So I know how some hate it some have no problem but here is my question. Ok so I have been fishing a local gravel pit with my boat for about 2 years since I have been out of the army. I have noticed the fish quality gets lower and lower. Now I know from the bank everyone that fishes there keeps everything and anything! Have been seeing this ICP punk aka juggalo aka insane clown posse guy keep up to 30 bass everytime I go. Well tonight I asked him while I was leaving if he has been doing any good. He said man its been slow for about 5 months now. I said oh you used to catch a bunch. Now I realized I have too been going down on numbers of bass I catch there recently. I don't keep bass never have never will. I don't mind population control but keeping 30 of them and about 10 were over 5lb's is just crazy! What are your thoughts on this?

You're right, small lakes and ponds like that need to be "managed" but taking 30+ fish time and time again, probably not a good idea.

Now crappie I think is fine. These guys don't realize the cycle and egg percentage making it out there. Bass take the fall the hardest when they hatch. If I was catching 1 lbrs and maybe one 5 lbr a day yea go ahead keep all the 1 lbrs you want as long as its under regs.

Call the game warden. Maybe he can take care of it maybe not. It's worth a shot.

Figured the game warden would probably do more then take care of him. He would run me off too and make a big stink about launching a bass boat in a gravel pit. I know that pond well and know what to use and recently my 4 hr days turn to 11 or 12 bass days compared to last years 30-50 fish days. There were times last year I would hook up with 5lbrs back to back. Don't think the pond possibly turning is a problem. I mean you can still catch em and its worth it to launch my boat but just frustrating seeing guys keep everything they catch. This pond is around 60 acres and around 2ft low right now.

It's hard to imagine a guy on the bank could bring your catch rates down 60%+ in a 60 acre lake. Possibly the fish are getting a little lure shy. It happens quick in a small pond, especially when you're really whoopin' em like that.

some days they bite, some days they dont.

Where is this 60 acre pond located? You may need a 2nd opinion .lol.

Why were you worried about the GW? Is there some law about launching a boat in that gravel pit? Is it posted private property or something? If you were not breaking any laws, the GW would not say anything to you.

Thought they would make a stink about a gas engine in a small body of water. No signs posted for no fishing. People have been fishing there for 20+ years or so. That gravel pit was made in 1946. They built it after vilbig.

If people have been fishing it for 20 years there are some that have been keeping them for twenty years.

Support and abide by the TP&W state fishing regulations and the fishing should be great for many years to come, a SAL may be in your future for private lakes.

Yes, I'd do my part to enforce legal limits. You could call the GW on your cell if you saw the guy with fish in excess of his limit. But, I'd say this pond obviously has survived and done well for this long...so last year was just exceptional but maybe not because of man.

If you really want to see a fishery decline fast post information about your favorite public body of water on the internet. Keeping bass is legal most everywhere but I am totally convinced keeping bass hurts ALL public waters.

i think fish management is a touchy subject....i mean without some type of fisheries biologist or expert. but i totally agree that taking out too many breeders....is a bad thing. a lot of people don't realize that the 5 and up are the females and that taking the males is better because a male bass is well a male... he'll run from female to female