Fountain creek smallmouth

[Crosshairy]

All black bass are pretty tasty fish.

Just a tip - if you aren't deep frying crappie, then try pan-searing them. Get the skillet plenty hot, preferably with a film of coconut oil or some other heat-tolerant oil. The high heat will give you a nice crust on the underside, which off-sets the softer meat's texture.

 

[KENBOB10]

I don't eat fish period. Liked them when I was a kid, just don't now. IMO you should be able to eat any legal fish you catch. My thoughts on tournament fishing is this, if all the tournament participants kept the fish they caught think of how this would effect the population. Sure some of them die, but they could legally keep five bass each yet they turn them loose to be caught again. I'm just not gonna pitch a fit, because I really think MOST tournaments take very good care of the fish.

 

[JimFromTN]

Thats why I like the format of the major league fishing show. They catch the fish, weigh it, and throw it back. The only problem is that you have to have an official in the boat with you to weigh the fish which could be complicated in a large tournament. I have been to Paris landing after a big tournament and dead bass are lining the banks. I don't know that I believe them when they say they have a 95% survival rate. Fortunately, Kentucky lake has so many bass that it probably does not affect populations that drastically. The best thing for fish populations is size limits and creel limits. When they bumped the size limits on Kentucky Lake, the fishing improved drastically over the next couple of years. I personally won't typically eat largemouth or smallmouth. I figure tournament fisherman and subsistance fisherman are taking enough of those out of the system that I don't feel comfortable keeping any. Ky Lake has plenty of spotted bass, sauger, catfish, bluegill, and stripe if I want something to eat. I don't have issue with others eating river smallmouth but if you keep too many, you may notice that the ones you catch are getting smaller and fewer and eventually rare to even catch a small one at all. I have seen it happen before but this is true of hunting and fishing. I used to hunt squirrels around the smith county. I used to kill some absolutely beautiful fox squirrels. Wild tiger striped ones and even a blond one once. Some guys came down and killed around 100 or more squirrels in one season. I saw them the next season and they told me but said there aren't many squirrels around this season and they did not understand because they had such a great season the year before. I think they gave up hunting the area because there were no more squirrels. As a result, the squirrels are back but I don't see the different fox squirrel patterns as much anymore. Hopefully they will be back someday providing someone does not erraticate them again.

I have had the same mushy fish effect with flounder. Its not the fish, its the way you cook it.

 

[KENBOB10]

Thats why I like the format of the major league fishing show. They catch the fish, weigh it, and throw it back. The only problem is that you have to have an official in the boat with you to weigh the fish which could be complicated in a large tournament. I have been to Paris landing after a big tournament and dead bass are lining the banks. I don't know that I believe them when they say they have a 95% survival rate. Fortunately, Kentucky lake has so many bass that it probably does not affect populations that drastically. The best thing for fish populations is size limits and creel limits. When they bumped the size limits on Kentucky Lake, the fishing improved drastically over the next couple of years. I personally won't typically eat largemouth or smallmouth. I figure tournament fisherman and subsistance fisherman are taking enough of those out of the system that I don't feel comfortable keeping any. Ky Lake has plenty of spotted bass, sauger, catfish, bluegill, and stripe if I want something to eat. I don't have issue with others eating river smallmouth but if you keep too many, you may notice that the ones you catch are getting smaller and fewer and eventually rare to even catch a small one at all. I have seen it happen before but this is true of hunting and fishing. I used to hunt squirrels around the smith county. I used to kill some absolutely beautiful fox squirrels. Wild tiger striped ones and even a blond one once. Some guys came down and killed around 100 or more squirrels in one season. I saw them the next season and they told me but said there aren't many squirrels around this season and they did not understand because they had such a great season the year before. I think they gave up hunting the area because there were no more squirrels. As a result, the squirrels are back but I don't see the different fox squirrel patterns as much anymore. Hopefully they will be back someday providing someone does not erraticate them again.

I have had the same mushy fish effect with flounder. Its not the fish, its the way you cook it.

Good post!

 

[jb3]

Great post Jim.

I've fished Turnbull since the early 80's and saw it go through a spell where you were lucky to catch a smallmouth longer than 12". We would see people floating the creek with stringers of smallies. Didn't take long for those fish to become scarce.

