Many on here diss Bill Dance for his shows on a private lake. Why do some of those same folks think it is an accomplishment to land one on this lake?

My timer begins. (IBTL)

Pumps up their EGO and they don't have to tell people where they caught it.

Overcompensating!

Because it is an accomplishment to some people.

I have a question too.
Why do some people try to undermine what is an accomplishment to someone else?

Bill?

Why is it when anyone has a great day on the water, be private or public, some one has to start with this s***. A lot of us pay for guides to take us out, should we talk down to them/us too. There are times this site reminds me of a bunch of women (sorry ladies, had to do it)!!!!

How do you not consider catching a DD fish anywhere an accomplishment, regardless of where it is caught from?
Also, pretty sure all that have been caught from Camelot Bell have been given proper credit for coming from that world class fishery albeit a private lake.

No. Brandon.

You still have to have all the stars in alignment to get a DD in

It's not an everyday occurrence for anyone

Were very privileged here in Texas to even have the possibility of a DD in just about any lake

95% ofthe country the chances of someone landing a are slim if ever over a lifetime

For someone to catch a large bass from that lake you have to have the opportunity to do so. Do people feel the same about a guy who shoots a big B&C Buck from a high fenced ranch? Jealousy because you can not, or have not, fished the lake is pathetic. I am sure we all value catching a toad from a public waterway above those of a private/managed lake. However, we all would love the chance to catch a bass that size. Fish4Bass, we are all sure you would turn down the opprotunity if called tomorrow and offered the chance at no cost to you.

Some of you should get off Bills' tail. He catches one every show. Sometimes more than one.

Listen. In the morning you have to look yourself in the mirror. If you are satisfied with pulling your first ten from Camelot Bell then props to you.

Camelot is truly a wonder of the world as is Falcon. Every inch of both bodies are water are just pure quality.

Me personally now with the rates being $1500 a trip, I'd rather fish Falcon for two weeks then catch a monster at Bell. I went to Bell before the hype with Fouz when it was $600 a day and I thought that was expensive.

You get what you pay for though. It's top notch and the hype is real and well deserved.

Yes you still have to actually CATCH the fish but lets be real...fishing like that is the equivilient of high fenced hunting or fishing for the fish in an aquarium. But as Jersey said if your satisfied with it great for you.

Agree 100%. The only difference in Bill and some of these same people that have been on here talking smack about him is they pay Bill to fish instead of the other way around.

you hating on both of these dudes?

I approve this thread...........

Haters gonna hate! LOL!!!!

Really Dale? Let's see, Tffers Ken A. and Stax08 were out there just this past Saturday. They boated three fish, I believe. A 12, and two fours. And another bite was missed by the guide and owner of the 40 acre pond/lake plus Pat lost an ~ 8 at the boat. In 9 hours of fishing. By three guys that might can fish a little.

If you'd like to comment on high-fenced hunting, perhaps you should spend a credible amount of years behind and in front of those fences before you speak.? I'd guess from your comments that you haven't. Same for fishing.

Private lake fishing boasts a higher percentage of success than "high-fenced" hunting. My theory on why...pea-sized vs. pear-sized brains. Really.

All of that aside, when you get right down to it, the argument over this place or that is a matter of personal preference, and nothing more. Of course one's odds of a lifetime pb are much better on managed vs. unmanaged properties.

So what? Doesn't make the guy with a 78 Chevy living in a 63 trailer's 8 lber any less of an accomplishment than the guy who caught the 12 out of his own private lake, from his state-of-the-art bass boat, unless of course you are in it for the EGO.

Quit biiitttching about who, what, and where and start fishing. Spring is upon us and it's time to rejoice in a fresh, new year!

High fence fishing and hunting, oh so much fun.

So why do people go to fork......for the chance
If it wasn't there we would all fish Bridgeport to catch 10" fish

Last time I was at Fork nobody was charging me $1500 to fish. Plus that is where the state record was caught.

My only concern is WHY so many are SO worried about what everyone else is doing! Just enjoy life and be happy! Who cares where fish are caught! The angler still had to make them bite and land them after the fact. Too many negative Nancy's!

state record?

I tried to catch a DD out of the tank in LFM. Couldn't get that SOB to bite. Had the camera ready and everything

So here is my question for all that bash the Bell and other small private waters...If you got the call tomorrow to go for FREE would you pass???

