There's no question that fish weight at any given length varies considerably. That's not my point. What I was trying to get at was that bass fishing tournaments rely on weight rather than length. If the culture shifted to rely on length rather than weight, well, it's a heckuva lot easier to give every boat a certified ruler than a certified scale.

However, as long as the "grip-and-grin" weigh-in ceremonies continue to exist at bass tournaments, delayed mortality will continue to be a problem.

I understand where you're coming from, but that will never happen as far as length only.. I don't know if you or anybody else here watched the Toyota Classic on Conroe last year, but their system was pretty solid. They had Marshall's in the boat that had certified scales. They basically weighed them as the pros caught them, recorded it and then threw the fish back. I believe they only kept any bass over 6lbs (one per pro) to show off to the crowds.

I liked how it played out and it was good for both the fish and the fans IMO.

I couldn't agree more. The unfortunate part of that system is the associated cost. Once certified scales become cheap enough for every angler to have one we'll be in good shape.

Here is a point that need making. When tpwd calls a meeting concerning a lake.
Forum members should be notified by email by an administrator on this forum just like they did when the Louisiana forum.
If we don't communicate with each other how can we tell tpwd we we want.

You will still have variation from scale to scale.

talked to a gentlemen who was at the meeting. he said there was five choices given. 1. do nothing. 2. slot 14-21. 3. paper tournaments. 4. no tournaments. and i cant remember the other one. just thought i would set the record straight. also i have spoke to mr hysmith in person about the this lake and he flatly states that its the tournaments that is "hurting" this lake. also they havent been stocking and have no plans to

From what I have seen in bass fishing more fish die from being hooked deep than anything else. I feel the more focused the angler and the quicker the hookset the better off the fish. By having good equipment and fine tuning your skills you can reduce some of this. I'm not suggesting we regulate hookset time but just something for everyone to consider.

Did any of the five ask where their data was coming from? Okay they called a meeting to discuss the negative result of tournaments on Carter... Okay, why? Was there a study? How was it conducted? Mass complaints? What? That has yet to be determined or disclosed.

I understand it was a biologist who called the meeting... And yes he would be more than qualified to to go over cause and effect, but what data did he have to go over? Was this tournaments in general on any body of water? If so, whats the goal... To stop tourney fishing on all lakes? I doubt that. This was about Carter for some reason that, to the best of my knowledge, hasn't been disclosed to the public.

And if they say they did a study... Okay when? What tournament trail or club? How did they conduct the study? We need a little more info other than a biologist said so-IMO.

And don't get me wrong... They may have done some extensive studies, but disclose the specifics.

I think I'll go with the Fisheries Biologists on this one. No offense to you folks with the conspiracy theory.

Well I finally found what I was looking for... And I stand corrected. Apparently there was an extensive study done. Here is the link.

http://m.timesrecordnews.com/news/2011/may/28/lake-amon-bass-studied/

Representatives from the Lake Texoma Fisheries Station met with local anglers recently to discuss the results of a recent study done on Lake Amon G. Carter.

Biologist Bruce Hysmith presented the report titled "Tournament Mortality on a Texas Largemouth Bass Fishery." He said the study was done after they had observed a decrease in the size of the adult largemouth bass population in the lake.

Hysmith said the fishery performed an electro-fishing count in 2010 and no bass longer than 18 inches measured. Electro-fishing involves setting an electrode five feet under water and shocking the fish to the surface so they can be counted and measured.

One angler in attendance said he has caught multiple fish at least 20 inches long.

"When we shock the fish, they could just as easily go deeper than come up so we can see them," Hysmith responded. "Rod and reel fishing is going to be a more accurate method because you can go deeper."

The biologist said they also surveyed anglers and found a low number of larger fish being caught. These combined results prompted the study to be done.

The study estimates the mortality rate of the largemouth bass in Lake Amon G. Carter due to fishing is 14 percent. That is a combination of angler harvesting, tournaments and catch and release fishing.

Tournament fishing accounts for 65 percent of that percentage as an estimated 30 percent of fish caught will die within days due to excessive handling.

