Well you are right Wade about too many small fish. I have seen and heard of others were the rule for a lake is that you "have to" keep anything under 12 inches. but there aren't any around here I know of. I guess the best thing to do is to say something to these people. Fish and Game can't stay on top of it all.

you are correct in the statement that a lot of people do not know the laws on the catch limits and sizes. Many times I have seen people with bass in the 14 or 15 inch size, in their boats planning on taking them home to eat. These bass are to be released as there is a state slot limit. I also do agree with Smitty that taking some smaller fish, less than 12 inches here and there will not hurt, but taking the larger fish especially in the smaller lakes is and can be devestating. But Smitty hit the nail on the head.

Ted

I share some of your concerns regarding folks who don't appear to have any idea of what catch limits are for our lakes & streams.  Here in the NW, we have a large population of folks with roots from SE Asia.  Having spent a good share of my life in that region, I can understand their feelings regarding the taking of fish for the table.  What they fail to realize is that the supply IS exhaustable, given the northern climate we live in.   On another note the taking of fish for table fare is a privilage of every license carrying resident of the state.  It will ususally not harm, and in some cases help, the overall fishery if you occasionally take home a limit to eat.    Moreover, in consideration of how long it takes for a bass to reach "lunker" proportions, it seems to me that those bass under 13" would serve the purpose best with the least harmfull impact on the fishery. ???  The Fish & Game Dept. has a better idea of the overall fish population in most of our lakes than many of us realize.

Smitty

I live up in the north end (snohomish county) and have quick access to a lot of little lakes (60 acres and less). I also don't own a decent kicker yet so the big lakes are a little intimidating. Right from the start my family and I have been practicing catch and release. My reasoning was that if people take everything they catch out of these little lakes then they will quickly become depleted of bass. But recently I heard that little lakes can become over run with small bass which will make it hard for the bigger ones to survive. Therefore, smaller bass should be removed to "help" the bass population as a whole. Does anyone have some insight to this question. I have a feeling that all lakes are different and require experts to make that decision which means $$$$$$ .
TY, Wade
On another note, I am very alarmed at the amount of ignorance out there about bass catch laws. A LOT of people have no idea about the size and amount limits. I see a lot of "old school" mentality that scares me about the future of these small lakes. Maybe I'm overreacting, i dunno?