Be honest...We are all on here for one reason, we LOVE the sport of bass fishing and enjoy the banter back in forth with our fellow man, who enjoy it as well.

Here's the deal boys...4 acres, 40 acres or 1400 acres, we all love to bass fish and we love the pursuit of the giants...If you had the shot you would go in a minute! So do us all favor and save the "I can’t believe you would pay that, or fish that aquarium" BS...It’s been done already.

Rank Water Body Weight (lb.) Length (in.) Date Angler State Record Water Record
1 Lake Fork 18.18 25.5 1/24/1992 Barry StClair X X
2 Lake Fork 17.67 27.5 11/26/1986 Mark Stevenson
3 Lake Fork 17.64 28 4/1/1989 Stan Moss
4 Lake Fork 17.63 26.25 8/29/1990 Jerry L. New
5 Lake Fork 17.29 2/14/1988 Larry Barnes
6 Lake Fork 17.08 25.5 2/26/1991 Troy Coates

State Record?

Reminds me of the undisputed best movie of all time....(Red Dawn)

Colonel: All that hate's gonna burn you up, kid.
Robert: It keeps me warm.

I think anyone that has a problem with camelot bell is jelous. \

If i had the money I would fish it. btw I plan on fishing it one day.

Couldnt have said it better myself!

somebody take me so I can feel the hate!

Now thats funny, I dont care who you are!

we should have a tff give away for a camelot bell trip. I bet some of the people who hate would be entering that drawing

If this were a 45 acre public lake kicking out giants I'll bet all the haters would be lined up at the ramp to get their shot at a giant. I still fish Fork and plenty of other public lakes every chance I get looking for a DD, when I catch one on a public lake will I feel more accomplished?? Sure. But if I go back to Camelot Belle and catch a DD I will still get the same rush of catching and landing a giant as I did on the public lake. I'm ok with it having an asterisk beside it, there is no drug that can compare to seeing a GIANT on the end of your line and fighting her to the boat. I dont care where it happens at thats a memory that will last a lifetime. I wish yall could have seen the look on my wifes face when she caught a 10 lbr there last November... that moment is worth a million dollars to me.

Dont get me wrong in no way do I hate the lake. Would it be awesome to catch a 10+ out of there? Yes! Would I feel more satisfied catching one from a public lake? Definitely. But that's just me. I feel as it took more stars to line up for me to catch one out of a public lake than if I had caught one at Camelot.

No difference between some of you guys that catch big fish either with a guide or on a guide's "spots" that you more than likely wouldn't have ever fished unless you PAID someone to take you fishing.

So if your on here belly-aching about private waters and you have hired a guide, you have no room to talk (IMHO)...

No hate here....good man upstairs knows I would love to fish it. Hope someday the ole man and I will get that chance, but at 1500 bucks it might not happen.

You know what... Some of you guys have gotten me to really sit down and reflect on what this sport is all about....

I mean really.... I have given it a lot of deep thought...













Yeah, I think I'll call Mike Frazier and book about TEN MORE TRIPS BETWEEN NOW AND APRIL!!!!!!

And as the old man used to say on the Bartles & James commercial, Thank you for your support!!

Ken

Colonel: All that hate is gonna burn you up, kid.

Robert: Do you think Mr. Frazier will take a check?

+++1000

Hey hey hey......

Those Bridgeport fish are 11" now!

I haven't met a puddle that I won't fish in. So I'm not picking a side.

BUT I do find it odd that Bill Dance gets such a hard time for his shows on private waters. I for one grew up watching Bill Dance fish and learned more from him than any other fisherman on TV in the 1980's.

It's entertainment...whether I'm watching it on tv, reading about it here on the TFF, or if I'm fishing my buddies pond catching 2 lbers and considering it a nice fish (since most are 10" long).

It's just fun....we only have a short time here on earth. FISH FISH FISH!

I don't understand what the whining is about. Everyone pays money to fish. Boats, rods, etc. aren't free. I fly from Pa twice a year to fish Fork with my brother. Been doin' it for 5 or 6 years. No DD yet. Maybe next year I'll save some of the $4 - $5k I spend for these trips and just fish the Bell. In my eyes it's no different than say goin' to Falcon or buying the new hot swimbaits, in that you are trying to increase your odds at a nice fish.

