B.A.S.S. Rule Change

[abkeenan]

B.A.S.S. is now requiring mandatory NON-PUNCTURING culling clips on the Elite Circuit starting in 2018. This is GREAT to see as we had a little bit of a discussion about this a few months back when some of these more "fish friendly" culling tags were seen at this summers I-Cast show. Good to see that BASS is encouraging better treatment of their fish and hopefully that will trickle down to the regional and local level tournaments/clubs.

Now if they would just go to the MLF style of weigh and release that would be awesome. I actually think the best idea of a happy medium was they did at Sam Rayburn this past 2017 season. They only brought their biggest fish of the day to the stage . With so many tournaments and so much fishing pressure that some of these lakes get, such as Table Rock, protecting our resource is the name of the game.

Tip of the cap to B.A.S.S. for making advances in the preservation of the fish and our beloved sport.

[shrapnel]

Meh, much more change is needed.  It's a step in the right direction but not enough.  I would say a fish caught within 2 mi of PB2 on LOZ has a 70% chance of having a huge hole in it's lower jaw.  B.A.S.S doesn't need to change....tens of thousands of amateur tournaments need to change.

[abkeenan]

12 minutes ago, shrapnel said:

Meh, much more change is needed.  It's a step in the right direction but not enough.  I would say a fish caught within 2 mi of PB2 on LOZ has a 70% chance of having a huge hole in it's lower jaw.  B.A.S.S doesn't need to change....tens of thousands of amateur tournaments need to change.

Well, when the best of the best in the world of BASS fishing change....hopefully that is the idea....that as I mentioned before a trickle down effect will occur and will become the norm for the rest of us small-timers.

[shrapnel]

Just now, abkeenan said:

Well, when the best of the best in the world of BASS fishing change....hopefully that is the idea....that as I mentioned before a trickle down effect will occur and will become the norm for the rest of us small-timers.

Ya, let's hope setting a good example spreads.  OR, they could write the suggested program and procedures for tournament weigh ins for others to follow.  Bringing in just your biggest fish doesn't work...you still hauled a livewell full of fish around all day and then chose one at the end.

[denjac]

The yak have it figured out. Catch, measure, take picture on board and release. They then if they wish send picture to tournament judges and they put it in an online leaderboard. Total inches on best 5.

[moguy1973]

Lots of new rules going into effect.  They won't be able to use tunnel hull boats in opens anymore.  Also in both opens and the elite events they won't be able to get outside information either, and they are really cracking down on those that buy waypoints.

[Flysmallie]

On 10/18/2017 at 11:19 AM, shrapnel said:

you still hauled a livewell full of fish around all day and then chose one at the end.

Nope, just keep the biggest. Catch a bigger one and release the smaller one. 

 

[Old plug]

Some f the top pros have ALWAYS gotten info through their sponsors. boat dealers and such contact. I remamber clearly on LOZ one time (and i will not mention names) that this Texas pro took off from PB2 and went straight to a tiny point back in North Buck Creek that was not mapped.spent a couple hours there in practice.

Personally I would like to see only one change and that Is elimiations of Tournaments period.

[Seth]

2 hours ago, Old plug said:

Personally I would like to see only one change and that Is elimiations of Tournaments period.

There are a lot of businesses that depend on those tournament anglers outside of the summer months.

[fishinwrench]

2 hours ago, Flysmallie said:

Nope, just keep the biggest. Catch a bigger one and release the smaller one. 

 

Ok, but at the end of the day how many fish have you relocated ?    You aren't going to take the fish you release back to where it was caught. 

My only beef with tournaments these days is that they are removing all the keeper fish out of all the upper end areas, and shuffling the fish from everywhere else around.   You're not fishing for fish that have predictable habits anymore, you're basically fishing behind a stocking truck for fish that have no idea where they are at.