, any other info on the comment of the 15 to 20 inch class being the best spawners? I did not know that. Thanks.

[vonreed]

I would guess that the reason the 15-20 inch walleye are the best spawners has a lot to do with that they have a LOT bigger portion of the population as opposed to the bigger walleye, and maybe some has to do with age of the fish.