A friend of mine said his boss went to Tawokoni this past week and caught a big fish, he saw the picture, he can't send pictures on his phone so I will probably never see it, but he said they only had scales to 50# but they guessed it at 75-80#, now I know it's easy to put the Big-Eye on a fish, but my friend said it was big, anyhow, this fish didn't get weighed and certified or measured, or released, they took it home with them to eat, it is legal to take them home so really I can't complain too much, but I wish he would have put it back so someone else could have had a chance to catch it again!!!

That is a shame. One less for us this weekend.

It was probably a 50+. But yeah it would had been nice if they would have released it. Lol

That is a shame. Time to get on my soap box a little. It is the individuals right to take home any legal catch he or she might catch but just because it is legally correct does that make it morally? Think about this, with all the publicity that everyone INCLUDING MYSELF has put on lakes like Tawakoni it has taken it major beating. Yes alot on here I know practice CPR (Catch Photo and Release) put look at the 1000's of people who read our post. who we don't know, do they? The good and bad thing about the interenet is it puts out there the information on how to catch the great fish of these lakes and what is in there to catch. The forum has been great to everyone, from the seasoned anglers and guides to the novice on everyone getting a chance to learn some new technique to catch these truely remarkable fish. How to read sonar, drifting, bait etc... Unfortunately we do not emphasize enough on releasing these great creatures. Look at the boat shows every weekend on Tawakoni! Can't go anywhere without having 6-10 boats in site almost any day now. Can we all say we release all big fish? At this rate how long till the Big T comes the the average t? I have expressed my opinion to many of my close fishing friends, we need to take responsibility of what we have done to ourselves and to our lakes we love. We need to stress more the catch and release of these beautiful fish and not just the size and bragging of what we caught. Most people don't relize these fish are like trophy bucks, we need their genetics to continue the trophy size and growth. Now that taken just like any of gods creatures there are some other factors like food and such but there is more. Most people also don't relize the true impact that one large fish taken can make on a individual water. Lets look at this. If one 50-60 pound fish can increase by 20% (i think i read this somewhere) in the spawn with eggs that is 10-12 pounds of eggs! Tens of thousands of genetically proven beast eggs. Now lets look at the average 5-10 pound fish. 20% is is 1 to 2 pounds of I don't know genetics. It takes around 10 of these fish to equal one large blue and you get the same quality and quanity of fillet if not more and better from the 5-10 pounders. What makes more sense gentlemen and ladies? I ask my fellow fisherman on the forum, and all you readers to please practice CPR and let these gorgeous creatures be enjoyed by all including our children and grandchildren. It is your right to take any fish you want if it is legal.......but really should you?

well said !slot limits are needed I.M.O.

Agreed!!

Yes slots!

+1

That's why all of you guys that fish that lake should call and write you're local state rep. Ask them to go on your behalf and request TP&W put at maximum size on blues on twok. You can type on this forum till your fingers bleed but it's not doing one dad gum thing to help the situation. Call Austin and talk to the TP&W. Personally on my boat it's 10lbs and up go back. Spud is right about all the lurkers. We're all preaching to the choir here if this is where our gripe lays.

over 10 lbs throw it back.

if yaa got a full freezer throw'm back

DON'T abandon your trott lines either. - sorry nother topic

buck

I totally agree and second what y'all are saying. I caught the pending Lake Conroe record on 12/19/11 and have turned down opportunities to be interviewed by the local Conroe paper and the Houston Chronicle. When I was asked why I said it would not be in the best interest of the fish that I work so hard to protect. "What do you mean"? If I were to answer all the questions that you wanted to ask me it could spell a death sentence for the trophy blue catfish in the lake. The only accolade that I am interested in is the one registered with the state as the water body record for Lake Conroe and if I published the how to guide how many big blues would be eaten. That thought appalls me. I volunteered to be listed on the TPWD web site as a source of a certified scale for the lake last year as none of the marinas had a scale more that weighed more than twenty pounds. Guess what the first fish I weighed was? It was the current rod and reel record and that fish was brought to me dead. I was not happy at all about that. My fish was released unharmed and here is a link to the weighing and release if you care to see it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4l1jpi835...mp;feature=plcp Keep up the good work y'all are doing up there, I hope to make it to the Big T one day, John3:16

I agree for sure. It would be nice if who is holding a tournament could get a permit or writen permission to bring inn trouphys between the slot for way inn. I mean really this time of year they make it just fine. I dont remember one dieing last year. All the ones i saw swimmed off no problem.

