Bass Retention on Lake Terrel Any Thoughts

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Henry Chan on April 27, 2011 at 10:37am

Agreed 100% on catch and release on fish over 15", and it should be on all lakes not only Terrell to have a self sustainable bass fishery. IMO Regulations needed to be established first. Eventhough I've never seen a fishery officer check for licence last year, at least we can report the boat# if we see someone is breaking the law. I'm not sure on how to get the regulation changed but I believe it can be done if the many local bass clubs can help work on it.

Permalink Reply by Sun on April 27, 2011 at 1:20pm

I second that! Matt I agree with you Terrell has gone down hill in the past few years. I am 100% down for C&R on any bass over 15" in the state of Washington. 

Permalink Reply by Brandon Thomas on April 27, 2011 at 3:33pm

A regulation change would save some fish from being harvest by law abiding anglers, but it makes no mater what the regulations are if there is no enforcement. I would guess that I spend upwards of twenty days a year on this pond and have not had my license checked in at least 15 years. I try to tactfully educate anglers about the importance of the larger bass being left in the system when I see them harvest and have actually convinced people to release them. Im all for changing whatever has to be changed to bring this lake back to half what it was 25 years ago.

Permalink Reply by Shane Hoelzle on April 27, 2011 at 6:19pm

I fish Terrell alot and have seen it a few times myself. I have not seen it yet this year but Im sure they are out there. There is a hispanic family in a blue and white wood/fiberglass boat that bonk everything they catch. I watched them bring in over 100 pumpinseed and perch plus atleast 30 bass mostly WITHIN the slot limit, but a few 4+ fish. I went up and said something to them and they rattled something in spanish off at me with the word "gringo" at the end. I walked up to the house at the boat launch there to see if the guy was there but he wasnt. By the time I got back they had all left. They are out there all the time during warm weather months. I will have my camera ready the next time I see them! Terrell seems to be a lake that the "crawler and bobber" crowd seems to be drawn to. Meat fishermen drive me nuts and I wish there was a way to ban it. If someone knows how to get a catch and release only law going for this lake I would be willing to help in whatever way I can.  I learned to bass fish on this lake and its a shame at how it is now compared to years ago. Nothing drives me more crazy than seeing an old man and his wife rowing a dingy back to the launch with a stringer out the back with a 7+ lbs largemouth attached bleeding to death because they ripped the gills out..... Seen that 2 times last year. Same people both times

Permalink Reply by David Parnicky on April 27, 2011 at 6:24pm

Every time I go out there someone on the fishing dock has a dead 4 + lber on a stringer.  They always show it off to me thinking I will be excited to see it.  I tell them they are killing the lake and they never listen.  It's truly sad!  That lake has some awesome bass in it!!

Permalink Reply by Shane Hoelzle on April 27, 2011 at 10:23pm

I see that all the time too. I saw a 6 pounder on a stringer still kickin' around one day when I was launching my boat. The guy left for a minute to go use the porta-pottie and I let the bass go! My coangler still laughs about it to this day.Another thing about the dock anglers there is they get all pissed off at you when you launch a boat there. Almost like they think they own the dock.They refuse to get out of the way. Then complain when I fire the outboard up. (Granted most the time it is in spanish). I had one cast out in front of me when I was motoring out of the launch and got his line all wound in my prop. Then he proceeded to tell me that I owed him a spool of line!!!!!!! 

David Parnicky said:

Every time I go out there someone on the fishing dock has a dead 4 + lber on a stringer.  They always show it off to me thinking I will be excited to see it.  I tell them they are killing the lake and they never listen.  It's truly sad!  That lake has some awesome bass in it!!

Permalink Reply by Tag Watson on April 28, 2011 at 6:05am

I agree with Brandon.  We can have the best regulations in place but most "meat fishermen" either A) don't know what the regulations are, or B) don't care and know that there will be no negative repercussions for them breaking the law.  There is no enforcement out there whatsoever.  Very, very sad.

Permalink Reply by Tag Watson on April 28, 2011 at 6:08am

Shane, that cracks me up that you rescued that 6 pounder.  The bass vigilante. 

 

BTW, you still owe me that spool of line! 

Permalink Reply by Matt Krumdiack on April 28, 2011 at 7:11pm

Maybe the lake has a high mercury content and those who eat anything but a trout from lake terrel will be forever sick and start growing extra toes and hands. Spread that around it may be the only chance we got.

Permalink Reply by Shane Hoelzle on April 28, 2011 at 8:20pm

Sorry I didn't recognize you with the Rainbow Brite kids pole with 2lbs test and 18 splitshots on. LOL . I guess Im more used to seeing you holding up fish the size of my boat!

 

I so wish I was still back at the launch when that guy came back from dropping a #2. He was in there for over 10 minutes. Im sure he was very irate when he returned. It would have been fun to video tape. And I am very happy to say that the bass swam away energetic and happy

Tag Watson said:

Shane, that cracks me up that you rescued that 6 pounder.  The bass vigilante. 

 

BTW, you still owe me that spool of line! 

Permalink Reply by OC on April 29, 2011 at 10:58am

I agree.  I fished Terrell last Saturday and the meat fisherman were out in full force. Just hate seeing this lake pounded by folks who feel the need to take everything home.  I only got two bites, but one of them was a good one.

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Permalink Reply by Kun on April 29, 2011 at 10:38pm

I agree with everyone.  This lake isn't what it used to be.  It kill me to see it happen over and over.  Something need to be done about it or else.  Let me know if you need me to sign anything to stop this madness.  It funny you said that about the boat launch Shane.   I swear they fish there like they own the dock.  To be honest I don't think there should be any fishing on any the boat launch period.  This topic is  raising my blood pressure.  I gotta go now.