1) Bass are NOT as good as crappie. 2) If everyone kept and cleaned 5 EVERY time they went, where would that leave us?

With big fat bellies and smiles on our faces?

Why are there still crappie, sandbass and catfish in the lakes with 25 being kept at a time. It does not make since and you may believe it, but you are not right all the dang time

A few years ago I deep hooked an 8.4# bass. She bled a lot so I kept her. She tasted just as good as a small one.

This is getting pretty good.

Here's to the bull that roams the woods, makes the cows feel all good, if wasn't for him and his mighty rod,where would we be for beef, by God.

There is so much I want to say......

Is this an April fools thing???

Laterz,
dafanman

That's what I was thinking too.

I find it interesting when "bass fishermen" berate others for keeping a fish. I see the "bass fishermen" pounding the lakes everyday all spring. They're either fishing a tournament or pre-fishing for a tournament. Boat after boat works the same water daily, catching and releasing or putting the fish in the live well to weigh-in. Do you really think that female who got hooked 10 times in one week and hauled 5 miles to the weigh in site is gona have a successful spawn? If people were as worried about the bass as they say they are, they wouldn't have tournaments in March and April.

And we all know how bad fishing is since we have had 20-30 years of tournament fishing in March and April.

Precisely my point, cause we all know how bad bass fishing is since a few people keep bass. So if neither event is affecting the fish, then let's just go fishing.

Some one told me that statistics one time, and I forget, but it was a really high % of bass that actually die after they have been caught and released. Not right away, but within 24 hours.

This post is why I quit bass fishing. The thought that a person keeps some fish and is therefore akin to a child molester(sp?). I'm not convinced that catch and release doesn't cause as much damage because you don't quit fishing when you reach a limit. Having said that I wouldn't personally keep the bigger fish, mostly because I like how the the smaller fish fry up. It's ok to practice catch and release and in many instances makes sense, just don't elevate it to the level of a religious tenet.

Modern management is based on some people keeping a limit and some people not keeping any and the mortality of that action. It seems to be working well on most lakes. I don't want to feel like a convicted felon if I leave the boat ramp with a few bass.
April fools joke or not.

It's not a high fenced lake, so anything goes.

+1 Keeping alot of the smaller ones would help the bigger ones out tremendously but I for don't hold a grudge against anyone legally keeping what they catch.. It's their choice & their right.. Different strokes for different folks..