 

[Spurhunter]

Smh, people can eat what they want...I hope hookedup doesn't see this post or he willillet evelie n post a pix!lol...Cold water smallies are great eating, stop hating

I guess reading comprehension isn't your strong suit. I didn't say he couldn't eat it or shouldn't eat it. I also wasn't "hating". I said I've never seen anyone cook a smallmouth.

I've been on the site for a while and I've never read anything positive coming for the spur, your comment was trying to make the cat look bad period. If you don't have anything good say keep it moving.

You take a general observation, twist it to what you want so you can smart off, and then say I need to keep it moving? Classic. I'm just all tore up that someone like you doesn't approve of my post. I hope I can sleep tonight. ;)

 

[Spurhunter]

I caught a nice black crappie just yesterday and took a pic and threw it back. Someone else might catch it again and enjoy it more than I would. I might catch a smallmouth you have caught before and enjoy it more than you would. If you see what I am saying.

I've fished Turnbull since the early 80's and saw it go through a spell where you were lucky to catch a smallmouth longer than 12". We would see people floating the creek with stringers of smallies. Didn't take long for those fish to become scarce.

That's the problem with Catman's one fish = one fish logic. Crappie are prolific breeders. Smallmouth are not.

 

[catman529]

I caught a nice black crappie just yesterday and took a pic and threw it back. Someone else might catch it again and enjoy it more than I would. I might catch a smallmouth you have caught before and enjoy it more than you would. If you see what I am saying.

I've fished Turnbull since the early 80's and saw it go through a spell where you were lucky to catch a smallmouth longer than 12". We would see people floating the creek with stringers of smallies. Didn't take long for those fish to become scarce.

That's the problem with Catman's one fish = one fish logic. Crappie are prolific breeders. Smallmouth are not.

one fish every now and then is not a problem unless there are people loading out stringers full like some have mentioned

 

[RUGER]

catman,
Congrats on a great trip and a great meal.

 

[wobblegobble]

For the life of me, I can't understand why people think that everyone should have their beliefs. Each is own and a person can eat any legal fish n shoot any legal buck they desire. Do what you do!

 

[arctic_cat]

I used to wade all the creeks in Columbia when I was in high school. My nephew and a few of his buddies have been hitting them lately. Yall may run into each other some time. They are getting ready to canoe the buffalo river in Wayne County and fish it. They went on a canoe trip a last week and did not bring a pole with them so they are dyeing to go back

 

[Jason Bagby]

Next time anyone goes to buy a lic to hunt or fish, Spur would buy them all since you seem to feel the need to tell someone/everyone what they can/cant/shouldnt do even if legal?
SMH..
Congrats catman on a fine fish and meal. They are a good fish to eat. Catch and eat all you want.

 

[Spurhunter]

Next time anyone goes to buy a lic to hunt or fish, Spur would buy them all since you seem to feel the need to tell someone/everyone what they can/cant/shouldnt do even if legal?

Another idiot with no reading comprehension skills. This forum is about sharing ideas and opinions. If you don't like mine there is an "ignore user" option. You won't ever have to see another of my posts again. Although I doubt you are intelligent enough to figure out how to use it.

 

[catman529]

I think I've found a new way to get a thread locked... Post a pic of grilled fish

 

[Spurhunter]

I think I've found a new way to get a thread locked... Post a pic of grilled fish

Cat, you aren't a na�ve kid anymore. You know a thread about eating smallmouth will stir up a hornet's nest faster than a thread about killing spotted fawns. But it's your right to post it. All I did was state an observation. I have never seen anyone cook a smallie. That's a fact. I haven't. I didn't say you should or shouldn't. But the folks with no reading comprehension went berserk and ASSUMED I meant this or that.

 

[catman529]

I think I've found a new way to get a thread locked... Post a pic of grilled fish

Cat, you aren't a na�ve kid anymore. You know a thread about eating smallmouth will stir up a hornet's nest faster than a thread about killing spotted fawns. But it's your right to post it. All I did was state an observation. I have never seen anyone cook a smallie. That's a fact. I haven't. I didn't say you should or shouldn't. But the folks with no reading comprehension went berserk and ASSUMED I meant this or that.

I honestly did not know I would get this reaction out of a freakin smallmouth bass. There's only one person I thought might possibly get mad about it, but he did not even post in this thread. Didn't think more than one person would come in here calling a fish "sacred" and would never eat one. That's fine but don't tell me it's wrong for me to eat one! Worry about the rednecks who take home stringers full.

