NAFC does a noteworthy job to mention catch and release often enough we all should practice it , at least have some restraint in what we do keep, and a few of the ones on the show ask not to target bass on beds so they can protect their young and add to the population. So i write this, after holding back a while to ask the NAFC upper people this. One , look at that stringer in the photo promoting the crappies after dark, even if there isnt a limit in whatever state that may be in for crappie , is that really promoting responcibility as a fisherman to have that many in a trip? Granted nobody knows how many anglers are splitting that count , i mean cmon. Yea i can imagine some if not most will be frozen, why not take less and come back for more when ya need?

   Two , lets talk about that dont bother bass on beds, yet read february 2009 "Get the drop on cold bass" by Mark Hicks, the last paragraph on page 15 reads "One of the few times i want a slow fall is immediately after the spawn. Then I'll cast an unweighted Yum Dinger around cover where bass are guarding fry -Dave Wolak......

My take on that ,,, One , a  touring bass pro, as stated in sentence one got that quoted in NAFC and it flew over top dog heads? Two , that really what being a pro about ? HERES TO BEIN A ROOKIE . Three, should continued pro sponcership be proper? Maybe we better make sure pros cant use dynamite as bait.

 Yea i like the mag, i like Dr. Hal, Love the lindners, Hate the fact july august and septembers mags all roll into one, when i want and  need you most. Not gonna boycott, but i would like some feedback on this stuff.

  One last thing i'd like to say, i know all state fishing laws are different but does that make it ok to keep foul hooked fish? All personal opinion i'm sure, but the next time i see a "pro" keep a foul hooked fish i'ma start readin other state fishing laws because i've seen two different "pros" keep foul hooked , not gonna mention names , wont do any good to, but , i'm watching your shows still, but keep in mind a lot of people are watching, you could either set an example or realize you could be passing on bad habits unknowingly . I am still watching , i've seen 2 do it, (dont get me wrong , not seen on NAFC shows) and if i see it again, it's research time, and you two always state where your at and fishing laws of every state can probobly be found online, how bad would ya look if you was arrested for poaching? If you've read this far , thanks for the time, i love fishing, i think the Lindners are some of the best ever, Al amazes me and i would provide him my float tube anyday. Maybe even the one with the fish finder in it.

 

Crappie are prolific spawners, bass are not. It's totally different to release bass and keep a few than to take a stringer of Crappie or Bluegill.

Also, it's okay to fish for bass on beds, but to release them back into the water quickly.

OK guys, let's talk selective harvest. Catch and release is well and good on a pressured body of water. On a small pond like the one down the street from my house, folks tend to release the small fish and keep the larger ones- result: a lake full of small fish (stunted) and no larger ones! There is a time to keep the small fish so that some can reach a decent size. If the bass's head seems to small for the body, it's probably stunted. Time to thin the herd! Tom
Fishin' fool in NE Illinois

Ok so you think a touney angler releases his bed bound bass back right away? i'm not out to rip on anyone and i do apologize for sounding so negative , it just seems with the threats to our species (vhs, exotic species ) shouldnt we be a little more careful? Arent anglers all about one thing overall, the fish? If we dont take it upon ourselves, then who will, who should ? The government? We should be responcible anglers, take and take carefully , and at the same time, protect . My major point is the facct this magazine, which i think is great , published the tourney anglers words of how he takes bass from beds, and being a tourney angler, you know that fish did not get released in the same area, nor did it get released in time to get back and save any of its fry. Things do happen to fry, but should it happen due to an angler? Yes we all want to catch fish, and yes we all have the option to take that fishes life for a meal, but imagine the damage done to smaller bodies of water by just one person if they, say , harvest the limit every night for a year, nobody can argue impact that would have on the fishing. I guess coming from a small town with small reservoirs and high level of pressure, with no restocking , my concerns can vary greatly from someone fishing on a very large lake . Yea i can travel to better places, do i want to? NO not really, i want great action everywhere, from bass to crappie to cats. At this time i do want to apologize again for sounding so negative from the previous post. Thanks for reading this . The Lindners all rock by the way, Hank Parker too.

I do want to mention the last "Hunt for big game fish" with Larry Dahlberg, where the guide he has tells him how many bodies are dumped in tthat river each year, and yet took the time to wet his hands before handling larry's catch, Ever see houston do that , or dance when he pats their big ol bellies or when houston kisses em, pfft . I like dance but i still wonder why houston has a tv show, cause he can catch em? If thats it and only it , i want to challenge him to a fishing competition where his  shows the prize for the winner. Thanks again for readin this.

P.S. The wing it bobblers suck, these red hooks the club sent are chipping paint inside the package and i can bend most the swivels with my thumbnail haha. Other than that , Doc Hal is awesome, The lindners rock and They and Hank and Bill Dance are welcome to use my extra float tube with me any time, but i'll still keep the fishfinder mounted on mine.

I personally don't like bass tournaments being scheduled during the spawn, I feel that it is bad for the fishery. I personally don't fish for bass until I am sure that the spawn is done and the males are off the nests, it's a personal thing! Tom
Fishin' fool in NE Illinois

One , a  touring bass pro, as stated in sentence one got that quoted in NAFC and it flew over top dog heads? Two , that really what being a pro about ? HERES TO BEIN A ROOKIE .

 

Answer: Yes It is.

 

 

 

LOL Good Luck on the competition. I would really like to see that. You would really be humiliated.

 

 

Delaware Trophy Bass http://delawaretrophybass.com

 

 

 

1998 Big Bass World Champ Life Member NAFC/B.A.S.S. PAA/Anglers Legacy/ACT