NOLA Reporting: Back in 1991, Louisiana sought to capitalize on a big-bass boom sweeping the South by implementing the trophy- and quality-lake programs. It was a good idea with the best of intentions, but much of the plan failed miserably. On Thursday, the department finally conceded defeat on six lakes by asking the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission to remove slot limits on those waterbodies.
Inland fisheries biologist Mike Wood told the commission that the slot limits on the lakes have proven ineffective because of the catch-and-release culture that exists among bass anglers.
“With the slot limits, anglers were encouraged to harvest fish under the (slot) length range, which would produce larger fish,” Wood said. “Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. Anglers in their best efforts for conservation had a much higher tendency for catch and release. They weren’t managing the fishery as we’d hoped.”
Removing the smaller fish would have reduced competition and allowed fish to grow more rapidly through the slot, Wood explained.
Since the regulation was ineffective, the department recommended slot limits be removed on Chicot Lake, Cross Lake, Vernon Lake, CLECO Lake (a.k.a. Lake Rodemacher), Spanish Lake and Black Bayou (Benton).
The commission agreed to the change, voting unanimously to remove the restriction.
Slot limits remain in effect on Caddo Lake, Poverty Point Reservoir, Caney Creek Lake and Grand Bayou. For specific bass regulations on those and other waterbodies, visit www.wlf.louisiana.gov/fishing/freshwater-creel-and-size-limits.
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