I know it’s their right, but!!!

[Bigfishscott]

I really hate to see a 5lb and 6lb bass with the sides slicked off. I know it’s there right to do but I’d rather see a limit of 15 inchers first. That’s what I saw at the boat ramp Friday when I loaded up. These wonderful big bass in a pile of whites. I guess they had to keep them so the whites would taste better!! This is not a bash non catch and release guys post. I’ve ate bass too but I just don’t eat the big ones. If I do keep some to eat I only keep just legal fish and no more that we can eat in one setting.

[Seth]

I have that motto on all species of fish. Eat the smaller keepers and put back the big ones. I’ll be honest though, walleye and crappie usually don’t get the same treatment.

[Bigfishscott]

I’m not a very good Wally or crappie fisherman. I’ve caught some big ones of both. Normally I take pictures and turn them back too. A picture of a big fish last a life time.

[MOPanfisher]

Haha, a bass to make the whites taste better, maybe the other way around.

[MrGiggles]

I don't understand it either. Ate a 5.5lber out of a farm pond when I was younger, never again. 

The little ones eat better, IMO a 15" or smaller largemouth is right up there with crappie when fried.

[MickinMO]

36 minutes ago, MrGiggles said:

I don't understand it either. Ate a 5.5lber out of a farm pond when I was younger, never again. 

The little ones eat better, IMO a 15" or smaller largemouth is right up there with crappie when fried.

I like taking the barely legal bass and cutting the fillets into strips or little nuggets. 

[MoCarp]

3 hours ago, Bigfishscott said:

I really hate to see a 5lb and 6lb bass with the sides slicked off. 

meat fisherman are just that, to them fishing is for dinner 1st, thankfully a smaller and smaller % of anglers are like that anymore, putting a knife to those bass is why we don't see 13# bass in Missouri lakes, they can get that big here at least the fraction with the genes to do so, so much pressure on TR its a wonder and fish break 6# anymore

3 hours ago, Seth said:

I have that motto on all species of fish. Eat the smaller keepers and put back the big ones. I’ll be honest though, walleye and crappie usually don’t get the same treatment.

crappie live fast die young keeping them for the pot is fine a 4 year old crappie is on its last legs, I would like to see a 12" limit on crappie and drop the bag to 10, and like other states, make a total per boat as well.. that way dragging the 4 year olds to get an extra 15 would dodge stop

3 hours ago, Bigfishscott said:

I’m not a very good Wally or crappie fisherman. I’ve caught some big ones of both. Normally I take pictures and turn them back too. A picture of a big fish last a life time.

I release big walleyes you should see the look on someones face when you let a double digit one go in front of them!!!

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

This is.a sensitive subject, and I don't have the answer.  But, I do have a question.  How is it with less people keeping fish in general, we have fewer "big" fish?   I read/hear about the fish of yesteryear,  but have to realize most people then were catching for dinner, without any restrictions of method of catching.  They also had less management of water quality, fish habitat, etc.   Maybe there is a benefit to removing more fish, and letting the strong survive.  Just trying to think outside of the box.  

[MoCarp]

2 hours ago, Daryk Campbell Sr said:

How is it with less people keeping fish in general, we have fewer "big" fish?  

numbers of people fishing! and! with more people so those that do keep fish to eat...saw a post in another page of a guy holding a 4 pound smallmouth  he kept to eat, more people turn loose their catch these days but we have 200% people,

IMHO stress on bass from tourneys Bfing baby bass food makers has had an impact, I also think genetics are getting less and less for fish that can get huge...Truman back in the day had a 13# bass caught, so the genes are there to get huge, over time the fish that get huge get harvested for a mount or a meal...something that should get addressed 

[Bigfishscott]

Daryk, 

           I don’t believe there are less big fish in the lake. I believe the fish have change there patterns over the years. Increased fishing pressure is one reason. But I think the biggest reason is boating pressure in general has changed there patterns. The fish never get a break. Fish know where to go to get out of natural current “ wind, generation, or just inflow” but when there are unnatural turbulence 24-7 i feel these fish have changed their natural patterns because of that. There are less fish in the shallows these days than 20 years ago. And more fish that suspend in open water away from the bank. 20 years ago I never fished more than 15 foot deep. Now it’s not uncommon to fish 30ft before the thermocline sets up. When the Cline sets up these fish move just above it on a point, channel edge or such. I’ve caught fish suspended way out over points, channels.