09-30-2010, 09:03 PM
I think that the best bass example regarding indeterminate growth is good old Deer Creek.
Deer Creek has been on trophy regulations for over 10 years. (No bass over 12 inches allowed to be harvested.) What is its current state?
1. There is a very large population of smallmouth bass and a few largies.
2. There are very few smallies over 15 inches and it is a even a happy day if you can get a few 12 inchers. You can catch all the 8-9 inchers you care to reel in. The fish are rather skinny and grow very little from year to year. (The largies are much rarer, but are more likely to exceed 12 inches if you catch one.)
3.The forage situation is tough due to the high population of smallmouth bass and also competition from walleye.
4. Water conditions have been poor the past few years and only now are starting to improve.
It is clear due to existing regulation that harvest is not limiting the smallies here. Overpopulation, lack of forage, and water issues are. More C&R will not help DC one bit. If somehow we could thin out the innumerable 8-10 inchers, then we might see bigger smallies here again, especially if we could get a break with the water situation.
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Deer Creek has been on trophy regulations for over 10 years. (No bass over 12 inches allowed to be harvested.) What is its current state?
1. There is a very large population of smallmouth bass and a few largies.
2. There are very few smallies over 15 inches and it is a even a happy day if you can get a few 12 inchers. You can catch all the 8-9 inchers you care to reel in. The fish are rather skinny and grow very little from year to year. (The largies are much rarer, but are more likely to exceed 12 inches if you catch one.)
3.The forage situation is tough due to the high population of smallmouth bass and also competition from walleye.
4. Water conditions have been poor the past few years and only now are starting to improve.
It is clear due to existing regulation that harvest is not limiting the smallies here. Overpopulation, lack of forage, and water issues are. More C&R will not help DC one bit. If somehow we could thin out the innumerable 8-10 inchers, then we might see bigger smallies here again, especially if we could get a break with the water situation.
[signature]