08-09-2012, 03:53 AM
Not to gore anyone's ox, but please don't keep a bunch of SMB that are over 12 inches . The prolific 10-12 inch fish are perfect for filleting and eating. We have struggled for so many years to get good populations of bass in our waters in the northern part of the state. The bigger fish, 12-16 inches are the most prolific spawners and we need them to maintain the populations. The 10-12 inch fish have not made it over the 'hump' yet and it will not hurt the population to keep a limit of them. Now, at Powell or the Gorge, keeping some of the bigger fish is not a problem, I still prefer to keep the smaller 10-12 inch ones, but you will not hurt the population if you keep some bigger ones. But Pineview say, or Jordanelle !! You keep a bunch of 14-16 inch fish and you will hurt the population. As to care, if you are keeping them, put em on ice immediately to have the best result. they are tasty battered and deep fried.