Yea just like that 12 point buck I put in my crosshairs then said got ya now go pass your genes on some more Ill get a plastic replica of you to hang on the wall. Always somebody criticizing when it's not their call.

To each his own, but I've made that call more than a few times. Each time it has been towards conservation. Always, like someone to kill a trophy and then be the first one to whine about TPWD, gar, etc. when the trophies aren't coming around any more.

My youngest son caught a 12.23 a few years back and donated it to the La Share a Lunker program. Toledo Tackle held the fish overnight. The replica we got was pretty darn good. Can't speak for the others, but he has a good replica and the knowledge the fish spawned out very successfully for the La. hatchery. I agree it is every persons right to keep what they catch, but fish that get to this size are unique. Congrats on catching the fish, and enjoy the mount. Taken care of it will bring a lifetime of fond memories.

That sucks to hear.

I have held only two bass over 10lbs in my lifetime and both times it was like holding royalty for me. It was one of the grandest things I have ever held.

One of the fish was caught on Toledo Bend. She officially weighed-in at 12.53. I brought her to Toledo Town and got her weighed, measured, and certified...then proudly I released her alive, as that is what they told me was one of the conditions for them giving me a replica for free.

I look at my replica often and it takes me back to that day. It has been a long time now, but the thing that I remember the most is me standing in ankle deep, freezing cold water and watching her swim away. That made me very proud that I got the whole "lunker" experience and that she was not hurt. I personally would have regretted it had I handled it any other way.

His attitude in his post on the other website show he does not care and is ignorant. States his taxidermist does better work than the one the state Louisiana picks. He's already paying for it, give the measurements to his own taxidermist and be done with it. The beast would still be alive.

I hope those of us who care about conservation and outdoors remember this and never hire this guide and spread the word, there are many others that guide with a lot better attitudes. I just got done reading the other forum post, I agree with jigaholic he is ignorant and ill add selfish. Hunting is completely different for those of you who want to argue that point. I hope this effects his business. I can't believe a trophy bass was killed because for no other reason than a replica wouldn't look as good on the wall......idiot

I agree with every one on this post about he should of released the fish and got a replica, but keep in mind that lake is full of big bass like that if not bigger, my Grand dad was a great bass guide on that lake for 12 plus years, starting from 1970 and up, he would guide people and come back in with a smile on his face and there's I have a ton of picture's of the days guided trip's, with him and his customers with 30 bass and plus, and he always told me that a 8 lb. bass was small to him on that lake, but that was before 5 fish kept law and ect. By the way I saw that guy's fishing spot in his picture he caught that big fish in indian creek, off of the point, right in front of the boat lane, across of fin & feather, there's a lot of drop off's, hint to catch the big ones out there black & blue.

You can get on an internet forum and bash anybody while you preach catch and release. It is nothing but a few keystrokes powered by emotions generated from a self righteous perspective of a very old and very tired debate. You will actually do something useful when you direct that passion towards the real question, which is why doesn't Texas offer a program for those fish between 10 and 13 lbs?

The man stated he released the other big fish I applaud him for that the fact he has no desire for a replica I can also understand If I caught a SAl I would like it to go to Athen be used,numbered and released if survived if not I too would like mounted but I have no desire for a plastic replica no mater how good it looks,Just as soon have pictures,I have had one bass mounted backin early 70s before florida strain 7.25 and still looks good.Ive caught and released many many a lot bigger since. .The idea that the 12 # fish didn't get to pass on her genes is not so cause she spawned countless times before and we don't know what shape she was in after being caught.I would rather see her mounted than turtles eat her.Again I honor his write to deside .

Who cares Toledo Bend is massive!! That lake has a completely astonishing number of fish that size on ot more than any of y'all keyboard conservationist can comprehend. Awesome Bass man!!

You know, for years and on several different posts I have watched you post your opinions, or "knowledge" and you seem to know an awful lot about most topics on this forum. You must spend every day fishing all over the state of Texas to gain so much of your "knowledge". Just curious, how many days a year do you spend fishing Toledo Bend? Nothing too personal, I've just always wondered how you "knew" so much about so many different lakes, etc.

Lonesome Dove quote (jakes just bein jake it's a full time job) GUS. he,ll be ok just young and eager to make his mark

The reason so many people care is plain and simple. The number of people since the early days on TB that released their big fish so the lake would have big fish. He would not have had the chance to catch a true trophy if it had not been for all of the keyboard conservationist in action for a lot of years. They gave up their right to kill the fish if they had not done this the lake would have been emptied years ago. This is the reason so many lakes have big fish in it. Yes their is truth to the opinion that we need to take a certain amount of fish out of a lake to keep it healthy, but you can do that by taking smaller fish and letting the big fish go so others as your self and many others can catch the same fish. Yes the big fish may not spawn again even if you let it go, but the memories you and maybe your kids can have with a old fish is priceless. Yes everyone has the right to kill and eat or get a big fish mounted but those of us that care about others will always want big fish to stay in the lakes for our friends and family to catch so they can have a fish of a life time. You want to know what happens when they catch and eat fish look at what has happen to falcon in the last few years. Falcon is a great lake and will be for many years to come, but only if they can keep them from netting all of the fish out of it. The big numbers are down but it will always catch a certain number of big fish but it is not as good now because of people taking ice chest full of large bass out of it. You have to take care of the trophies if you want to keep them. You put nets on Fork and it would do the same thing there to, we are so blessed on Fork that the guides catch and release. They know there needs to be a plan in place to keep the lake healthy, we may not always agree here on Fork to what is best we all agree we need to do the best we can to keep as many big fish in the lake as we can. We can sent to have spawn by Texas Parks or we can just take a picture and put her back in the water. I don't know of any guides here that would tell their clients to kill the fish.

Just wanted to update everyone on the Ignition Bass Youth Fishing league Tournament held Saturday out of Fin and feather. We had a really good pratice on Friday had 13lbs on traps and square bills. On Saturday Morning we had a weak front come through and it shut things down after 8:30. Hunter had 2 on a trap for around 5 lbs at that time. we finally slowed down and went to a shakey head and about 11am he pitched by a stick up standing on the edge of the creek in bull branch and stuck a 6.03 lb. We never got another bite so went with that and had 11.00 even. It was tough on all divisions. the next closest behind him was 4.59 in the all star division (16 to 18 age group). Hunter won big Bass Big Stringer and the Major league division (13 to 15 age group). There are lots of fish up the creek on the flats in 4 to 7 foot of water, but the weather can make them tough to catch. we found that all our fish came within one cast distance of the creek channel. The front had moved them back on the grass line at the drop. water temp was 47 warming to around 50 but 1pm. our trap was toledo gold and the shakey head was a zoom trick worm in California color 1/8 oz. The weather should make the bigs ones move this week Good Luck everyone.


AND let me say thanks to Fin and Feather for hosting the tournament Kim and the whole bunch were great, and they have the greatest cabins to stay in , and the food at the resturant was top notch too.