Texas Fishing Forum

Catching small bass

Posted By: Bassin Fever

Catching small bass - 01/03/17 03:51 AM

The state stocked Lake Champion near Colorado City with hundreds of thousands of Small black bass. We've caught hundreds on a hook with a finesse worm. I was told by a guy that we shouldn't be fishing because those small ones get their mouth torn up and would pronbly die. I came back with that their mouth will heal. I also reminded him he used to be in our bass club and we caught and released after weigh in 14" bass and over many times and some had to be the same ones over time. I asked did you ever see old holes where you caught them? I'm thinking those mouths heal, hope this is right.
Anyone know how long it takes or if we are doing wrong by catching those little ones?
I know in bigger lakes I've culled many smaller legal fish for bigger ones many times. Just wondering.
Posted By: Phototex

Re: Catching small bass - 01/03/17 07:09 AM

Keep catching those little ones. Even if all the ones hooked end up dying, it provides more forage for the bigger ones.
Posted By: Bobby Milam

Re: Catching small bass - 01/03/17 08:56 AM

The small holes scar over. Ripping hooks and tearing big holes, I've seen not heal. Happens more on tiny bass than large ones. Bass kind of suck their food into their mouth so I could see an argument that putting a large tear would impede their ability to feed as normal.

Posted By: Curtbass

Re: Catching small bass - 01/03/17 09:19 AM

As long as you bought a license to fish & are releasing under legal sized fish-you aren't doing anything wrong. You're legally fishing. It's your choice. How small are these fish? If they're 10" they're probably going to be just fine unless you're literally rippin their lips out. When a bass feeds it opens its mouth as it flares its gills , rapidly ingesting water (& prey) into the mouth. Its very fast. Like less time than a blink of the eye. When the skin around the bone & cartilage has a hole in it ,then reduced inflow makes the bass a less efficient predator, until it heals. If large tears (in proportion to size of bass) dont heal,then that fish may die or stress because of low food intake. You'd be surprised how faat a hole on a bass' lip will heal up. They're pretty resilient fish. If TPWD stocked hundreds of thousands i doubt you can make a dent in the population with a rod & reel.
I'd tell him to mind his own business & leave you alone.
Posted By: varnoldi

Re: Catching small bass - 01/03/17 08:10 PM

its illegal to keep them and your not going to change lakes because they stocked that one. Keep on keeping on.
Posted By: Jeezy

Re: Catching small bass - 01/03/17 08:18 PM

I set the hook on one on Rayburn once and pulled its bottom lip in on my hook. Felt terrible about it. I think I set the hook too hard.
© 2024 Texas Fishing Forum