I should send my dad up there. He started taking me fishing when I was 5, and in 30 years since, I've never seen him release a spot into anything other than hot grease!

When they stocked spots in the lake, they got Alabama spots, not Kentuckys. These were supposed to grow bigger, faster and be more in tune with teh verticallity of the lake. Seems ike it worked too well, though. TRUE, there are still some big LMB out there and some trophy sopts, but you have to fish for them differently than you would your normal lake. I LOVE catching fish, even if they are small fish, but the limit shoudl be cahnged to something different than it is now. Maybe keep 5 spots less than 14" or someting like that. We need to write to TPWD and give them suggestions and quote facts to them about what is happening to this little jewel of a lake. As mentioned, it still is really the only place to fish if you live in Lubbock. That being said, if anyone goes otu with a back seat open, I would LOVE to go and I may be able to show you a lot about the lake you didn't know. I NEED to put the 4 tapes I have together and put them on a DVD. I have the lake video taped at 20', 30', 42' and 53' depths. Going from as far as you can in each direction. 28 springs and 10 tank dams.

Tight lines, keep safe and good luck.

Thad Rains

I'll be out there Sat. trying to slay them. Should I bother going early in the AM or just wait til the afternoon?

I'm with me greensides. I'd love to take my kids where they will catch but loads of fish. Why do ppl think you must catch a dd bass in order to say I had a good day fishing? It's not just in bass fish ppl are turning everything into if your not making the most money, winning a national title, Super Bowl, or have the best of anything then something is wrong. Can anyone answer that?

Accidentally rip out some gills before release...

Thad, give me a call 361-522-6270. I might be going tomorrow.

From the most recent survey done at Ray Roberts:

"Abundance of spotted bass more than tripled since 2003 with fish in good condition. While numbers dropped by one-half, largemouth bass were in good condition. Angler harvest of spotted and largemouth bass was low."

I am not complaining about the spots. they are fun. I can't wait to put my son on a ton of spots for a day.... I have spent probably 150 days on lah in the last 3 years. my pb for lah is 5. I have been to lake Stamford 10 times this year. I have had 2 trips where I didn't have a 6+lmb in the boat. soooooooo what I am saying is......the spotted bass have made a lake (with great potential to produce a state record) into a lake (where all you can expect is a ton of 6" spots...

workfishgolf- imagine if they took pebble beach and let a bunch of 13 year olds maintain the landscape. it would take it from a beautiful place with great golf conditions to a beautiful place with crappy golf conditions... that's all I'm saying!
would you be a little upset if pebble beach was your only option? yeah u can still golf there but the outcome just isn't the same...

We will see what happens tomorrow. Thanks for the invitation Guy, I will see you at the ramp tomorow morning. Hopefully, we can figure them out. Respectfully,

Thad Rains

How do you know that was largemouth eggs in the spots mouth?

I do not know that these were lmb eggs. but I do know that there were 1000's of 4-7" spots in this cove.

Catch a limit. Fillet them. Fry'm up1
Homemade Tarter-Sauce. Hushpuppies.
That will start thinning those dudes out.

So what do you think they should do with the spotted bass species? If you say move them to east tx then some guy in east tx will be upset cause his home lake has too many spotted bass. If you say kill them then that's the same as a catfish guy saying kill all lmb. then you would be pissed like the guys at falcon cause a guy fillets a 8 lb lmb to eat. Remember lakes aren't built for the purpose of fishing or boating. A golf course is built for the purpose of GOLF! When i get the itch to fish the lake thats close by 9 times out of 10 the lmb we are going to catch is going to be under 14inches. I'm not trying to be rude when I say this but this is America and you can move. That's what I plan on doing when I can retire. Until then I save my money and go fishing where the big girls are at and the water isn't so low. Well have a great day and remember the choice is always up to you.

We'll be out there saturday...and I think I might bring back dinner!

JAlderson, are you still yakin' AH, or did you get yourself a boat?

Competition among different species can be a real problem but LMB thrive in other lakes with spots. Look at the curse of the sand bass at Fork. Seems to be fishing as good as ever! The "fish scientist" for the state do need to address the limits at AH. Slot limit allowing 10 fish under 12"?