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Legal Fish? #12841239 07/25/18 03:09 PM
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sprigsss Offline OP
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I know there was a post a few weeks back about breaking off and then catching your line again and bringing in the fish.

Well I experienced a first last night in a working man's tournament.

We were catching fish in the trees with 5xds in 15 - 20 ft of water. Suddenly my crankbait stopped vibrating and could feel weight on the end so I set the hook. Felt like a really small fish. Instead I reeled in some braided line.

Not wanting to leave it in the water I started pulling in the line. Then it tightened up and was apparent the lure was snagged. I pulled on it as hard as I could and finally pulled the lure out.

So I continue pulling in all of the line with suddenly a fish nails the lure. Pulled in a 16.5" largemouth. My buddy went to put it in the livewell and I told him, nah, I didn't catch that fish on my rod. He thought I was crazy but wouldn't even consider weighing that fish.

Tourney paid 3 places, I was tied for 4th with 2.0 lbs. 3rd place was 2.6 lbs.

Had another that if I swiped the tail I could get him to touch 14", threw him back too. Both of those would have been good enough for 2nd and $190. I'd rather forfeit $190 than to be known as that guy that tried to weigh in a 13 15/16" fish or a questionable handlined fish.

No regrets, no matter others opinions, would do the same next time.

Moritz Chevrolet - 9101 Camp Bowie W Blvd, Fort Worth, TX - Monte Coon (817) 696-2003
Re: Legal Fish? [Re: sprigsss] #12841267 07/25/18 03:27 PM
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Fishinfellow Offline
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What do you mean if you "swiped" the tail. If the fish measures then it measures...


Thats my money fish
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Kris Winhold
Re: Legal Fish? [Re: sprigsss] #12841282 07/25/18 03:36 PM
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Ken A. Offline
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TPWD says:

1. Place the fish on its side with the jaw closed.
2. For soft-tailed fish, squeeze the tail fin together to obtain the maximum overall length.

Every tournament I've been in they swipe the tail to make it as long as possible. That works for you & against you. If your fish touches 24" at Fork then it is considered legal. If it touches 16" then it is considered a Slot Fish.

Also I will add this. The person measuring the fish can make it 1/8" longer or shorter at their discretion depending on how much force they use to jam the fish's nose against the measuring board stop. Been there & done that.

Last edited by Ken A.; 07/25/18 03:43 PM.


Re: Legal Fish? [Re: sprigsss] #12841286 07/25/18 03:39 PM
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Ken A. Offline
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I agree with you on not weighing the fish you hand-lined in. Most tourney rules state that a fish has to be caught on a rod & reel.



Re: Legal Fish? [Re: sprigsss] #12841290 07/25/18 03:42 PM
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That second one is the one that's not really clear - it definitely says to squeeze the tail but it doesn't say anything about fanning it or moving it - since that same reg says for hard tail fish to move the tail to get the max length it looks like for bass you can only squeeze the tail not fan it or move it to make it longer.

Guess is just falls to the tournament rules and tournament director to decide.

Re: Legal Fish? [Re: sprigsss] #12841292 07/25/18 03:43 PM
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sprigsss Offline OP
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Yes, not questioning the 14" fish, i know on my board it touched, but that was it, it touched. I was confident based on my golden rule it was legal.

Didnt want to show up to a working mans and have 1 person question the size or risk having it be a hair short on another board.

Im okay with that,dont need the money that bad, still just fishing for fun.

Just curious if anyone would have kept fish on the handlined rooster tail?

Re: Legal Fish? [Re: MikeW07] #12841297 07/25/18 03:45 PM
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Ken A. Offline
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Originally Posted By: MikeW07
That second one is the one that's not really clear - it definitely says to squeeze the tail but it doesn't say anything about fanning it or moving it - since that same reg says for hard tail fish to move the tail to get the max length it looks like for bass you can only squeeze the tail not fan it or move it to make it longer.

Guess is just falls to the tournament rules and tournament director to decide.


Agreed. But every event I have been to they swiped the tail back & forth to obtain maximum length.



Re: Legal Fish? [Re: sprigsss] #12841300 07/25/18 03:47 PM
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Ken A. Offline
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One more thing to add based on personal experience. The Check It Stick and the Pro Rule will measure differently. Find out what the organization uses and use that stick to measure for that event.



Re: Legal Fish? [Re: sprigsss] #12841303 07/25/18 03:50 PM
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Jarrett Latta Offline
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Originally Posted By: sprigsss
Yes, not questioning the 14" fish, i know on my board it touched, but that was it, it touched. I was confident based on my golden rule it was legal.

Didnt want to show up to a working mans and have 1 person question the size or risk having it be a hair short on another board.

Im okay with that,dont need the money that bad, still just fishing for fun.

Just curious if anyone would have kept fish on the handlined rooster tail?


Only if it would've been your line that you had broke off that day. Then I certainly would've weighed it in. I've broke off on a fish early, came back later and accidentally hung that same line in the trolling motor and it had a 5lber still on the end.

Re: Legal Fish? [Re: sprigsss] #12841309 07/25/18 03:52 PM
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bassmanrudy Offline
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Yeah the first scenario I prob wouldn't have kept it either but makes for a great story!!

The 2d one if it touches the line at all it's a keeper!!


...
Re: Legal Fish? [Re: Ken A.] #12841327 07/25/18 04:09 PM
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Barrett Offline
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Originally Posted By: Ken A.
One more thing to add based on personal experience. The Check It Stick and the Pro Rule will measure differently. Find out what the organization uses and use that stick to measure for that event.


had a buddy this year on fork loose 6K because his check it stick measured differently from another check it stick!

Re: Legal Fish? [Re: bassmanrudy] #12841328 07/25/18 04:10 PM
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Originally Posted By: bassmanrudy
Yeah the first scenario I prob wouldn't have kept it either but makes for a great story!!

The 2d one if it touches the line at all it's a keeper!!


this is pretty much where I stand



Re: Legal Fish? [Re: sprigsss] #12841339 07/25/18 04:23 PM
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sprigsss Offline OP
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I'm not fishing high dollar tournaments, I fish the tournaments I do for fun. If a fish I catch isn't clearly OVER 14", I will turn him loose.

If a competitor weighs in a fish that touches 14" and beats me, I will shake his hand and say congrats.

Re: Legal Fish? [Re: sprigsss] #12841354 07/25/18 04:33 PM
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Bobby Milam Offline
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Sounds like you did the right thing. Usually you hear of someone doing the total opposite in that situation and your reputation should be worth more than $190. thumb

Re: Legal Fish? [Re: sprigsss] #12841372 07/25/18 04:51 PM
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It you swipe the tale and it touches then I am weighin it in. The whole reason to enter a tournament is to win and NOT donate. he first fish goes back in.

Last edited by coachallentca; 07/26/18 12:36 AM.
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