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Why is the slot on Fork so important? #12438020 09/23/17 02:33 AM
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NTX Angler Offline OP
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Just starting a new topic. I figure this has been addressed in the past. I was just curious why Fork? Rayburn, Toledo, Austin, and countless other big fish lakes do not have slots. Has this slot proven to be a good thing? I mean why not 18-24? What is the big harm if they just dropped it? If it turns out to be catastrophic, which I doubt, then reintroduce it. At least then it would end the debate.

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Re: Why is the slot on Fork so important? [Re: NTX Angler] #12438031 09/23/17 02:41 AM
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As far back as I can recall Fork has always had a slot. It's raised on both ends. I may have the numbers wrong but went from 14-18, to 14-20, then 16-21 then 16-24. They have always tried to.protect that same class of fish and keep the fishing consistently good.

With it being so close to the Hatchery in Athens I think it's really TPWD's baby.


Re: Why is the slot on Fork so important? [Re: NTX Angler] #12438062 09/23/17 03:05 AM
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big mike Offline
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The slot is great. I wish it was 14"-24"!!!

Re: Why is the slot on Fork so important? [Re: big mike] #12438073 09/23/17 03:10 AM
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Originally Posted By: big mike
The slot is great. I wish it was 14"-24"!!!


Could you explain why it is so great?

Re: Why is the slot on Fork so important? [Re: NTX Angler] #12438154 09/23/17 07:04 AM
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I fish many tournaments but hardly and on Fork just because of the slot. I personally would like to see it reduced go 16-21. I think it would bring more sanctioned tournaments such as College events, FLW events.


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Re: Why is the slot on Fork so important? [Re: K.D.] #12438156 09/23/17 07:17 AM
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Originally Posted By: K.D.
With it being so close to the Hatchery in Athens I think it's really TPWD's baby.
it was built to be their baby from the beginning

Re: Why is the slot on Fork so important? [Re: NTX Angler] #12438159 09/23/17 07:57 AM
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Bobby Milam Offline
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The last thing that lake needs is more tournaments. I really don't understand the complaints about the slot. Everyone is playing on level ground

Last edited by Bobby Milam; 09/23/17 10:07 AM.
Re: Why is the slot on Fork so important? [Re: NTX Angler] #12438165 09/23/17 09:26 AM
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irbf Offline
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It protects the size of fish that are considered the primary "spawners".


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Re: Why is the slot on Fork so important? [Re: NTX Angler] #12438185 09/23/17 11:13 AM
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the skipper Offline
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The slot protects the fish once they get big enough so that they can grow bigger. Plus it culls out the small fish allowing the big fish to grow. Take that slot away and watch the 5 and 6lb fish that leave that lake. Fork is a small lake that has the pressure of a lake the size of rayburn which hurts rayburn. The slot is why it can handle that pressure. Look at toledo, it's a barren wasteland compared to a couple years ago. Talk with the guides on the lake, I know atleast some believe that the slot is what keeps that lake so good.

Re: Why is the slot on Fork so important? [Re: NTX Angler] #12438196 09/23/17 11:39 AM
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Odd, too, that in real life and wars, nations send their "slot" population off to fight, too often to be killed. Many France-bashers say this is why it "is the way it is" today, that they lost so many of their valiant men in World Wars 1 and 2. Ha! I suppose it could be.

On Lake Fork, any lake with a slot, I really don't see why some exemptions couldn't be extended for tournaments, perhaps for a small fee to promote fishery activity.

If bass can be caught, held, then weighed and released largely unharmed, why not? So, a game warden pulls up, you have some "slot" fish in the holding tank . . . you show him proof you are in the tournament and off you go.

Little "fixes" could be applied: no slot fish during what is considered the active spawn season for this or that lake.

Brad

Re: Why is the slot on Fork so important? [Re: NTX Angler] #12438213 09/23/17 12:02 PM
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...The importance is all about the "maintenance" of the spawning population ....
the idea is that the slot fish will produce more fish that can be caught by recreational fishermen
the slot allows fish to grow to "trophy" size which brings in "sport" fishermen from all over the country looking for a trophy, and TROPHYS now days are produced from pictures & measurements ...... not stuffing the actual fish. So that person could care less what the designated "slot" is, the only person that cares wether there is a slot or not is the tournament guy that seems to think all he can catch are 18-22 inch 6-7# bass.

why is it every time a discussion comes up about FORK it always revolves around "tournaments" and the need to be able to live well a fish to weigh in for a tournament ? Not all fishing is about tournament fishing. IF a slot fishes' weight is SO DAD GUM important ,,,,,, then change the tournament rules to measure, weigh, picture, & write it on paper ...... then you got your slot weight and the fish goes back in the lake. Don't blame not being able to use a slot fishes weight on the TPWD's slot designation on FORK. The TPWD's rule is not the problem ,,,, it is the tournament rule that does not allow a slot to be weighed. Your anti-slot sentiment is aimed at the wrong people.

IMHO.


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Re: Why is the slot on Fork so important? [Re: NTX Angler] #12438250 09/23/17 01:03 PM
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what percentage of bass fishermen fish tournaments? 60% maybe and that's just a guess but keeping tournaments and fishing pressure off Fork is one of the effects of a slot limit....
look at how good fishing on falcon was and they didn't have a slot or size limit plus hundreds of gill nets....
in my area of the country,they slapped 16 inch size limits on West Point and Eufaula and it did nothing but run tournaments off and hurt area businesses.....
with catch and release so widely practiced,maybe slot/size limits are having little if any effect...

Re: Why is the slot on Fork so important? [Re: Jaguar6] #12438275 09/23/17 01:26 PM
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Originally Posted By: Jaguar6
I fish many tournaments but hardly and on Fork just because of the slot. I personally would like to see it reduced go 16-21. I think it would bring more sanctioned tournaments such as College events, FLW events.


Because that's exactly what Fork needs--that and 20 more guides...

Re: Why is the slot on Fork so important? [Re: NTX Angler] #12438284 09/23/17 01:31 PM
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The only thing the slot on Fork negatively impacts is tournaments.

Re: Why is the slot on Fork so important? [Re: NTX Angler] #12438413 09/23/17 03:57 PM
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I might get bashed and that's okay, but imo the slot is not helping on any of the area lakes that it is in place. How many people are keeping bass to eat these days? Very few imo so you end up having huge numbers of smaller under the slot fish. How many people would be keeping slot size bass for the dinner table if it wasn't in place? Again imo and I'm in no way an expert, but I think culling out more of the small fish would help increase average size fish in the lake. I do feel however with the great spawning years we have had with the lakes being high the past several years that almost all area lakes will have a ton on 3lb class fish over the next couple years.

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