I've been thinking a LOT about fishing lately. Thinking on the various lakes around me, how they are managed (or not managed) and especially what could be done to make them even better. TPWD for the most part does actually listen to those who use their parks and lakes.

I miss the days when Bastrop was a rally good lake. You could catch numbers as well as decent fish and by numbers I mean 25-30 and by decent I mean the norm would be 2-3#, 4-5# was not uncommon and the occasional 6#er was a welcome surprise, but not unheard of.

Many moons ago TPWD actually polled the boaters on the lake about what could be done to make the lake better. I was stopped more than once for my opinion. I heard all sorts of answers, but honestly back then the fishing was really good. These days, the fish are abundant, but there is zero size.

So what can be done about it?

I have a crazy idea, but changing the rules from time to time seems to work well for deer hunting so why not fishing? Until recently does in Milam county were not allowed to be harvested AT ALL without a permit, but recently that changed and does are now allowed during a special two week period at the beginning of the season because the doe population has grown so much.

Why can't something similar be done on lakes? Why couldn't rules be changed on a lake by lake basis? Why couldn't there be a two week period where slot limits are lifted? Any LMB over 12" can be taken with only one over 21" allowed? This could drastically improve the lake and quickly over the course of only a few years. There could be wardens or TPWD employees stationed at the lakes to take a count on how many fish are being taken, what size, etc. Seriously, when's the last time you heard a fish count being taken on ANY lake? This would drop the population of fish in the lake allowing the remaining fish to grow larger and stronger. The limit on big fish remaining in place would protect the larger fish already there so they can produce more big fish.

I'm betting if we get enough momentum for this we could put together a petition and force the powers that be to at least discuss it.

This is my starting point, though.

Hairbrained wacky idea from a goober or not a bad idea to discuss?

A better idea, if you or your parents we not born in Texas you aren't allowed to fish or hunt LOL

Seriously, when's the last time you heard a fish count being taken on ANY lake?

As mentioned above, the intent of the slot is to remove smaller bass that tend to reduce forage/baitfish while protecting mid-size bass for spawning and growth. I think they hope it will help with trophy size bass as well. It appears that very few below slot are being taken out at Fayette and other lakes as well, so we are not getting the benefits of the slot. I'm not sure how many trophy bass are being taken out, both legally and illegally. I've assisted with many surveys with the TPWD over the years on Fayette and many other lakes. There is a tremendous amount of bass, especially <15 inchers at Fayette, just not a lot of big ones (6+ lbs). I trust the TPWD is doing what's right especially considering the lake has had challenges-extreme pressure, fish kills, algae blooms and turnover and now netters. I believe the change in the slot (<16 inchers) from 2-3 years ago was more about getting consistency across lakes around TX more than being Fayette specific. TPWD will be out in the Spring talking to anglers about their catch experience and observing the netters' practices. Will be interesting to see what that find out.

As mentioned above, the intent of the slot is to remove smaller bass that tend to reduce forage/baitfish while protecting mid-size bass for spawning and growth. I think they hope it will help with trophy size bass as well. It appears that very few below slot are being taken out at Fayette and other lakes as well, so we are not getting the benefits of the slot. I'm not sure how many trophy bass are being taken out, both legally and illegally. I've assisted with many surveys with the TPWD over the years on Fayette and many other lakes. There is a tremendous amount of bass, especially <15 inchers at Fayette, just not a lot of big ones (6+ lbs). I trust the TPWD is doing what's right especially considering the lake has had challenges-extreme pressure, fish kills, algae blooms and turnover and now netters. I believe the change in the slot (<16 inchers) from 2-3 years ago was more about getting consistency across lakes around TX more than being Fayette specific. TPWD will be out in the Spring talking to anglers about their catch experience and observing the netters' practices. Will be interesting to see what that find out.

With the slot currently in place you can keep 5 fish under 14” per person, no minimum length. No need to try and get special regulations put in place, start keeping 5 unders now. Maybe get with a local bass club and have an “Under the slot” tournament where you keep all the fish brought to the scales, could then turn around and have a fish fry to raise money for the club.

If TPWD really wanted to pare down the undersized fish just make it mandatory in tournaments on lakes with the problem to keep all unders. Have a few big fish fries, let the public know there will be free fish available to bring ice chests etc.
It wouldn’t take much to fix the under problem.

If TPWD really wanted to pare down the undersized fish just make it mandatory in tournaments on lakes with the problem to keep all unders. Have a few big fish fries, let the public know there will be free fish available to bring ice chests etc.
It wouldn’t take much to fix the under problem.

You could already reduce the number of fish in most lakes but nobody wants to keep bass to eat.

[quote=9094]
Its the same with firewood, I have a few acres on my land I keep offering people to cut wood and none have ever showed up, theyll take it if I cut it all to length and have it where they can drive directly to it. So I just make burn piles and burn it all.

Its never that easy. People cant leave with more than the legal possession limit if they have a fishing license and honestly people never show up to take such limits from you when you offer them.

I have some very good deer hunting land and shoot a few deer a year and have yet to ever have a single person show up who said they would take one, so I donate them all to the local food bank program. People always say they want one, I text them when I drop it and they have a excuse why this day wont work but maybe another. I have told a few no big deal theres snow on the ground come get it whenever you want it will be frozen waiting.... crickets

Its the same with firewood, I have a few acres on my land I keep offering people to cut wood and none have ever showed up, theyll take it if I cut it all to length and have it where they can drive directly to it. So I just make burn piles and burn it all.

We have a lake in Iowa that is full of 12.5 inch, like 100 fish days easy etc, they wont lower the size limit to a special limit to that lake because it will cause confusion as well as everyone could claim their limit in their possession came from that lake vs the one they actually fished at. So the state keeps the minimum at 15 state wide with some lakes larger like over 19 only etc.

It's been 2 years for the new 16" minimum, time goes by quickly. Interesting about the cat fishing, I never saw anything or read about that. We've always shocked up a ton of catfish along the dam.

AUSTIN – Simplifying largemouth bass regulations at 12 public lakes highlight this year’s list of proposed freshwater fishing regulation changes.

The potential changes are intended to increase recreational opportunity, make regulations less complex, promote enforcement, and provide for the sound biological management of fisheries resources. Twelve of the 20 lakes affected by the potential changes would revert to the statewide 14-inch minimum length limit, which governs nearly 80 percent of water bodies in the state. The other eight lakes would see changes to more appropriate special regulations.