According to TP&W there is 400lbs of catfish per acre in Tawakoni. Personally I dont keep anything over 20-25lbs. And that might be once or twice a year. But I dont think its healthy for a fishery to be all big fish either. I dont think it hurts to take a few of the big ones out. If your taking all the little eaters home to eat then what happens when all the big ones are gone? There were no little ones to grow into big ones so now you have a fishery with no big fish. Just food for your thoughts.

Heres some food for thought. CPR WORKS

LOL.

I agree on cpr to a point to help the population. But i also agree there needs to be some culling of fish especially fish with obvious defects regardless of size as well to help the population. Theres proof to support both sides. I usually throw them all back but last week i kept a dozen OVER 10 lbs and i know they are in a mans freezer and he didnt waste it. There needs to be checks and balances and i leave that up to TPWD to decide, its not my job. I rather just go fish and worry bout my ownself and not others or judge other catfisherman. Now if i see some illegal activity i probably call the warden and let him handle it. Again, not my job.

HERES some more food for thought!

Everyone that post every single fish they catch from Tawakoni is to blame for all the fishing pressure! So it's kinda hard to sit on this forum and preach CPR when you bring all this pressure to the lakes knowing that most people arent gonna realese the big fish....sorry thats my 2 cents! Post now CRY LATER HAHAHAHA

Tournaments may be one thing you have to sacrifice for the good of the fishery if you really care for it. You can't have it both ways.

Let's say I hired a guide and he put me on a 50lb fish. He wants me to CPR but I want to take it home to eat, which is legal. What happens now?

That would be discussed before the trip even begins!

Most guides already have it on their site what they will harvest. My site has it and as well on your release forms. I know atleast a dozen guides and all of them have it clearly posted on theirs also.

Right now admitedly TP&W just doesn't understand the significance of the harvest or lack of regarding trophy bluecats. Its with all the attention that the sport has got in the last couple years that has caught the attention of the authorities to see in fact "if" a slot would help the fishery. I have spoke at length w/ biologist overseeing the slot project.

With this being said, its my opinion that the lack of the slot on Tawaknoi is proof enough as to what happens to a lake that is fished as often as Tawok is. Most of us on this forum don't keep large fish. However, consider yourself the minority. I consider myself a man on a mission to help others understand the need of larger fish in the lake and based on the hundreds of catfishermen I have spoke to either on the internet or in person, most keep larger fish and it shows.

Not to be selfish in the matter, but i'm looking out for my sons generation. And, to see how potentially dangerous the over harvest of large fish can be, you needed to have activily fished Tawok back 5 - 10 years ago and compare it to today.

TP&W has done a fantastic job on the largemouth bass fishery in Texas. Better yet, the bass fishing community has done a fantastic job on appropritate harvest of larger fish...and it shows in our waters.

Hope we all can do the same.

I totally agree! This is one thing we can learn from the bass fisherman.

Less competition for food means more food which will result in bigger fish. Just my opinion.

You'd be swimming. Just Sayin

You have a great point. Plain and simple, the fault would fall on the guides shoulder. If you are on a trophy trip, then it would be the guides responsibility to help you understand the need for a fish like that in the lake. Hopefully he would do it in a way that would help you understand and agree with what he is doing.

Dont you love these kinds of threads.

I think every thing over 10lb should be thrown back. We had the same thing happen to us on Lewisville a couple weeks ago. My scale only goes up to 50lb took a pic on the phone and threw it back for somebody else to enjoy.

