Tawakoni has been hammered for years and years. That's why we dont see as many flatheads caught.... There wad trotline parties years ago at caddo landing.

iam one

I bet on the average, one out of five or six boats will get on good fish on any given day or tourny.

Good question Tom. I was at one time one of those fisherman. Never heard of Tawakoni untill I got on the forum. Since then I have fished it no more than twice a year, a total of 4 or 5 times and have yet to catch a fish out of it over 20 lbs. My brother caught one last year that was right at 20 and I caught one around 15. Both of them were released. Other than that all we catch are 2-6 lb box fish. The point im trying to make is even though salsa, tom, larry, and the other twonk experts make it look easy, its a little harder than just showing up to the lake and loading the boat with 40 lb blues on R&R. Yes, the forums and internet add some presure to the lake but that dosnt mean those people that read the foums are the ones doing the majority of the damage to the lake. Some people may get on them but id bet the majority of them dont.

I belive what presure the internet adds to the lake, it makes up for by spreading the word and encouraging others to release the big fish. Before this forum I had never heard of, or thought of releasing big fish. Im sure a lot of others are in the same boat I am. The internet and forums have saved a lot of big fish by spreading the word of Catch Picture and Release. The blame falls on the ones that dont know, or dont care about the future enough to release the big ones.

I imagine for the average fisherman lavon and cooper would easier to catch trophy fish on.

the best catfishermen I know dont know how to use a computer.

how do you say? He just posted before you did

Kind of piling on at this point, but it took me a while to type this up... :)Good point Tom. I'm one of them. I've been reading posts almost daily for a year or so. I feel like I know all of you guys. I post every so often when I do get out, but in actuality I only get out on the water 10 or 12 times a year at best. Prolly more like 6-8. My boat's not conducive to taking the family so that has a lot to do with it. My freezer is usually empty when I go. I pitch a few jugs while I rod and reel fish. I've done pretty well at times, but I definitely don't have it down. No trophies yet. I'm all for the slot or 1 big fish limits and will sign shortly. It's common sense were fighting though. Even with a 1 big fish limit, the guys that are lucky enough to get out several times a month or even several times a week can still do some damage even if they obey the law. It will help stop those day trips where they stack up brood fish like cord wood using whatever method. As far as the forum, I'll admit that I knew Tawok was one of the best lakes in the area but until I started reading this forum I didn't know it was THE big catfish lake. It's definitely on my list, but I hadn't made it down there yet. I think the forum definitely increases pressure though. How many of those newbies that give up at least tell all their friends how awesome Tawok is? It's the information age. That's why I have a love hate relationship with the internet. Lol. Lastly I'll say reading this forum and hearing from guys like Salsa, you, and all the other regulars has made me more conscious of CPR and even though I know my personal impact will be small, I will most likely not keep a trophy, even if I'm dying for a fish fry! Just wanted to give my .02 as one of those in betweeners. Thanks for all the great information and your efforts. You all have made me a better fisherman when I do get out. I�ve jut got to �get me some of that� more often.

It seems to me most recreational fishermen go thru stages just like deer hunting! When you first start you want to keep everything you get lucky enough to catch. Then as you learn you start focusing on either numbers or better quality. Then you start looking for trophys and figure out keeping fish is like pulling the trigger! Once you do it the work begins by having to clean em!!! Then you figure out pictures are alot less work!!!!

I�ve been fishing below Lock #5 on the Red River for 17 years and have suffered some big fish droughts. From 1999-2003 I couldn�t buy a big blue and actually resigned myself to the fact they were gone. I was however wrong. I did start to catch larger fish again and in good qualities, was it an anomaly, I don�t know, you guys maybe just having a blip on the radar like we did here. The program that you are starting is very admirable, it takes concern sportsman to make a difference, unfortunately where I fish, meat is the number one priority, not my opinions on how to make it better.

I understand this attitude, my family did this too, but if meat is what you are after fishing for big blues is not the easiest way to get it.

Nor the tastiest.lol

the main reason I dont keep them is purely because I am lazy. it is a pain to clean anything over 20 lbs. i can lean 10 smaller ones before you finish that big one.

+1