| Even today, with all our angling knowledge, some | | | | eaten Bass. There is nothing wrong with a good |
| anglers still don't get it! I recently worked an | | | | fry up once in a while, but I make sure that the |
| outdoors show in the Southern Ontario area and | | | | bigger fish are released. Besides, the smaller fish |
| noticed booths adjacent to ours promoting hunting | | | | taste better. |
| and fishing in Ontario's great north. Of course, | | | | I have caught many Smallmouth from Lakes like |
| pictures galore were plastered all over the walls | | | | Georgian Bay and Erie that were just the right |
| of all booths and being an outdoorsman myself I | | | | size for frying. Lakes of that calibre can withstand |
| had to glance at all the trophy game. | | | | harvesting. But in this case, the northern resort in |
| My eyes quickly gazed upon a picture with two | | | | question, should have realized that Smallmouth |
| young boys in their early teens holding a stringer | | | | that size should have been released unharmed, so |
| of Smallmouth Bass. They were boasting quite a | | | | that they can make more baby Bass. This was a |
| few. One in particular made me 'gulp'! This | | | | teachable moment for those young anglers and |
| smallmouth was a good 5lbs. It was no longer | | | | someone missed the boat. |
| brilliant in color, but rather a dried up black carcass. | | | | Education in Bass conservation is imperative, |
| There were also Bass in the 3 and 4lb class that | | | | especially in vulnerable northern small lakes. These |
| were just as dark along with smaller Bass. I was | | | | lakes need all the help they can get to keep the |
| a little uncomfortable that obviously, no one had | | | | Bass population healthy. I strongly believe that the |
| taken the time to teach these good young | | | | limit of Ontario Bass is just that, a limit. It doesn't |
| anglers the practise of catch and release. I am | | | | tell us what sizes we can keep, we as anglers |
| willing to bet that they didn't know that the big | | | | just have to have common sense. |
| Smallmouth Bass they were parading around was | | | | We all know the great Northern lakes are |
| as old as they were! | | | | abundant trophy waters, but if we don't stop |
| Bass in the northern portion of Ontario have a | | | | taking and eating big fish they will no longer exist. |
| much shorter growing season than in its southern | | | | Then where do we go for trophy fish? I don't |
| counterpart. Therefore, it takes a long time for | | | | know about you, but it would be pretty scary to |
| them to reach such sizes and it's Bass this size | | | | see an Outdoor Show Resort Booth promoting |
| that populate the lake and keep the species | | | | trophy pond fishing! |
| strong and healthy. Don't get me wrong, I have | | | | |