I am not a real big fan of slots for Bass fishing because most people do not keep bass anyways. Fork would be much better if everytime people went they would keep their 5 unders. When I started fishing T-wok catching 50 to 70 fish a day was the norm. Not only have the big fish numbers went down the overall numbers of eaters have as well. The additional removal of the big fish do to the popularity is taking out the big reproducers and that maybe one reason numbers of eaters is down in the lake to go along with people just keeping fish to eat . Now with fishing pressure the bigger fish will get conditioned to avoid areas with boats or not feed when boats are around this is a natural adaptation that animals will make. Just like the sound of the water hose being turned on at a fish cleaning station will call in the fish boat noise, anchor noise and just the waves hitting against the boat will condition the big fish that have been around long enough to have been caught several times to learn not to feed. Studies have been done with many animals and it does not take them long to learn these conditioned responses to negitive and positive stimulus. Creel studies done with nets or by shocking may or may not represent the average quality of fishing on a giving lake. I have fished a bank for on hour one night on Texoma without a bite and fishing with one of the premier bass Pros out there today. Then a shocking boat with the State of Oklahoma showed up to do a creel study. In one run up on the bank in an area no wider than what the boat could shock. Shocked up a freaking huge number of giant small mouth and Black Bass exactly in the area we had tried with numerous baits.
With the added pressure on the lake the result of the numbers of big fish being caught and released it is quite possible that many of these fish are not feeding when your boat is around that added with the ones being kept may or may not be causing the fishing to not be what it once was. If the State has done a recent creel survey that says the numbers of catfish are still there then the pressure is more to blame than anything and we as fisherman have to come up with a better mouse trap to get them to feed.
If the state has not done a recent creel survey then we should see if the state can do one to get an accurate accounting before we push for a slot or limits that may actually hurt the fishery instead of helping it.

Spud thanks for your post maybe it will open a few eyes.
R.Chambers has went way down the past 10 years from over harvest.
So has Waco.Will Tawokoni be next on the list.
Let your voice be heard in Austin.

and yet all of you still dont see the big picture its not the guys legally harvesting fish that ruin a fishery its those that harvest illegally and keep more than their legal limit

when was the last time you were checked by a game warden on twak?
how many times have you seen a warden on twak?

i've fished twak for over 3 years and have never once seen a game warden until the lake actually starts getting patrolled atleast on weekends this will still continue to happen no matter what the law states

I think your meat haulers are the main problem. My buddy David was down there last year and a couple of guys brought frezzers with them and jugged all weekend and only kept big fish. For the most part the average Joe pole fisher isn't going to catch the numbers of big ones or have the equipment required to do so and for the most part the ones that do are the CPR guys.

and i would almost bet if the warden would have checked them they would have gotten busted you are only allowed 2 limits of fish in your possession including at your residence per state law so if they are filling their freezers they would have been over possession limits

the BS is deep in here today ... can somebody hand me a tissue sniff sniff

Your statement is partially incorrect:

Copied form the Texas parks and wildlife website:
Possession Limit: For all wildlife resources taken for personal consumption and for which there is a possession limit, the possession limit shall not apply after the wildlife resource has reached the possessor's permanent residence and is finally processed.

No but I am sure we can get you some more sand to hide your head in!LOL Glad to see your still able to have your sense of humor and bring it to the discussion.

The first time I was on the main lake it Tawokoni, Tom & I had been fishing up in oak cove and launched the boat out of cedar cove, when we headed back toward the ramp there was about 100 orange jugs out in cedar cove, Tom said since they were orange they were from a comercial fisherman, wow, that's scarey to me, with a 100 jugs baited out all the time, they could really make a dent in a lake, and I bet they don't turn everything over 10 lbs back either!!!

agree with everyone on this topic i dislike how people keep those big ones we need to think of something we can do!!

I think the guys were leagle it's that they were on some big fish and they kept only big ones. Maybe my buddy David will chime in, but from what he told me they were monsters.

sorry about that i must have overlooked that one

When Catfishing with me I respectfully request that any catfish over 10 lbs in weight be released for the following reason:
This type of fish is considered a breeder, which is a female that ensures our fish population for many years into the future. In the event that your fish qualifies as a lake record, we will have it weight certified and provide all the documentation to have your trophy registered with the Texas Parks And Wildlife Department, provided you agree to release the fish back into the wild. You will also receive beautiful photos of you with your trophy fish so that you will always remember your experience

I remember when Lake Worth had huge cats stacked up on the dam like a cord of fire wood.

