That's a nice one for sure!!

Just a congrats to the angler is that needs to be said, Nice fish

Congrats to the angler. Whatever the fish weighed. Great fish of a lifetime, unless you are Curtis Norrow. Sorry TTU Fisherman. LOL.

Tight lines, keep safe and good luck.

Thad Rains

I'm jealous

If you truly love to fish and want to insure the future of the lake why would you kill such a big fish? Yes it his fish but why kill such a beautiful fish? Fished tournament there on Saturday and a guy on the crappie dock caught a 10.60 on a minnow fishing for crappie. He killed that fish too. What they don't realize is how long it takes to get to that level. Taking fish that size out of the lake harms it. Every one wonders why the spots are so abundant. It because idiots are killing fish they shouldn't.

Measure it take a pic and get a replica they look better and last longer than mounting the actual fish!
Killing fish that size makes me sick!
Don't be an idiot practice catch and release!

???? Idiots.... I caught an 8.5 on a crappie jig in December and had it mounted. Not a replica because I didn't want a plastic fish. I didn't realize I was an idiot... Guess the game warden should have wrote me a ticket. Or??? Anybody who thinks I'm an idiot can buy my fishing license for me every year and tell me what to do with legal bass.

Awesome fish by the way!

You obviously don't care about the lake and trying to build up the bigger fish. Cephusjoe. Do what you want it's just a shame to kill big double digit fish. Yes I would say you are an idiot for mounting a 8.5 lbs bass. You are exactly what I was talking about in the previous post.

Tap the brakes...

It's a legal fish for the fisherman to do what he or she's sees fit. No reason to twist off and start name calling.

I always enjoy how these big fish posts get out of hand. At the end of the day whoever and wherever the fish was caught, its a nice one. I have no reason to disagree.. I can assure you I will not be leaving Rayburn to go fish up that way.. Why all the conspiracy theorists? It is what it is... And if the dude didnt want to release it who gives a dam.. His fish, his choice...

It is within his rights to legally harvest what he wants. Not for us to judge

Bass Steaks on the grill choooweeee . A lil butter , lemon , and creole seasoning . Slap ya mama good

At least he's holding it right

I wish they would let you keep 5 spots under 18".

I release all largemouth. I've only caught 2 fish over 5 lbs. My biggest was 6 lbs 15 oz on Ivie last year. Took a couple pics and turned her loose. Pretty easy to release them.

BUT, if I went out to crappie fish and didn't have a tape and a scale with me and I caught a giant, possibly once in a lifetime fish, it would be a bit harder to turn it loose without knowing exactly how good it was.

I'm going to bet bass fisherman that practice catch and release kill more big fish than the crappie fisherman that keep an occasional big bass that they catch. Just my opinion I could be wrong.

There's two different views here. People that fish for food may look at catch and release bass fisherman as the problem. Is targeting bedding fish good for the bass? Just a question, I don't know either way. But I don't think any one group is doing more harm than the other. I think we should all just respect others that are abiding by the rules/regulations of the lake.

Jpool, you hurt my feelings