Thread: Why are bass taboo to clean?

First off I am a fisherman that likes to eat fish. I do not know what right some of them snobby bass fisherman have to tell me I cant clean a bass of legal size if I want to . I have almost been in 3 fist fights because i kept a couple of green carp. Not to mention the ones who think they are the only ones who have a right to fish a spot and not swamp us crappie and gill fisherman even in the idle zone at monroe. They are as bad as those peskey jet ski in the summer. Makes me want to keep all I catch and i hate fishing for fish that would hit a corn cob with hooks in it.

Bass fisherman believe that you should release all bass. didn't say it was right, you should be able to do what you want with your catch within legal limits,

Next time just tell 'em youre doing your part in trying to remove the "TRASH FISH" from the lake.:D:D

Personally I am glad that catch and release has caught on. I don't think its right that anyone tries to force their opinion about it though. I usually release the bass I catch because for one I think bass are a very efficient predator and I mostly fish Patoka and figure they eat a few small crappie a year to help the rest grow faster. I hear people complaining about all the small fish at Patoka then keep the large predator fish.

I agree with the irritation of people blowing by you in idle zones or anywhere for that matter. I hate it too and it does raise my blood preassure at times. However these people aren't all bass fisherman.

I think overall bass clubs have helped our fisheries. They bring lots of revenue to the area they have the tourneys at just as crappie usa does. They also bring a lot of additional revenue to dnr. This revenue can then be used to do things like stock our lakes with walleye, catfish, saugeye, and stripers to further improve our fisheries.

Yes there are idiot bass fisherman out there but then again there are idiot panfisherman as well.....

I really do not see a problem with keeping a legal catch of any fish. If you catch a few bass while crappie fishing and you want to eat them then do so. As long as they are of a legal size. The DNR does a pretty good job of regulating our lakes.

Personal preference I reckon, but I like ot release all bass to help keep the panfish, my main target, under control and thereby help ensure they don't overpopulate. My next preference is that panfish are a hell of a lot better eating than any bass. My Dad used to like the thicker softer meat and the flavor, so every once in a while I'd keep one for him.

He usually wouldn't complain though if he had to eat 'gills or crappie instead.

Originally Posted by INGrandad

Personal preference I reckon, but I like ot release all bass to help keep the panfish, my main target, under control and thereby help ensure they don't overpopulate. My next preference is that panfish are a hell of a lot better eating than any bass. My Dad used to like the thicker softer meat and the flavor, so every once in a while I'd keep one for him.

He usually wouldn't complain though if he had to eat 'gills or crappie instead.

May wanna read up my friend,bass are panfish :D
I say keep all them green carps & feedem to your cats or use for mater fertilizer :D

from the late 80's right up till a few years ago, its was a silent rule that you didnt keep bass. It was barbaric if you did. The catch and release thing got pounded into fishermen everywhere, and thats just the way bass fishing went. Seems like the last few years, harvest fishermen have started to make a come-back.
Those bass guys giving you a hard time are still under the impression that eating a bass is harmful to the population, when its proven fact its not.(Also if there making a big to-do about, hunter/fishermen harrasment laws do apply...)
I probably eat 12 bass a year, compared to the hundreds and hundreds of other fish. I do like the taste of bass, but somewhere in my mind, that same red light goes off when i put them in the livewell for harvest, even though i know better, its still hard to overcome what was ingrained in your head.

Fillet them up my friend, dont sweat the snobs and purist.

HB

Bass fishermen........The top dogs on the lake.....the cream of the crop.......the reason they built the lake in the first place. Don't believe me? Just watch a 150 boat tournament take off from Cutright on a Saturday morning. It has to be there lake. Who else would be allowed to run wide open threw the idle zone? Who else is allowed to troll right between you and the bank?.........Wow it's no wonder I change my flavor from Bass to Crappie.:D Ok enough bashing on my part. Although it felt good to get that out of my system. . I think it comes down to the fact that 50+ percent of Bass fisherman spend all day on the lake and don't even get a bite. So when the see you cleaning a few there mind set is you have the only fish in the lake getting ready to be fry up to a crisp perfection. Add a cold beer and mmmmmmmmmm.

There are plenty of crappie, gills, walleye, catfish, and other tasty snacks to go around. I throw the bass back because w/out them all I would do is reel in dirty dish rags and tiny gills all day long.