Keeping Big Bass

OutdoorBum · 04-11-2008, 11:13 AM

I started this thread out of respect for Bassinator because this conversation started on his Big Largemouth Thread and I didn't want to hijack it. But my son and I kept a 7lb. and 4.5 lb. bass we caught last Sunday and ate them with the family. Now before I get assaulted here, let me say that we caught a total of 10 fish that day with the smallest at 3.6 pounds and released those. We could've sat there and pulled those things out endlessly, but we wanted a meal too and kept the big one and one of the 4.5 pounders.

I know the 7 lb. was a brooder as someone mentioned, but my understanding is that in a good bass fishery (which this obviously is) taking one isn't going to impact it that much, as other brooders exist or will replace the 2 I took. Not to mention, this local river is almost exclusively surrounded by private property and not many people boat it because there are no launches.

My kids love the whole process of fishing/hunting, which starts from gear & tackle prep, to scouting, and then bringing it full circle to the dinner table. Sorry, but I don't feel I committed a fishery crime here and was responsible in my take.

MXRacer105 · 04-11-2008, 11:31 AM

What is the point of your post? Stirring the pot? Trying to justify this in your own mind? If you feel you did nothing wrong, why post?

A 7lbs fish is an old fish that has bread successfully many, many times and would have continued to pass on its obviously succesful genetics. IMHO you would be better off (in respect to the fishery) keeping a couple of smaller fish instead of the biggest catch of the day.

7 pound largemouth are not common in Oregon, and I can promise you no fishery in Oregon is filled with them....

OutdoorBum · 04-11-2008, 11:33 AM

MXRacer...don't worry, I've already asked to have this thread deleted

Justification in my mind not required

MXRacer105 · 04-11-2008, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OutdoorBum

MXRacer...don't worry, I've already asked to have this thread deleted

Justification in my mind not required

I see the whole picture now, I just read your other posts on the other thread.

pmartin · 04-11-2008, 11:40 AM

lets get a photo of the fish and or you eating it... that would be great.

you should make it happen outdoorbum

OutdoorBum · 04-11-2008, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MXRacer105

I see the whole picture now, I just read your other posts on the other thread.

fishlipper · 04-11-2008, 11:53 AM

I am guessing like most people that don't have a clue about bass sizes, this fish was a healthy looking 3-4lber. I would not get to excited until you see a pic. How many times do we get people on here saying they have caught a huge fish, and if they ever post pics, it looks about 4lbs. Posts like this are not even worth responding to. If we dont respond, they won't post any more and we can go on our merry way. Thanks for the drama, but save it for your mama.

flippinbaits · 04-11-2008, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OutdoorBum

i have no problem with you keeping fish and eating them. you paid to fish legally and are entitled to eat what you catch as long as it is legal size and quantatiy. But you need to get a clue on the spawning of bass and how it works.

first off, 7lb bass in oregon is old. meaning it wont taste nearly as good as a 2 lb fish. think about it, you wanna eat OLD OLD bear (if u ever have hunted). Plus that 7 lb bass has good genes and i bet had a good chunk of eggs in it. So not only did you kill that bass, but 2-3 it would have produced this spawning season.

that is why many bass fishermen get upset. Eating bass during spawning season doesn't just kill that one fish. next time, take 2-3 smaller fish that need to be thinned out. Not a toad with eggs in it.

again i have no problem with you catching fish, and helping it by thinning out a few of the smaller ones.

OutdoorBum · 04-11-2008, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishlipper

I am guessing like most people that don't have a clue about bass sizes, this fish was a healthy looking 3-4lber. I would not get to excited until you see a pic. How many times do we get people on here saying they have caught a huge fish, and if they ever post pics, it looks about 4lbs. Posts like this are not even worth responding to. If we dont respond to these jokers, they won't post any more and we can go on our merry way. Thanks for the drama, but save it for your mama.

I weighed it on a Rapala digital scale. No, I'm sure its not a tournament authorized system, but its what the fish weighed...the pics are on my wife's digital camera and I don't know how to download them, but she'll do it for me after work tonight.

OutdoorBum · 04-11-2008, 12:07 PM

Isn't salmon retention the same? Aren't you keeping a spawning fish?

Bassinator · 04-11-2008, 12:14 PM

I would stop fighting with this forum. Its only going to get some hard feelings hurt and its just not worth it. I would love to here reports from you again but other people might get nasty with you if you dont just let it go. Remember what I said.. Just don't post on here about killing a big fish please.

1bigfish · 04-11-2008, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OutdoorBum

Isn't salmon retention the same? Aren't you keeping a spawning fish?

If you are talking about native salmon then yes it is the same.
Now if you are talking hatchery salmon then no. There are no hatchery bass being planted in Oregon.

It is up to those that fish for bass to be good stewards of the bass we do have.

If you really want to hear the reasons for putting back the larger bass and keeping the smaller ones then feel free to PM me, Dave Smith, or ExBassGuide and we would all be more then happy to explain the reasons to you. But if post questions like this in the forum will just get you the type of replys you have already gotten.