Merrill Creek Res. 5/18/13:

[AndyS]

FINALLY got the boat in the water. Up at 3:30 on the road to Quick Check with Wilson at 4. Got my usual 10 dozen herring and we were off. 2 detours on Rt. 57, uggh.
Get to the res. Not one, not two, but THREE bass tournaments launching !!!
It was the "Rip em off the Beds" bass buddies bass tournament, C'mon guys.
Double anchored in about 60 FOW and baited and waited. Had stockies boiling around the boat all day. Around 8:30 had a flurry of action on the lakers. Had another flurry around 10. Seen a few big boils out there and tossed livies to 'em but got nuthin. Wilson threw a spinner for a bit and ended up with a lake trout.
I think the lake is turning over, water was chilly and visibility wasn't so good. Spit rain here and there.
Looking for the man in the brown suit but he didn't show today. If the weather and the bait holds I will be there every day this week lookin' for da biggun

[GetANet]

AH, vaca this week ? NICE JOB !!!! Did you have ten five gallon buckets on the boat???? LOL for the ten dozen herring????

[buzzbaiter]

How can you hold a bass tournament if any bass caught have to be immediately released? Jerks..

[AndyS]

5, 5 gallon buckets on board, transfered to bait cans in the water after anchoring. Used small 3906 Mustad hooks size 6 or 8 on 4 and 6lb. test line.
Open bail live lining, gotta trick those big browns.

[FASTEDDIE29]

Biggest bass of the year are always caught out of season. Bass master classic starts out of season. I won a few bass tourneys in April on Assunpink 20 years ago as a junior angler. People catch fish out of season all the time. No biggie.

[Wilson]

We did not trick any Browns today.
Catching a laker on a 1/4 oz. PM authentic gold was cool.
That new bait place on route 22 should trim the ride time down by at least 1/2 an hour.

What happened to the sunny day predicted for today

Ok here's a sample Laker for those that care.

[FASTEDDIE29]

Another great pic from Wilson!!!!!!! Maybe u should set the Herring 20 feet down and keep your fingers crossed............

[Eskimo]

Originally Posted by buzzbaiter

How can you hold a bass tournament if any bass caught have to be immediately released? Jerks..

that's what i don't under stand. The only Largemouth Bass regulation I see in the Fish & Wildlife Digest reads:

April 15 – June 15
Catch & release only
(all waters

Apparently, catching, throwing in the live well, fishing with them all day, bringing in to the weigh station, weighing, and eventually releasing - suffices for "catch and release".

I'm not an ichthyologist, but his appears to me to be very disruptive of their nesting.

[Super]

Catch and release means that the fish must be released immediately. Placing the fish in a livewell is illegal.

I believe these tournaments are on the honor system, use pictures or a companion to judge on the boat.