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So I am having a debate over c and r on another fishing forum and the point was brought up that we should work collectively as bass anglers to get fish and wildlife to basically impose a release every bass over 14" rule on most if not all lakes. I am willing to do whatever it takes to make that possible I am just wondering if we can get enough backing and support to start the movement.

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Unfortunately Austin, I doubt the state would even give this much thought.  I don't think they will ever do anything to actually help the bass fisheries.  They want them gone, plain and simple.  It's a shame too, because if managed correctly, the sky is the limit to bass fishing in this state. 

Austin, I can be a little tricky with the game dept.  Since all rules are basically an adaptation of "trout" fishing regs, they can tend to follow them, which can suck.  Over on Coffepot late in eastern Wa. they not only mandated catch and release, but made it Single Hook, and Barbless restricted as well.  I know alot of guys that would be pissed if they couldn't use hardbaits, or have to remove the barb off a drop shot hook.  I 've driven past Coffeepot a dozen times now, and chose not to fish it simply because of the stupid regs.  I agree, Wa Fish and Game is never gonna make bass a priority.  There are really good people working there doing the day to day hard work, but as usual...management makes all the decisions, and they don't bass fish!

Or maybe the better bet may be not keeping anything over 17" but hey miracles have happened before whose to say if we don't get a lot of movement behind it that we cant make a change. We make up a lot of the fishing revenue in the state so its time for them to hear us out.

A lake near me...Cady Lake, in Belfair, is catch and release, fly fishing only, no motors allowed. It is private, but the state helps out, and the public can fish it from my understanding. Why couldn't there be a similar bass fishery?

This is a great idea in theory.  However, I see the same inevitable challenges we face now.  The State has slot limits in place currently which encourage some harvest of fish under 12 inches, mandatory release of fish between 12 and 17 inches, and limit an angler to one fish over 17 inches.  The problem is four-fold (at least):

  • Most bass anglers (I am guilty myself) release every bass we catch, even if the fish is under 12 inches, which could actually benefit the quality of many of our bass fisheries if these fish were harvested.
  • Many of the anglers (meat-fishermen) who harvest bass have no regard for the slot limit or even know there is a slot limit in place.  They keep whatever they want, whenever they want, regardless of the size and quantity of their catch.
  • There is ZERO enforcement of the current regulations since the WDFW has an extremely lean staff in the field and no money in their budget for hiring additional bodies.
  • With the exception of a couple warm-water guys (thank goodness we have them), the State does not care about the health and future of our bass fisheries

Feel free to chime in!  Just my thoughts.

I agree with Tag.  I believe Stan Coffin lake in the Quincy chain is catch and release only.  Whether this makes for a better fishery is something I am on the fence on.   I do know that there are issues impacting our fishing community that are more pressing than making every lake catch and release for bass.  We as tournament bass fisherman have our beliefs in C&R, and those that are hungry have their beliefs too.  As Tag stated the reality is if every lake in WA was catch and release for bass there would still be bass getting put in buckets and ending up in frying pans because there is slim to any chance that anyone in authority is going to catch people taking them.  The removal of limits on the River and other bodies of water upping the limits on Bass is troubling for sure tho!

I've never had an wdfw official look in my livewells....guess its time to start shipping drugs in them!!

It was a suggestion that I though with enough planning and thinking we could formulate some sort of proposal to WDFW

Tag was also saying that bass need to be harvested as well in some regard so they aren't competing against each other to the point of stunting growth.

In my opinion the bigger issue is poaching across the board of all species.  They come in, put everything in their bucket and eradicate the bass's food supply.

P.J. Koshi said:

I agree with Tag.  I believe Stan Coffin lake in the Quincy chain is catch and release only.  Whether this makes for a better fishery is something I am on the fence on.   I do know that there are issues impacting our fishing community that are more pressing than making every lake catch and release for bass.  We as tournament bass fisherman have our beliefs in C&R, and those that are hungry have their beliefs too.  As Tag stated the reality is if every lake in WA was catch and release for bass there would still be bass getting put in buckets and ending up in frying pans because there is slim to any chance that anyone in authority is going to catch people taking them.  The removal of limits on the River and other bodies of water upping the limits on Bass is troubling for sure tho!

slot limits were enforced on me at banks a few years back. caught 3 nice smallies one after the other. threw them in the well, was in process of getting out camra when they pulled up and bing bang boom, big ol fat ticket for to many fish over the slot limit. even thou I just wanted pictures before I threw them back, that didn't matter, they took my money, jack holes..... and the way they treated the fish was awful, just let them sit on the hot bow while they fiddle with there crap! im surprised they survived  damn jack holes,.....

Not to get off subject, but I've seen pics of multiple fish over the slot held in a livewell I'm assuming and not during a tournament, obviously for the sake of a pic and released. I've often wondered how that would play out with enforcement. Interesting. Back on topic...why could there not be bass only lakes, private or otherwise, that cater to a quality fishery? Obviously, given the fact that bass reproduce each year and as such, some would need to be harvested. I keep a few 10-11 inch fish from a pond I fish. I never like doing it. But I do. I enjoy fish from time to time and I know some folks that are struggling...but something in me makes me think....this could be that 7-10 pound fish in the future

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