No lakes from Kansas this year?! What a shocker   At least they got that part of the list right   Nothing but catfish and cornfields here. I actually drive to Missouri and Oklahoma to catch all my fish 

Can't believe Hartwell didn't make it.

Can't believe Hartwell didn't make it.

 

Yeah I was looking for it too. I am sure it will make it NEXT yr. 

It's been a long, long time since I gave a rip for anything bassmasters had to say.

It's been a long, long time since I gave a rip for anything bassmasters had to say.

 

Was that the day that Harry & Charlie left?

So you're saying that Stick Marsh is a heavily pressured lake that is easy to catch fish on?  Do they make sure people don't keep the bass?

 

How would you compare Stick Marsh to lake Toho?

 CATCH AND RELEASE ONLY!  Toho is a bigger lake system and has more bass, but density of bass/big bass is higher on Stick Marsh/Farm pond, but both are great double digit potential lakes.

What it should be is eye opening for state biologists. I cant believe how many states spend money to stock trout in waters that cant support them once temps rise instead of spending said money on warm water species, habitat, launches...

What it should be is eye opening for state biologists. I cant believe how many states spend money to stock trout in waters that cant support them once temps rise instead of spending said money on warm water species, habitat, launches...

 

Trout stamps and fines for not having them make money. 

Shocked to see my home lake (New Melones) come from off the national radar to a #51 ranking. Bummer is that it could be short lived... major drought plus increased water being pulled out for the delta has it about 150 ft down from where it was three years ago. Water level typically rises here in the spring, so the reservoir losing about a foot a day has to be a nightmare for the spawning bass.

 

A couple 17's and a motivated "DREAMER" will put your lake out there pretty quick.

A couple 17's and a motivated "DREAMER" will put your lake out there pretty quick.

A world record Spotted bass from New Melones this year tends to put in the public eye in a hurry.

I have a friend that fishes the Stick Marsh 3 or 4 days a week.  He has lost two props, a transducer, bent several trolling motor shafts and had his lower unit welded twice, all this calender year, and he knows the place well!!!!!!    An expensive place to fish but the rewards are sooooo  gooooood!  The first time I went with him he had 36 pounds best 5, and I had 28 pounds.  We caught 37 fish, with 15 over 5 pounds and two over 9 pounds..  The big fish was 9.7 pounds.  Not everyday is that good but many are!  All catch and release 365 days a year and absolutely no tournaments.  A special, special, fishery, and the state is about to double the size of the whole place.  Future looks bright for the Stick Marsh for some time!  If you go for the first time, dont run the boat hard, its a dangerous place.

#1 is actually my parents neighborhood pond. The term fish in a barrel must have come from there. :-)

The Potomac didn't make the top 100 fisheries "ON THE PLANET" !?! 

 

Maybe having a tournament at National harbor has put a pin in their ballon.... what a bust that was

 

Or maybe the river is suffering from....

 

Small bags at the scales?

 

Too much pressure?

 

Too few ramps?

 

Too little area support?

 

Too few (no) hotels near ramps?  The ones around here don't support boat recharging, and I'm told they don't like extension cords crossing walkways for insurance reasons.

 

Too little coordination of resources between jurisdictions?  There's none actually.

 

I don't know

I have a friend that fishes the Stick Marsh 3 or 4 days a week.  He has lost two props, a transducer, bent several trolling motor shafts and had his lower unit welded twice, all this calender year, and he knows the place well!!!!!!    An expensive place to fish but the rewards are sooooo  gooooood!  The first time I went with him he had 36 pounds best 5, and I had 28 pounds.  We caught 37 fish, with 15 over 5 pounds and two over 9 pounds..  The big fish was 9.7 pounds.  Not everyday is that good but many are!  All catch and release 365 days a year and absolutely no tournaments.  A special, special, fishery, and the state is about to double the size of the whole place.  Future looks bright for the Stick Marsh for some time!  If you go for the first time, dont run the boat hard, its a dangerous place.

 

Shhhh!

A couple 17's and a motivated "DREAMER" will put your lake out there pretty quick.

 

A world record Spotted bass from New Melones this year tends to put in the public eye in a hurry.

 

Excellent points fellas... world class spots, LM, and SM in the foothill lakes around here = some attention for sure. They sure love their trout and kokanee candy.

Another tragic deal...

I think it best we all keep our favorite fishing spots to our own.

Just my 2