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Keeping Big Bass
Why are we so angry when we see someone keep a trophy bass?
Before we get into the season and everyone starts catching (and keeping) bass, I wanted to start a healthy discuss on why us bass addicts get so irate when we see a big bass being caught and kept. For this discussion I will define a trophy bass as one over 20” in length and weighing more than 6lbs.
So why is it every time we see someone report or post a mention or picture of a big bass they have kept, a huge dispute over what is ethical ensues? Usually many heated posts are made and they typically become very personal. Showing the anglers passion for the sport but also creating conflict in an unhealthy manner. So how do we move beyond flaming the angler who chooses to keep a large bass (legally)? I say we educate them on why we are so passionate and concerned with that big fish being taken.
First off let me say that I have never judged anyone who has kept a large bass for personal reasons, to eat or have a mount made, and I won’t as long as that angler is obeying the laws and regulations set forth by the WDFW:
LARGEMOUTH BASS
No min. size. Only BASS less than 12" may be retained, except 1 over 17" may be retained. Daily limit
5. Bass may be caught, retained, and released alive from a livewell until a daily limit is in possession.
SMALLMOUTH BASS
No min. size. Only 1 BASS over 14" may be retained. Daily limit 10. Bass may be caught, retained,
and released alive from a livewell until a daily limit is in possession.
As with most fish, the growth rate of largemouth bass is highly variable and depends on food supply and environmental conditions. Largemouth can grow to more than 2 pounds their first year under ideal conditions, but in nature about 0.5 pounds is normal. Females are normally larger than males and the maximum size of the Northern largemouth is about 10 pounds with males seldom exceeding 5 pounds.
About 5 pounds of live forage are required for annual maintenance, and 10 pounds of forage are required to add 1 pound of gain to largemouth bass. With such a slow growth season and rate for Northern Strain Largemouth bass in the Northwest, you can see that it takes many years for a bass to grow to trophy size. In some cases Northern Strain bass have been reported to be over 15 years old. So you can assume that a 6+lb bass is anywhere between 6-16 years old.
A bass over the state regulation length of 17” may seem nice as a large table fair but what most people don’t realize is that a fish of this size or greater is old and the meat is not very good. Two bass of a smaller size (say less than 12”) and youthful will have more flavor and fair than one old one. With the potential of 5 bass under 12” that may be retained, this would make for a far better meal.
On a side note, taking bass in the slot limit out of a lake, helps to ensure continued growth and balance to that particular eco system. Allowing other bass to grow and have ample forage. Example: if 5 bass fill a tank and have x amount of forage food to eat, they will only be able to consume 1/5 of the forage each. If you take the same tank and only have 3 bass with the same x amount of forage you now have 1/3 consumption of forage per bass. Every lake in the state struggles with this healthy balance and this is why a slot limit was created. Not to say that the slot limit is the answer but it does help lakes not to become over populated, leading to a stunted bass population. Keep in mind too, with all this information, lakes in the Northwest are not stocked with largemouth bass.
During spawn individual females usually contain 2,000 to 7,000 eggs per pound of body weight, with an average of about 4,000 eggs. The female usually lays a few hundred adhesive eggs at a time. Usually at spawning the weight of eggs in females will be 10 percent or more of her body weight. Larger fish tend to have larger eggs and therefore larger fry but fewer eggs per pound of body weight.
When trophy bass spawn not only are they laying less eggs, but those eggs are carrying very strong genes. The chances that those eggs of a trophy largemouth grow to be another trophy are very high. Thus, quantity gives way to quality. This is one of the biggest factors avid bass anglers become indignant when someone has kept a big bass. That bass has the potential to bring life to more quality fish and to do so for many years. And just about every trophy bass is going to be a female.
I want everyone to see both sides of the coin here. It is completely legal to keep one 17” or larger bass. At the same time realize the passion us bass anglers feel toward these trophy largemouth and the damage it can cause toward that particular lake by taking them out. By putting that big fish back, not only are you ensuring future quality spawned fish, but the chance someone else will have the joy of catching it again are 100% greater. I hope this helps any young or old anglers to understand why we bass fisherman feel so strongly about our large quarry.
