I think the people that cant go because of the outrageous price are irritated with constant posts about the same topic. Lets be honest its same people going out there and catching monster fish out of a small body of water and the same people posting on the internet about it. Its not like this place is available for everyone even if you have the 1500 to throw on it.

I honestly think thats the only issue. Its obviously a great lake but even the above average individual cannot afford the trip. Yet they get to read about it on the internet often. (yea yea yea dont click on the thread I get it.)

The great thing about the TFF is everyone is entitled to their opinion if given in a reasonable manner.

That being said I dont have any problem with the lake or the people who get the opportunity to fish it. I'm still looking for my first DD so maybe I need to just Fork up some money and get it over with.

I find this interesting, and as a computer cowboy I can only tell you that I have had a 45 acre watershed lake in SE Kansas for over 40 years and can honestly say that I've never been skunked on it. You can't fish the lake without catching something over 6lb (this is Ks. not Tx). With only trolling motors we can find the fish wherever they are that particular day and have time enough to find something they will bite. If you have been skunked several times is it that there are very few fish (though large) in the pond? I sure can't think of any other reason.

I haven't been on the lake yet but from what others have posted, this thing is managed very hard to the point they take every small to medium size fish caught out of the lake. therefore I would think the overall numbers of fish in the lake would be lower than a normal one...it sounds like the ultimate quality over quantity.

I really could less if the fish came from private waters. I love seeing BIG BASS.. The guy has the money and the smarts to raise big bass.
I am not a hunter but I do not see a difference than paying someone to shoot big game on the land with an enclosed fence.
I just wish I could afford to go

Maybe we could get the government involved (Obama)to fund the less fortunate for a trip to the bell (Bass Stamps). We need to issue a federal small water bass tax on these fortunate anglers.....it's just not fair!

The management of this lake is like none other that I have ever heard of. The owner takes EVERY fish 7# and down out and either sells it or moves it to his brother's lake just down the road.

This lake is not kicking out Giant bass by accident. It has been managed since it was flooded in July of '99. He stocked Coppernose Bluegill and threadfin shad and nothing else for one year in order to let them get a foothold. The next year he added 250 pure Florida bass and that is all the bass he has ever stocked.

This is NOT a lake where you are going to catch high numbers of fish. It is being managed as a true trophy fishery with the purest strain of Florida bass. These fish are WAY susceptible to cold fronts and weird weather patterns.

If you have fish private lakes and never been skunked then you are just obviously superior to me and the others on there that have been. I have fished this lake 2 times this year and caught a grand total of FOUR FISH. One went 15.0 and one went 12.0. The other two fish were 4 pounders.

The owner of the lake is VERY selective about who he lets fish his place. He has that right. If you are one that feels like "I pay $1,500 to fish this exclusive private lake, I had darn well better catch a fish over TEN pounds" Move along. He has no interest in having you on his lake. If however you just love to fish and want the opportunity to catch a true fish of a lifetime REGARDLESS of where it was caught then by all means call him. Mike is a great guy and a hoot to fish with but he has no patience for pinheads. He reads every post on here about his lake and calls me laughing his butt off. Every time I fish with him he gets multiple calls from folks wanting to come fish his lake. He really doesn't want a lot of people fishing there. Ideally he wants to fish it about 2 to 3 times a week and no more.

I mean no offense to anyone by calling out the Keyboard Cowboys that get on here and troll around to see what kind of response they can get. It's all good guys.

It's just fishing and in the grand scheme of Life fishing is pretty insignificant.

Ken

I knew I liked you. I need to meet you face to face someday, just to say hey. Rock on Ken.

If he'll throw in a new bass boat he's got my vote!!

"If you have fish private lakes and never been skunked then you are just obviously superior to me and the others on there that have been."

"I mean no offense to anyone by calling out the Keyboard Cowboys that get on here and troll around to see what kind of response they can get. It's all good guys"


And yet you do. I asked a simple question, and know one is telling you they are superior, just stating facts. I'm sure that anyone who has fish for any length of time would not get skunked on the watershed lake I described. So I'm a "keyboard cowboy". If the answer is few fish than say so, you and fouz seem to have a problem when folks don't agree or have a different opinion. That's unfortunate. But it's all good guys.

Oh, and thanks ChrisG for an answer to the question.