If comercial fisherman are on Tawok its just a matter of time.

Someone mentioned that the fish counts from shocking were still high, but the fish weren't biting when certain conditions, like a boat motor running, were present. He suggests that the cause of this is conditioned response. I'm not a biologist and let the scientist debate the benefits of harvesting or CPR, but if the bite dropping is the result of conditioned response, then CPR is the cause not the cure. The only fish that have been conditioned to not bite under the given circumstances would be those that have survived the unpleasant results of feeding while the conditions were present. The only ones that have done that are the ones that have been caught and released.

Who in their right mind fishes with the motor on?
Please let the big fish go!!!!!

here is a question that a biologist will probably need to answer. most lakes in north and east texas are now drained almost every year to very low levels by the cities that get water out of them. are these lakes even capable of growing as many big fish as they used to before the water was sucked out of them by so many? it may not be so much of a fishing question as it is a water quality and amount of water question.

I was told by a guy who stocks ponds for a living that X amount of water is only capable to sustain X amount of pounds of fish living in that water. Basically he said that once you reach this point, theoretically you have maxed out on the growth of your fish. His answer was to take out the bigger fish so the smaller fish would be able to grow more.

I realize a pond and a lake are two completely different situations, but there could be some logic to what he says. Me personally, if I catch a big catfish over about 15 lbs. I will let it go after a few pics. The exceptions being if I hook it in the gills. Smaller ones head to the dinner table!

What everyone needs to do is call Kevin Storey (903-593-5077). He is the biologist for TPWD that is in charge of Tawakoni. When I started calling him years ago he said I was the only one who ever called him and expressed concern over the amount of catfish being taken out of Tawakoni. The last 3 or 4 years he has had some other people comment on the subject to him. The survey that is posted on a different thread was only taken at certain boat ramps at specific times in the middle of the day. He would not let me take the survey over the phone. I appreciate Spud and Salsa's comments on this topic very much. Salsa I too have for years taken it upon myself to try and protect the wonderful Lake Tawakoni. I have had heated conversations with people that have taken 70+ flatheads and 60+ blues out of Tawakoni on the same weekend. I agree that if you had fished this lake 5-10 years ago, fish were much easier to catch and there was only one catfish guide on the lake. I drive from Austin to fish Tawakoni about 12-15 days a year, but I have never posted a single fish on here that I have caught because of all the attention the lake gets already. I have learned over the years that fishing means more to me than all but a select few. So, I know that I can't expect most people to want to protect this great resource for the next generation to the extent that I do. But, is it too much to ask for one lake in the entire state of Texas to be protected and managed for tropy catfish?

Since you asked for my opinion I will give it .

Years ago if you were a cat-fisherman you were also a trot liner. If you were a trot liner, you kept every fish you caught. If you were good at running a trot line, you could catch hundreds of pounds per set. Jug lines became more popular and the total number of hooks in the water decreased. Jug lines are easier to run than a trot line so more people did it. At the same time the CPR mentality of bass fishing started creeping into the cat fish world. Sites like this started popping up and people started getting better at catching them on rod and reel. Tournaments became more popular and the sport became more high profile.

At the end of the day. I think people are better at catching them but compared to the old days of trot lining they catch and keep fewer fish. Change nothing, the lakes are taking care of themselves..

Lard goes well with Big Yellar-Cats.
Turn the Big Blues over 15lbs lose. Channels over 5, lbs as well.

depends on what lake and the fishing pressure it receives. Twok is so well known that it could easily be fished out as fishing pressure increases. personally, I believe in releasing >10lbs. I know a guy who keeps everything and kept a 52lber- caught from the bank and he kept and ate it. Said it tasted like leather. what a waste!