 

[Spurhunter]

Worry about the rednecks who take home stringers full.

Agreed

 

[Setterman]

I'm sorry catman, but around here the killing of smallmouth in rivers is taboo. That's the way I was raised and what has been drilled into my head. That's where I formulated my opinion from.

I certainly am not attacking you for exercising your right to keep a legal fish, and like I said earlier you do eat them which is better than what happens to the vast majority of kept fish.

Personally I don't kill anything other than walleye and crappie, and wouldn't cross the street to eat a bass. Not that it's bad, I just think other fish species are far better and bass are better off back where they came from to be caught another day

 

[diamond hunter]

Id rather catch and release the catfish and eat the bass.

 

[Dbllunger]

Like spurhunter, I have never seen someone cook a smallmouth bass.

I would never kill one to eat it but that is just my personal preference. I don't look down on anyone that abides by the laws that are put forth. I don't think any more or less of Cat for doing so.

I have "talked" with Cat on these boards in several forums and pm's. I have also met and talked with him on other occasions in "real life". One thing I know is that he didn't make this post to cause an inflammatory reaction. It just isn't in his nature. It's not the way he thinks or lives.

One thing I don't like and this has nothing to do with Cat or this thread is people that post lots of pictures of lots of dead fish seeking the acknowledgement of their peers but when others post their success they can't even give a good old "nice catch" or anything. Ever. To me, those are just braggarts with bloodlust. Got no time for those folks anymore. Rant over.

 

[lung-buster]

Catch and release right into hot grease.

 

[Kimberman]

I'm sorry catman, but around here the killing of smallmouth in rivers is taboo. That's the way I was raised and what has been drilled into my head. That's where I formulated my opinion from.

I certainly am not attacking you for exercising your right to keep a legal fish, and like I said earlier you do eat them which is better than what happens to the vast majority of kept fish.

Personally I don't kill anything other than walleye and crappie, and wouldn't cross the street to eat a bass. Not that it's bad, I just think other fish species are far better and bass are better off back where they came from to be caught another day

Agree 100%. There is a reason that most reservoirs have longer length limits on smallmouth, and some limit the #s you can keep. Smallmouth do not breed at the rate that a lot of other very edible fish do. That is why most waters protect the smallmouth bass. Most of the E TN rivers have length and creel # regulations on them. I have never, and will never keep a smallmouth. If I ever catch one over 7 lbs, I will take good measurements and lots of pics and get a replica. All that being said, I don't think that keeping 1 or 2 here and there is going to ruin a fishery, even if I don't agree with it.

 

[Setterman]

Catch and release right into hot grease.

Nice advertisement. I looked through every reg on smallmouth statewide and if those are from TN you might be breaking the law.

But I bet you feel cool shoving it people's faces. White trash gonna white trash

 

[lung-buster]

Catch and release right into hot grease.

Nice advertisement. I looked through every reg on smallmouth statewide and if those are from TN you might be breaking the law.

But I bet you feel cool shoving it people's faces. White trash gonna white trash

white trash for eating fish? How do you figure I'm breaking any laws? I didnt really feel cool but rather full that evening.

 

[SilverFox]

If thats a 9 inch knife I'd havd to say those are a little short. Of course I didnt look up length limits but the shortest legal limit I know of locally is 15.

 

[Setterman]

Catch and release right into hot grease.

Nice advertisement. I looked through every reg on smallmouth statewide and if those are from TN you might be breaking the law.

But I bet you feel cool shoving it people's faces. White trash gonna white trash

white trash for eating fish? How do you figure I'm breaking any laws? I didnt really feel cool but rather full that evening.

Because they're no streams, lakes, or rivers that all of those fish would be legal from looking through the regs. There certainly could be some that aren't listed though.

Shoving that in folks faces is a white trash move

 

[lung-buster]

Catch and release right into hot grease.

Nice advertisement. I looked through every reg on smallmouth statewide and if those are from TN you might be breaking the law.

But I bet you feel cool shoving it people's faces. White trash gonna white trash

white trash for eating fish? How do you figure I'm breaking any laws? I didnt really feel cool but rather full that evening.

Because they're no streams, lakes, or rivers that all of those fish would be legal from looking through the regs. There certainly could be some that aren't listed though.

Shoving that in folks faces is a white trash move

So my redeye are too small also? You get uptight over someone else's dinner that fed 3 of us in our house? Crapping on someone else's catch is a Richard move.