if a fisherman buys his license an obeys the fish keeping restrictions folks need to not worry about it an mind their own business.

Yes, you are right!

I absolutely agree that anglers are entitled to harvest daily limits. I agree, too, with the concerns that many have expressed with the harvest rates on TB in comparison to other lakes. It is a known fact that harvest rates (percentage of anglers keeping fish) are much higher on TB than Rayburn. When you factor higher harvest rates and larger bag limits (8 fish v 5 fish), there is little doubt that TB loses more fish to the ziplock bag than most TX lakes.

But, too me, the biggest issue is lack of law enforcement on the lake. My family has had a camp on TB for 35 years. I have seen a game warden in our area two times in 35 years. I have never been checked by a warden on TB. I am sure they work the public boat ramps, etc. but it is impossible to enforce game laws at the private camps.

TB is known for the annual meat hunts every Spring. And why not? You can legally keep more fish than other TX lakes. You won’t likely run into a game warden (if you are one to stretch the rules).

I’ve often wondered if fisheries would benefit from a catch and release only format from 2/1 to 5/1? I just hate to see those unpatched eggs removed from the lake.

so from 2- 1 to 5-1 cancel all the tournaments that time of year In east tx or have paper tournaments good luck with that idea.

You are releasing fish in tournament formats. Sure their is some mortality but not much at that time of the year.

I just wonder what impact harvesting fish during the spawn has on the overall population? Seems like we do that with most deer regulations. Doe season usually ends before they are impregnated.

Looks like even the kayakers are hammering them on Toledo

My question is, how did TX agree to the 8 fish limit when the state wide limit is 5? Yes people have a legal right to keep a limit of fish, but we also have a right to revisit those laws. We used to be able to kill 10 pintails, but it wasn’t sustainable, and laws were rewritten. States around the coast are revising trout and flounder size and bag limits. We need to ensure the resource is available everyone.

I’m interested to hear what you are calling it’s “old self”? A few years back it was the #1 lake in the country for several years. The lake has been open since the 60’s and Louisiana residents didn’t just discover it existed. In fact for most of its life span it’s actually been easier to access from the Louisiana side. 25-30 years ago most Texans felt it was too far and the roads to the lake were in bad shape.

It’s survived and prospered throughout its life span. But when the grass goes it effects the survival rate of fry and the fish positioning changes. Too bad the anglers aren’t able to change as quickly so we would not have to hear them look to blame everything else but their own deficiencies.

Prime example was Cody Huff.

The lake will never die, just time will tell if it'll get back to 2013-2014 numbers of big fish. You could literally go down the bank and pass up 5lbers all day. The lake had an unbelievable amount of quality in it that you had to see with your own eyes to believe it. All this new pressure in the past 5 years has made an impact combined with lack of quality cover both from fluctuations in water and collateral damage from salvinia spraying. Like I said, we'll see if it rebounds. I know this though, the numbers of fisherman isnt going down and it increases every single year