Keeping Fish

One of the things that makes Lake Fork so good is the management of the fish regulations. At the current time, all largemouth bass between 16 and 24 inches must be released.
This means that most every fish between 2 1/2 and 9 pounds must be released. For fishermen, that means more big bass to be caught.
Although it is legal to keep a fish over 24 inches, Richie has a policy that all fish over that length be released. If you want to get a big fish for your wall, you can get a taxidermist to make a replica. That way, the fish lives and you still get a fish on the wall. Replicas last longer, smell better, and look better than dead fish mounts.
If you are interested in keeping fish for eating, you are allowed up to 5 bass per person under 16 inches. Richie prefers that you keep 11 to 14 inch bass and let the 15 and 16 inchers go. There are certain times that are much better than others for eating fish. The Fall is by far the best season. In the Fall, you can catch lots of small bass and even more yellow bass (barfish). Those yellow bass are even better eating than the black bass and you can keep everyone you want.