If i caught it in a tournament i definitely would weigh it in. If it got questioned, id gladly take a polygraph. I caught the fish legally. What someone chose to do in the past has nothing to do with me

Why would anybody fish a tournament that tempted them to make a fish SHORTER than it actually is?

Why would anybody fish a tournament that tempted them to make a fish SHORTER than it actually is?

They're talking specifically about tournaments on Lake Fork (or other lakes) where there's a 16"-24" slot limit. You can't keep a fish between 16"-24". They'll trim the tail on a 16.5" fish so that they can try to have a big under.

They're talking specifically about tournaments on Lake Fork (or other lakes) where there's a 16"-24" slot limit. You can't keep a fish between 16"-24". They'll trim the tail on a 16.5" fish so that they can try to have a big under.

Not to speak for Richard, but he's making a statement more than asking a question.
I don't get it either. Tournaments on a lake where you are limited to catching the biggest small fish. It's a strange concept and not good for or what Lake Fork is all about.

Obviously, several have mis-interpreted my post.
I understand the slot limit.
The question is, "why is there a slot limit on a particular lake?"
Answer, " this particular lake has shown trophy potential".
Just maybe, the slot limit was proposed to enhance the trophy potential of a particular lake.
Just maybe, we might not target the fish that eventually will be protected by the slot limit. (enhancing the future trophy potential of that particular lake).
All the tournaments that I have fished, (at a higher level), rewarded the angler for catching the largest bag of fish with a minimum length limit.
I can't grasp the concept of fishing for the largest "small" fish in the lake.

Obviously, several have mis-interpreted my post.
I understand the slot limit.
The question is, "why is there a slot limit on a particular lake?"
Answer, " this particular lake has shown trophy potential".
Just maybe, the slot limit was proposed to enhance the trophy potential of a particular lake.
Just maybe, we might not target the fish that eventually will be protected by the slot limit. (enhancing the future trophy potential of that particular lake).
All the tournaments that I have fished, (at a higher level), rewarded the angler for catching the largest bag of fish with a minimum length limit.
I can't grasp the concept of fishing for the largest "small" fish in the lake.

I understood what you meant by your original response and I've read your response to others. Here is my answer. And this is coming from a weekend angling bank beater.... not a pro at anything by any means.

I think most understand the slot limit as well and why it is in place on some lakes, Fork specifically. Somewhere down the line 100 years ago someone with a lot more education than me decided the slot is good. My response is more towards why people fish to catch the biggest "small" fish. Its simple to me. Because those are the rules. Because 1000's of folks love to fish Lake Fork because at any given moment you may catch a fish of a lifetime. Because most or at least the majority of tournaments I fish at Fork are "Big Bass" tournaments with up to 8 hourly payouts paying 10-20 places per hour over a 2-3 day period. So at any given moment you may catch that fish of a lifetime and win ten's of thousands of dollars. Heck, sometimes you win that much just for catching that elusive biggest "small" fish. So the answer is simple to me, because Lake Fork is awesome and since the slot is the rule out there that's why we do it....Because we have to. The goal to begin with isn't to catch one of these "small" fish anyways. The ultimate goal is to be the outright winner with the "biggest" "big" fish at the end of the day.

As far as targeting the fish that may or will eventually be in the slot enhancing the future trophy potential of that particular lake I have a question for you. What is the difference, whether you are targeting a "certain length" fish or not (which is a whole other subject for me)your goal is still to catch a legal size keeper fish correct? So on Fork its 16-24 inches. If it were changed to 14 inches, are you implying that would hurt the lake? In other words whats the difference in catching a 15 3/4" fish whether there is a slot limit or not? 15 inches is 15 inches is it not?

Also, if you are "targeting", I would assume a fish over 24", since it appears you are against targeting "small" fish that have the potential to make it into the slot range to enhance the potential for that lake, does that mean in a tournament setting are you saying you'd release that fish as to not cause it any kind of trauma so it has a better chance at getting bigger? As if enticing a bass that thinks it is about to eat a meal and when it chomps that savory looking 10 inch powerworm and holds onto it 18x longer than your typical soft plastic it gets its dadgum face ripped off by a 200lb grown man with a 7 foot 6 inch Heavy action rod with 20lb no give, no stretch fluorocarbon causing that 4/0 EWG sharp pointed barbed hook to pierce through its jaw doesn't give the poor thing PTSD to begin with..... I'd be sick, scared, have twitches, be on 10 different meds, wet the bed, have night tremors, and never eat again if someone tied a rope around a 16 oz Bone in ribeye, attached the other end to a 3/4 ton Powerstroke with a chip in it and when I go to take my first bite they hammer down and rip me from my comfy recliner watching my recorded episode of Honey Hole All Outdoors and drug me down the street just to grab a hold of me, gimme a hug, take pictures with me, God forbid kiss me Jimmy Houston style, Thank the Lord for catching me all the while screaming and hollering and then take me back home and throw me through the front door so I don't miss the pro tip at the end of the show!!!

Obviously us as anglers go fish tournaments on whatever lake to catch the biggest bag. During that said tourney we may catch 5 keepers regardless if theres a slot or not. If we catch a 6th keeper we cull don't we? So at the end of our 8 hour day we hope to get rewarded for our biggest bag of 5 fish..... Right? So whether you fished at a higher level vs some of us fishing club events really don't make a difference. We obviously don't pick the lakes we fish, the clubs or organizations pick them. we show up, pay our money, and go fishing.

Lastly. Targeting a specific sized fish. Call me crazy, maybe some of yall are just way better than I am, but I don't know how the heck you pull up to say a point and say, "Yep, gonna target them 15 inchers right here!" Hell I just go fishing! And hope to get a friggen bite most of the time. Only thing I target is bass. At the end of the day I hope I have 5 bigguns. Shoot, really, I just hope I have 5 and hopefully 5 big enough to weigh in and not be embarrassed.

So this is the internet so I feel like I need to say these were serious questions to you Mr. McCarty. I've seen posts of yours in the past and its obvious you are passionate about Fork and this "slot" debate. I don't know you personally but I understand you've been a longtime Fork guy I believe and fished in the bigtime which is cool. (Pretty sure I was still riding my big wheel but regardless cool)