If anyone was genuinely concerned about fish populations they should first look to the issuance of $132 Fresh Water Guide Licenses. Fishing guides clearly put the majority of pressure on fish populations and dont pay their fair share for farming our public fisheries. Pretend all you want, but many guides are filling this forum with protest because these are "their trophy fish" and want to use them to stir up interest from clients. CPR is just marketing..not conservation. True conservation would ban commercial harvesting of our public lakes. And for all those that want more government regulation, be sure to vote democrat this year.... it's their moto dont forget.

Mr. RecFisher,

Welcome to the forum and what a nice first post. Thank you for your opinion.

I'm not a fan of keeping fish. I maybe kept 10 freshwater fish all of last year.

However at the same time I will never criticize a licensed fisherman for harvesting legal game.

If you have some beef then ask for stricter regulations, don't harass people who are keeping legal game.

Also agree with the guides thing. The guides are easily responsible for majority of the fishing pressure.

+1

Very well said and welcome to the forum!

OK, I'm just trying to figure out who's permission I need to ask before I keep a fish I catch legally. Oh and what size too? 5lb? 10 lb? Is it ok if it's between 9.5 lb and 45 lb? There's more opinions on here than Carter's got little Liver pills and not much science to back it up. Guides have been blamed, commercial fishing, jug liners and everyone but the little kid on the bank with a cane pole. I'm sure he's next.
Oh yeah, if your MY guide and I catch a legal fish of whatever species and I want to keep it... I'm keep it thank you.

Keep fighting that good fight.

Spud, let me also say i absolutely love guided fishing trips. Put you right on the fish and dont have to clean the boat after we are done. I learned all i know about striper fishing from guided tours on Texoma. Im not against fishing guides on our public lakes, but i am against commercial interests unduely influencing TPWD regulations.

I dont care what anyone says, after i get done cooking at 35 lb catfish... it tastes like cornmeal and hotsauce to me!

after i get done cooking at 35 lb catfish... it tastes like cornmeal and hotsauce to me!
-100

all of you ecologists that know more than tpwd.. sure do make me laugh,i think they have been doing a damn fine job..but i am sure all of y'all would do so much better

Hey Rec,

No offense was taken personally. Anyone who knows me knows that. I believe in free speech and everyone's opinion and that's why I've served and fought for it. I believe in selected harvest, and too a point guides can put a lot of pressure on a lake or a particular species of fish. Especially when their are a lot of guides on a particular body of water or it's a small body lake. That is why most if not nearly all guides push for strict regulations. We all know most weekend anglers don't fish as much as the guides do, all I was saying in my original post is with this day and age of internet know how and forums like this EVERYONE'S SUCCESS is increased, guides included. We are all learning more from each other and at a faster rate. Plus technology has increased so much in just the past few years. Harvest rates are increasing also, unfortunately the reproduction rates of fish do not. I look at it like this, if you go into a high fenced hunting area with great genetics, good food source with a large and diversified herd of deer with trophies and culls alike and now introduce a larger number of seasoned hunters with better weapons, better ammo and etc..... And with no restraint from them would not take long to for an impact to show up. Deer take what......5-8 years to be considered mature or a true mature trophy? Blue cats are estimated to live 3 times as long (20-30 years) therefore would take a lot longer to rebound a fishery. Yet there is very strict regulations on deer. Remember gentleman, these fish can't jump a fence and go to the next lake. I know people keep large fish, and to an point that is good for a fishery, but if all guides let all their clients keep big fish how long would it take to impact a lake? I know of at least 10 cat guides on Twok, all are great fishermen, know their stuff and all will state that Twok is not the lake of past years, not even 2 years ago! My OPINION was we need to all think how much impact we have and leave some for future generations to enjoy. Was not wanting to start a debate of upset anyone. :-)

What Spud said +1. Pressure has increased, no doubt about it. Everyone do as he/she pleases within the law. However, we all need to keep in mind, our kids may want their kids to catch a big ole whatever one day. Hopefully, there'll be some big 'uns there.