If I fish the Bell do I get a pass since I own a Pinto, I mean Nitro?

Its nothing like high fence hunting those are pets. That means every stock pond is considered the same way. Dumbest thing I ever seen.

a DD is a DD no matter where you catch it!
I have been blessed to catch 4 over 10 in my life
I must admit - I went to Mexico to catch my biggest - it was 13 she was big but it wasn't even that much fun fighting it - she came up, rolled on her side - and i reeled her in - she had just spawned so you could imagine how big she would have been but she didn't fight at all after the initial hit

The one DD I am most proud of is one I caught on a private/managed lake that I own property on - I used to sneak on it as a kid with one of my best friends that is now a game warden and now we both own property on it that gives us fishing rights and we both have and use input on the stocking and management of the lake

One was caught on the Lakes of Dansbury (which I fished as a guest) and one was caught at a farm pond when i was a teen - a pond that I used to stock for an old man that was a friend of mine

I am proud of all of them - but I have had some 7's and 8's that I am just as proud of.

My goal is to catch one on my hometown lake (Lake Gladewater)where I have been very active in the funding and restocking of the lake (for the last 5 years) - with pure Florida strain bass that should be getting close real soon - I will be most proud of that one when (not if) when that happens

My point is - everyone has an opinion on this topic- but if your goal is to catch a DD - then like many of the comments have said - then you'll need to go where there are a lot of them

I've seen a lot of posts about Falcon and Amistad lately - that's where there are a lot of them - does that cheapen it?

But remember to give back to your fisheries - wherever you like to fish - whether it be restocking or just releasing the big girls back into the lake so others can catch them too - and release them as well

Dottie, the world record bass from Lake Dixon in California was caught several times

Is it less an accomplishment for the person that caught her 2nd or 3rd from the person that caught her first?

Or is it more an accomplishment for the one that caught her right before the spawn when she was fattest and heaviest

You catch a DD - I'll give you a "high five" and I don't care where you catch her - just let her go and let's keep restocking programs going in both private and public lakes for both bass - AND DON'T FORGET SHAD AND OTHER FORAGE FISH!!!!

Man I'm not hating at all but I would much rather fish falcon/amistad for a few weeks and spend the same type of money. It seems there is more sport in larger open waters to me. Would I pass up a chance to go to CB if it were free? Hhhhheeeelllllll noo I wouldn't and be damn proud of any fish I caught out of that 40 acre "pond".

I've never caught a DD, and I dont care where I do. It could come from a 1 acre pond in a public park, but ya know what, it'll still put a big smile on my face . I'm not fishing to live up to anyone else's standard of "accomplishment" only my own.

Every lake, minus one, is man made in Texas....you dug a hole, filled it up with water and dumped some fish in it.

So where do you fish?

Why do you go to a grocery store to buy your food when you can rummage in the wild and do it? I would go at the drop of a hat. and gladly parade around pictures of the fish that were caught and not give a damn about what anybody else thought. Getting a fish to bite, hooking that fish and then landing it is why we go. doesnt matter to me. If youve ever fished in a tank/pond, your comment is invalid. Just my opinion.

hahaha Big Pimpin!!!!

Hey penetratem, you need to go troll someplce else. Don't like ponds huh?

I grew up fishing private ponds and small lakes on my family place and friends places. Just never paid to do it.

"Fake it until you make it"

The Pro staffer

Man, this is a really stupid debate, the DD bass are very few and they don't just grow like that in the wild, most of the big bass come out of lakes and ponds that have been stocked with the right genetics and have the right conditions for this fish.

So if you really look at it, whether is a lake or a pond the only difference I see is that some of this lakes are public and some are private.

I wouldn't care less where it comes from it is hard to hook and land one of this fish, to me that is an accomplishment in it's self

Just wish I had the money to go to camellot bell

I think everyone is calling the Original Poster a hater...he just asked a question. I didn't see the "Hate" in his post....

He seemed to be stating that Bill Dance fishes private waters to film shows and everyone hates him....we have seen the post go on every year on here.

He simply asked why the Bell was any different than what Bill Dance does. I think everyone jumped on the Hater Bandwagon without seeing his true meaning behind the post.

It makes me wonder too why Dance gets hated on but the Bell gets applauses on here?

this poor horse carcass has been pummeled into submission at least 13 times.

I agree. All that could be said has.