"We're not here to say the bass population at Amon G. Carter is going down the tubes," Hysmith told the anglers in attendance. "It's far from that. We are just giving you the information we have."

The mortality study estimated that completely stopping tournament fishing would increase the number of 14-inch bass by 13 percent and the number of 18-inch bass by 20 percent. While that is an unlikely scenario, any reduction in tournament fishing is likely to have an impact.

The TPWD biologists explained an easy way to increase the size of fish in the lake is for anglers to harvest the smaller, legal fish they catch instead of releasing them back into the lake.

"There would be less competition for the limited amount of food available and the fish still in there would grow larger," Hysmith said.

A number of options were presented for ways to increase the size of the lake's fish. Those options were:

1) No change

2) Restrictive slot limits (i.e. 14-inch to 21-inch)

3) Raise the minimum legal size

4) Lower the bag limit

5) Paper tournaments

6) Texas Toyota Bass Classic-type of tournament

Hysmith noted a change is bag limit probably would not have an impact of this lake and a Texas Toyota Bass Classic-tournament, which involves weighing catches immediately on the lake, probably is not feasible. A paper tournament involves catching a fish, measuring it's length and releasing it immediately.

Local tournament fishers commented they did not feel either tournament style would be accepted by area bass clubs. Those in attendance were split over the idea of a slot limit.

"This is your lake," Hysmith said. "We are going to do whatever you want."

He went on to explain that if it was determined local anglers wanted something to change, he would write up the change, have it peer-reviewed then present it to the wildlife commission by the end of the year. Any potential changes would not go into effect until Sept. 1, 2012.

"The lake has the potential for bigger fish," added the biologist. "You could have a better fishery if you wanted to change something, or you could keep the status quo."

The biologists all agreed that finding ways to decrease the impact on the fish when weighing for tournaments will decrease the mortality rate.

If you would like more information or would like to voice your opinion on the largemouth bass population in Lake Amon G. Carter, contact Bruce Hysmith at Lake Texoma Fisheries Station, P.O. Box 1446, Pottsboro, TX, by phone at (903) 786-2389 or by email at bruce.hysmith@tpwd.state.tx.us

Heck, let them do it. It would be interesting to see the results. Perhaps they could come up with some measures from there that would help our fisheries become even better. I don't care how much in denial you are about tourney fishing mortality in the hot months, it happens. I've caught several keepers early during the summer, and by 11 am, most fish are dead or nearly dead. There are lots of things you can do to help keep them alive, but most are only concerned with keeping their fish alive for the tourney weigh in.

Amon Carter is my Hometown Lake (30 Min Away) Its always been a pretty good lake. It went thru a pretty bad phase around 2003-2008 Due to all of the Droughts. We would fish all day and only catch one or two. In 2009 the fishing really picked back up. My brother caught a Ten pounder in 2003, and ive had another break off that was about the same size. Other then that. Just one 7lber and the rest little ones under 3 pounds since we started fishing the lake in 1998.

Amon Carter is a small lake... In the summer time when my brother and i fish the lake we would wait until Wednesday or Thursday to go fishing to give the Fish a break from All the Fishing pressure from the weekends. And When all the Big Bas clubs come up from Dallas/ Fort Worth they HAMMER this pour little lake. I've seen the Boat ramp on the new side Completely full and they were parking trucks down the highway. Now that would be a big size tournement for Lake Fork or Ray Roberts. But for Little Amon Carter?? Not all tournements are that size but you get my point.

I would call my self a Local Angler.... 15 miles from Bowie and never heard one word about the meeting.

If it was up to me... I could cancel all Tournments on the lake, and impose a Slot Limit... Gas and the Cost of fishing is getting too high and i don't want to drive over an hour to another lake. And all the Tournement guys can stay in the Metroplex for all i care.

I look back at all my grand dads fishing pictures and thats all they caught were 3-7 pound bass every fishing trip.

Note* he was president of the San Antonio Bass Club in the 60's.

But Bass Fishing was sooo good back in the day due to the Lack of Fisherman and fishing pressure like we have today.

Pearljam how bad is the Tournament pressure during spring and fall?

It's at it's worse during the spring time. But they hit the lake until around the end of July

It's alot worse"