+1000000

When i see people wagging their fingers it always gives me pause. Postings calling for anglers to alert TPWD officials to greivous acts of harvesting by recreational anglers of "majestic fish" will make a long timer reader / first time poster jump on the forum. If anyone is concerned about fishery conservation, take a look red snapper harvests in the Gulf of Mexico by commercial fin fishermen. The species has been so overly fished that recreational anglers are looking at such low limits that its not worth $3.25 a gallon to ride to the rigs. Commercial fishermen are maxing out their quotas while rec-fishers are lagging behind with only 65% of quota taken. Clearly commercial harvesting is what potentially endangers fish populations, not the actions of recreational fishermen. Anglers, look for the wolf in sheep's clothing!!

well instead of writing on here why dont cant we just write this to the state rep instead of wasting time on here

gotta love a demagogue

what a waste

flavor i ment

Had to do a paper in school today on a conflict and decided to write about this and send to my state rep and TP&W

Harvesting Over-Sized Catfish
Lake Tawakoni located in East Texas is recognized as the Catfish Capital Lake. There has been a dispute going on with the fisherman who fish at Lake Tawakoni for catfish. The dispute of harvesting over-sized catfish has been going on for awhile especially on the Texas Fishing Forum online. Some are asking for TP&W to put a maximum size slot on blue catfish.
CPR known as Catch, Photo, and Release is what many of the Fishermen say today on fish 15lbs or higher. I see that TP&W has done a good job on the largemouth bass fishery, why can’t they do the same with the catfish. In recent studies catfish are the species group accounted for 44.6% of directed angler effort on Lake Tawakoni.
Some cat fishermen including myself encourage people to harvest the smaller fish. Eating the smaller fish to me taste much better because they’re fresh, as the bigger ones taste a little rubbery. Harvesting the bigger fish put an impact on the fishery, most catfish guides and fisherman that have fished Tawakoni in the past will say that fishing isn’t the same as it used to be.
Trophy catfish (20lbs or larger) take a while to get that big I’m only 15 and I’m hoping when I have kids and so are others that there will still be a lot of trophy catfish in the lake. Another thing is commercial fishing if you go out on Lake Tawakoni you will see jug lines everywhere. One person averages at least 15jugs but I even see up to 32. Same for trotlines, but the thing is some people abandon theirs or forget about them killing hundreds of fish.
What I am asking, so are many other people is that TP&W put a slot limit on blue catfish at Lake Tawakoni. One person on the forum stated, “Not to be selfish in the matter, but I’m looking out for my sons generation. And, to see how potentially dangerous the over harvest of large fish can be, you needed to have actively fished Twok back 5 - 10 years ago and compare it to today.”

Fish probably wasn't 75+. First time I saw a 33 I was like holy sh**!!! Now I look at them differently. It's just a matter of perspective/experience.

I don't know about anyone else, but, when I was born, I went home from the hospital to Lake Tawakoni. My father hunted the river bottoms of this area before Lake Tawakoni was built. He knew where all the deep holes were, which, previously, were stock tanks and ponds. I grew up on Lake Tawakoni, fished Lake Tawakoni and hunted Lake Tawakoni. I helped rebuild the dam on Lake Tawakoni. I know it is a recreational lake, both for fishing and other water sports, but, I have watched for years as more and more people come to our lake by way of a fishing guide.
Now understand, I don't hold anything against a man who is able to do what he loves for a living, but, when people use a guide service, they are looking for fish, a lot of them and the bigger the better. Then you have the commercial fishermen. Flat out, this should not be allowed. You want to harvest catfish for market, buy some land, dig some ponds and sell YOUR fish, not OUR fish.
I have participated in keeping large fish, 60+ pounds. Keeping fish that big doesn't really interest me any more, but, if I do keep them, I know how to cook them and they are as good as a 5-10 pounder. I was raised on catfish, growing up, we would eat fish at least three times a week. I love catfish, it is my favorite fish to catch and to eat.
I don't really agree with a slot, it might be a good thing for the lake and the fish population,especially where guiding and commercial fishing are concerned (as long as people realize that fish population is greatly affected by natural factors also). As far as I am concerned, guiding is a type of commercial fishing.
It is hard for me to say a slot is what we need, it might not be bad idea, but, it would be hard to throw one back, just because it was 11 pounds, instead of 10.

I have enjoyed this forum and don't usually have anything to say, but, first post or not, I had to say it.