No problem...Dannie tells me you are a good guy right after bashing me for not going to Falcon with him

I haven't been on the lake yet but from what others have posted, this thing is managed very hard to the point they take every small to medium size fish caught out of the lake. therefore I would think the overall numbers of fish in the lake would be lower than a normal one...it sounds like the ultimate quality over quantity.[/quote]

I love this thread. I am learning alot. But I have another stupid ? Chris How do they know that these small and medium size fish they cull out do not have the genetics to be the 15 or 20 lbers ? I understand the reasoning for keeping the population under control but the 15lbers they are catching now where once 3 or 4 lbers. I know they can clone just about anything now. I am not sure they (Camelot Bell) do it or if it is even possible but I assume you could pull a scale off the fish and then clone him or her ? Is this just me watching to much discovery channel or is this what is going on. Do bass eat each other or do they just compete for the same food ?
Thanks Rob

Is there a discount to fish his brothers lake? I'm not afraid to slum it;)

I love this thread. I am learning alot. But I have another stupid ? Chris How do they know that these small and medium size fish they cull out do not have the genetics to be the 15 or 20 lbers ? I understand the reasoning for keeping the population under control but the 15lbers they are catching now where once 3 or 4 lbers. I know they can clone just about anything now. I am not sure they (Camelot Bell) do it or if it is even possible but I assume you could pull a scale off the fish and then clone him or her ? Is this just me watching to much discovery channel or is this what is going on. Do bass eat each other or do they just compete for the same food ?
Thanks Rob [/quote]

Rob,

I will answer this...

The reason Mike Frazier built his lake up on a hillside is so no other lakes could flood and run off into his lake thereby introducing other fish into it. Thats what he means when he says nothing gets in and nothing gets out.

The smaller fish in his lake DO have the same genetics as the 15 pounders. It is all about the available food source to grow giant bass. If you have a bunch of 3-5 pounders swimming around eating baitfish then that will decrease the food source. It takes a LOT of bait for a bass to reach 15 pounds.

Everything has to be right to grow Super Bass. His goal is pure & simple: Grow World Class Bass. It has never been to have a fishery where you can pay to go catch a 100 bass a day for fun. There are lots of those.

I love this thread. I am learning alot. But I have another stupid ? Chris How do they know that these small and medium size fish they cull out do not have the genetics to be the 15 or 20 lbers ? I understand the reasoning for keeping the population under control but the 15lbers they are catching now where once 3 or 4 lbers. I know they can clone just about anything now. I am not sure they (Camelot Bell) do it or if it is even possible but I assume you could pull a scale off the fish and then clone him or her ? Is this just me watching to much discovery channel or is this what is going on. Do bass eat each other or do they just compete for the same food ?
Thanks Rob[/quote]

I'm no expert but have spent some time talking with TPWD about stock pond mgmt and it all depends on what you are after as the goal for the pond/lake. The theory would be that just about of the fish in this place have a very high chance of having the genetics capable of getting to a 15# fish given how detailed Mike appears to manage this place, but that doesn't change the fact you still have to manage it if the goal is for it to be a trophy lake and to me that means taking out fish that could grow to that size.

Please leave TFF moderation to the TFF moderators. If you have a question or comment concerning moderation, email one of us. And Jimmy, for the 15 thousandth time, you need to steer waaaaaaaaaaaay clear of topics like this.

We need to sit back and respectfully appreciate how an individual took his resources and built a dream lake for people to enjoy. Granted, many won't have either the resources or need to fish this lake. But the true fact of the matter is its there, it involves Bass fishing, and it's an extra OPTION for anglers to consider for enjoying a day on the water with friends and/or family.

this debate seems to happen every time a post is made about another giant being caught at this place...I'm just not going to feed the topic any longer. This place is a dream for many people and others just won't agree....its both the blessing and the curse of forums like this

Too bad that back in the 80's people were just happy to see big fish being caught anywhere in Texas, private or public.We have digressed a long way since then.Too bad.

all that is missing now if for Zona to film a show on this lake...that would be priceless

Exactly! It is a Sad Thing too....

A man catches the Freaking Fish of His Lifetime and these "Know-It-Alls" come on here and knock him for his accomplishments. Good Job Guys. You should be proud.

Unbelievable......

Well said Ken, and with that nice closing statement, I think it's time to move on.