BigBassDreams's video: We Have Lost Our Trophy Bass

Logically thinking, with the experience I have under my belt, I should be continuing to catch BIG Bass throughout my home lakes. Instead, I find myself catching schmedium sized fish with better lures and equipment than I've ever had. One of the culprits? Stunted bass populations are prevalent in California lakes due to lack of harvest. Harvest rates used to range from 20-40% annually, but for the last decade or so, they have plummeted to 0.95% to less than 5%. None of us should have to work this hard to catch a medium sized bass. I shouldn't be this excited to connect with one in this size range after fishing my ass off 🤣 The diminished trophy bass population is a result of many factors, it's never a single issue problem. However, harvesting small bass is one factor that we as a community of passionate bass fishermen have direct control over. We've all been shamed and shamed others for keeping bass for decades. There's simply less room and food to go around. What do we have to lose? Catching more dinks? They'll be back year after year regardless of harvest rates. What if, just maybe, we give these local populations of fish a chance to grow GIANT again? It would be nice if I didn't have to drive hundreds and thousands of miles just to have a chance at . I think it's worth a community wide experiment. We can all be a . Let's just see where this takes us. Perhaps in a few years, we will see the return of mid to high teen size fish being reported instead of an 8-10lb being considered a freak. Lure - @DefiantFishing 247 Fast Sink Ghost Light Trout Line - @DefiantFishing 247 28.9lb Heavy Cover Fluorocarbon Rod - @stcroixrods Legend Tournament Casting Rod 8'6"