Oh. I didn't miss the word big. I understood it. You don't understand what I am saying. Try this and you will see.

Go to the bass section tomorrow morning and post a thread about eating small bass. Step back and watch the fireworks. I give it 3 hours before mods have to lock the thread.

I vote the Trinity as well. I will host and film. I got a spot!

You're missing my point. Nobody here says throw them all back. Any knowledgeable fisherman would say keep all the smaller ones you can eat. Throwing them all back doesn't do anybody any good. I don't read the bass forum. Those aren't my type of people. Not meaning that as an insult, but my boat and lifestyle are redneck. Haha.

it will become just like bass fishing. Been headed that way for years

How much do you think State Senator Royce West knows about catfishing? Do you think he is a trained fishery biologist? During the five minute debate in the Texas senate he ask "why noodling should only be limited to catfish, are not all fish created equal?". The fact is that the proponents of noodling tried for years to get TP&WD to get noodling legalized and when that failed they went straight to the legislature to get it approved. So there was absolutely no science involved in the process. I doubt you could find one single fishery biologist in the state that approves of the move to legalize noodling.

2 days and no response yet from the original poster. There is no need for any cussing in this thread. If you can't get your point across without using foul language then keep your mouth (keyboard) closed. If you have thoughts or opinions on the tourney feel free to post. That's what the OP requested. Just keep it clean so we don't have to lock this thread or remove any responses.

Takes a blue twice as long to reach 50+ pounds then a bass 13#??? Well i would hope so thats almost 4 times the weight...i do not keep big blue cats im not saying people should...what im saying is it happens all the time and tjere is nothing anyone can do to change that and that it doesnt KILL IT for everyone else trying to catch that monster blue...i know u have to pull smaller fish out of any body of water..but who says the two 10# blues someone kept werent bred jist rightandgonna grow up to be 100# fish...fish growth is like humans some will b big some small..and the 86# fish u release isnt 3hrs from dieing from just being old? Idk wht u would do with him if u had kept one tht big but MY POINT IS who is to say keep or release?? There are studies with tje slot limit but it has not been long enough to prove anything or it would be statewide..

If anyone would like a copy of the rules/regs for the tourny id be glad to email them. Lots of good talk here, personally its been my experience that in previous years ive caught just as many large flathead on trotlines as I have noodled. Probably released more noodling than trotlining. Most noodlers I fish with prefer to catch them and release them after a few good pics. There is little known about how the populations are being affected in texas and the state biok ogists are doing specific studies this year on that subject. We will have a team of biologists at our event doing scientific data collections and surveying the teams involved. Ultimately I believe that it will be us noodlers who protect our sport and promote cpr as does a duck hunter with DU or a turkey hunter ect.. I respect everyones opinions and feedback.

If you were bringing your kids out what would you like to be involved?

And sorry im just now getting back..my sons mother was killed in a car wreck yesterday. .she was 28 and I am thinking of dedicating the tournament to her.

Sorry for your loss man...thoughts and prayers sent your way.

Thank you they are much needed I assure you..my son will be 3 the 19th and id breaks my heart to know he'll never be held by his mother again. Pray that god gives me some kind of words to tell him when the time comes.

Prayers sent!

Biologists will be catching, tagging, and releasing 250 alp in lake palastine this summer. As an encouragment, they will be giving a cash reward for tags that are returned to the biologists. This will give biologists a good indication of just how many flathead will be taken by noodlers, trotliners, rod n reel fisherman, ect..

Thank you

Having some dificulty locateing a tank on wheels to set up at our tournament. Anybody have any ideas or suggestions?