re: Don't mount dat....cook dat!!!!

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A point often overlooked in discussing trophy bass release is that many times the fish that are that size are no longer producing viable offspring. The older the fish and the more spawning seasons it goes through, the higher the chance for some sort of genetic mutation in the eggs or some cancer to develop in the reproductive system of the fish that would make the eggs sterile.

Many times, these fish are doing nothing more than taking up resources that would otherwise be distributed throughout the bass population. Especially in small ponds, catching and keeping older fish is an essential management technique for the overall health of the pond. Generally speaking, a body of water will only support a certain poundage of fish. Removing one 10# fish will free up enough resources for 10 1# fish or 2 5# fish, etc... Obviously in larger bodies of water, Toledo Bend for example, this is not so much of an issue.

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Correct...just like a big buck... his genes are the same when he is 1 as when he is 5......

FWIW.. i have caught many bass over 6 lbs... have never kept one...