Sited Information:
SRAC Publication No. 200
WDFW Rules and Regulations
fishnislife
Views: 5249
Comment
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Comment by Shawn O'Connell on February 17, 2010 at 9:11am
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This is definitely a topic that can get heated in a hurry. Fortunately I think that all or most of us on this site are of the same mind. I do get fired up when I see someone keep a big bass. Much of the time they just can't get over their ego enough to release it after taking photos. They want to be able to show the fish to everyone back at home. I also had a guy tell me that once largemouth get over seven pounds in Washington they don't spawn anymore. He believed this to the core and nothing I said would convince him otherwise. Now, there are certain lakes that I believe slot limits or something similar should be implemented. Banks Lake being one of these.
The regulations may allow for keeping the big bass, but I believe that anyone that cares for the future of the fishery will not do so. Things are getting better as most of the "meat" fisherman are older and the new generation of guys and gals out there are proponents of C&R.
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Comment by Johnny Walker on February 17, 2010 at 8:55am
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Some lakes could use some selective keeping... for example my family has a 6 acre pond in Alabama. We personally stocked it with Pan fish, Catfish, Carp and LM Bass. The experts from Auburn University who examined the lake gave us the numbers for what we should be keeping to optimize the productivity of the pond. If I remember correctly we always keep and ate 25lbs of bass per acre every year with all being 1-1.5 lbs. Using this educated recommendation we produced trophy sized fish in a matter of 4-5 years to include 6 plus Lber fish being pretty common.
With that said the professionals giving us the numbers were trying to maximize our LM Bass. Around here the Game and Wildlife officials are probably measure their numbers for keeper bass in relation to not only the success of bass but all the other game fish such as trout and salmon.
This is an interesting topic and I would love to hear what the experts have to say. As in the Game and Wildlife experts who determine what and what not to keep on Northwest lakes.
Due to the colder winters and water temps it takes a long time for the fish in Washington to get to that trophy size for the most part. (Specifically Northern Washington)
With all that said... I don't keep bass around here but based from my personal knowledge if I was to keep some they would be the smaller fish in the 1-1.5 lb range due to the slow growth rate and larger females being the most productive reproducers.
My Opinion is that anyone who keeps and kills a quality bass either is ignorant to the facts involved or cares little for the lake he/she fishes and its potential as a quality bass fishery. I understand some people are hungry... if the person or their family were starving I would gladly buy them some fish sticks to save a 4lber!
Hooah!
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Comment by Jeremiah Partyke on February 17, 2010 at 7:34am
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Ohhhh, that there is funny Phil. How'd ya know anyways?
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Comment by P.J. Koshi on February 16, 2010 at 11:56pm
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I don't respect people who keep 5lb+ Bass! It is their choice and this is America so I usually don't get involved in attacking those who do this. If you want a mount there is absolutely no need to kill the fish to get a beautiful likeness. I myself want a mount of my first Bass 8lbs+ but I am going to take the necessary measurements and a high quality close up photo. If you are genuinely hungry all I can say is I'm sorry! I will be happy to attack those who are idiotic enough to post pics of themselves holding up big Bass in their kitchens or back yards...
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Comment by cody hampton on February 16, 2010 at 11:21pm
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I personally dont like people at all who do this. Any fish that lives to about 3 lbs has increased its chances of growing up to be a 7 or 8 lber. I understand people who keep fish that are 12 inchers, cause that could help out that body of water if it has alot of fish that size, but anything bigger then a couple lbs, well screw em'. If they want something that big to show off or watever before it goes into the fryer well go fish for slime rockets.
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Comment by Kevin Bye on February 16, 2010 at 10:58pm
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I'm tired of stunted lakes.
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Comment by Jerry on February 16, 2010 at 10:33pm
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Sounds like a commie post, man. LOL Just kidding. I know you and your passion for the fish. I can't answer for anyone else, but you are bound to get some replies on this. My own thought is...If it's legal and you so choose to keep one, that is your choice. I personally don't keep any big fish as my thought is I just have no need to. A pic is good for me. If I want, I'll get a reproduction. I don't judge anyone for keeping a large fish tho. It's their choice. I saw a guy a few years ago keep a 10+. They were convinced it was a state record but I knew better. It didn't bother me that they kept it. Their choice. It's like the guy that keeps a native steelhead or a 50" muskie. Some are gonna bash, but ultimately, it is THEIR choice.
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