Most of CT lakes that are public and would hold trophy size bass also have slot limits where fish under 12" can be kept, so those guys may not be taking bass illegally. As suggested on other threads, get their license plate # and report them on the DEP Tip line.
And congratulations on catching those monsters that no one else can manage to find.
BigBill, on some lakes you CAN take them if they are less than 12". For instance, Moodus has a 12-18" slot limit, no fish betweeen those ranges and I think only 1 over 18 but all you want under 12.
RayZCT Our great goverment did a survey on fishing God only knows how much it cost us only to tell us to puit the big fish(spawners) back and take the smaller fish so we getting a higher rate of spawning all the time. Which makes sense to me. But I still think a full year of catch and release only could make a big difference too. BigBill
#69281 - 09/23/0412:37 PM
Re: RECORD LARGEMOUTH!!!
Jighead
I love re-re-opening day
Registered: 04/05/02
Posts: 11210
BigBill - Every pond or lake would have to be accessed individually before any regulations can be put in place to improve a specific fishery. 100% C&R will likely do more damage than good in many lakes. There are lots of lakes that currently need smaller fish removed in order to improve the fishery. Lakes with so many bass or panfish, that they are stunted, and do not grow normally.
I also once read a article about stocking a bass pond. It exlained what quantites, of which fish, you needed to achieve an optimum growth rate - but what I remember most about that article, was that it said - do not introduce Crappie as they over compete with small bass. Crappie reproduce at a significant rates. Big females will lay 10,000 eggs. My point is, a bucket of crappie here and there, or removing over abundant sunnies for that matter, is in reality a good thing in a lot of places. However, it's important that we know the specific needs of any particular lake first before doing so.
And - thanks for the pep-talk, but I already fish long, fish hard, stay focused and stay motivated. I know many of the lakes I fish like that back of my hand. After 25 years fishing some of them, I can draw you a topo map off the top of my head. I'd be happy with an 8 since I've caught some 7's, but I still say, anything above 8 is a bonus.
Jighead Thanks for the info on the crappies I hope they will continue to reproduce to feed the bigger bass. Maybe its ok that so many people take fish out. I just hate to see bucket fulls going then if i try to fish for crappies there are none to be caught and lesser in numbers and size every year after this guy fishes and cleans them out. One other guy told me he is stocking another place with them. One of my spots I was told by an ice fisherman there was a winter kill a few years ago during a very cold winter when the ice was very thick. He told there were big bass frozen in the ice all over were he shoveled the snow off to drill and set up his stuff. He said you wouldn't believe all the many numbers bass frozen in the ice. I guess nature has a way of monitoring itself to control the fish populations. I guess it can slow a place down too for a few years too. I'm never happy with what i catch even my one 10lber is ok but i know i can do better and i've seen better fish too in the water. I will notice a few times when I'm catching smaller bass and the bite is on the larger bass will just drift in and hang there to see whats going on I constantly look/scan the water while i'm fishing and have noticed this happening. Maybe the action of the smaller fish draws them out of their deeper haunts to see whats going on? This has happened on 3 or 4 occasions to me in two different places too. BigBill
BigBassBill - That should be your new name, since you know all the trophy bass lakes and ponds. You need to change your 50% luck, 50% skill theory at the end of your posts to 90% luck, 10% skill.
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