Spot length

[J-Doc]

The last time I fished a Central Pro-Am on Bull Shoals, which has been several years ago, spots were 12 inches except for the Missouri portion of the lake, where they had to be 15 inches. So if you caught sub-15 inch spots early in the day, you couldn't take them into Missouri without being in violation of state law.

Makes you ponder the logistics. One could catch a 12 in MO, drive back across the border and no one would know unless you got caught. Maybe not a high probability but I bet there were and are some that would cheat that way.

Talk about a tough lake......I've heard Bull Shoals can be brutal at times. I've yet to fish it. Hope to one day. My bud does every year and says it's always tough. Super clear water.

[Champ188]

The catch-all is that if you break a state law, you've broken tournament rules by default since every tournament worth fishing has a rule that requires you to follow all state and local laws.

So, catching and keeping a 12-inch fish on the Missouri side of Bull Shoals would be no different than setting out a 20-pound basket of bass, retrieving them and weighing them in. Either way, you've broken tournament rules.

Yes, cheaters are going to cheat and you're going to have some try to get by with it in tournaments. We can only hope that self-policing and polygraphs will deter most of it.

[J-Doc]

Yep.

One reason I don't do tournaments very much I do it for fun. Some do it for the money strictly and do whatever it takes including cheating.

Ah well. As you said. Some will try.

[ozarkgunner]

Length limit is only 12 inches on spots in missouri on bull shoals. I just looked it up on mdc website.

[Champ188]

Good to know, gunner. That will help clear up a lot of confusion out on the lake.

[abkeenan]

Length limit is only 12 inches on spots in missouri on bull shoals. I just looked it up on mdc website.

As long as it's under 21 the people from Arkansas can count that high....if they aren't wearing any shoes.

[Champ188]

What are these "shoes" of which you speak? I have brake shoes on my truck.

[Quillback]

As long as it's under 21 the people from Arkansas can count that high....if they aren't wearing any shoes.

I have to laugh at that. Yesterday I was coming through Pea Ridge on my way back home from fishing just as school was letting out at the middle school that is right by the road. Saw a gal walking on the sidewalk, I'm assuming she was there to pick up one of her kids, anyway she was barefoot.....and pregnant.

[abkeenan]

I have to laugh at that. Yesterday I was coming through Pea Ridge on my way back home from fishing just as school was letting out at the middle school that is right by the road. Saw a gal walking on the sidewalk, I'm assuming she was there to pick up one of her kids, anyway she was barefoot.....and pregnant.

Maybe a Tar Heel's fan?

[mojorig]

You all might be thinking of the spotted bass length limit for Table Rock. For Arkansas sections of Table Rock, spotted bass only have to be 12 inches to keep.