HIGH GRADING - THE NEW CAMPAIGN
By H. Carter Fickes, BBAC Development Director

As Black Bass Tournament Anglers we have been practicing high grading for some time. Simply put - we have 5 Bass in the well and pull out a small one to be replaced by a big one. Currently this has been a topic of concern, it is illegal.

High grading is to most anglers a gray area as we feel it's justified by "Catch and Release" practices. However, the fact is stated above. The BBAC has been in discussion with Dennis Lee of the California Fish and Game since March of 2004. The conclussion Dennis and the BBAC concluded was a amendment to Annual and Event Permits allowing a Waiver to continue the 5 fish culling practice.

To address this concern the BBAC set a meeting on March 2nd, at the Fish and Game Office in Rancho Cordova. In attendance were Tournament Stake Holders, the BBAC, and more than 10 people from the Fish and Game. This meeting went very well, with all players in agreement that amending the Tournament Permits would be the best approach.

On March 17th, Don Lee, FLW, Gary Bradford, B.A.S.S. Federation, and Don Reighly and myself appeared before the State Fish and Game Commission. We presented our case very cleanly addressing biological, enforcement, and social concerns.

At the closure of our presentation the Commission voted in approval. Most probably an ammendment will be included in both the Annual and Event Tournament Permits.This amendment would, I suspect, be fully operational after the final approval by the Commission at the June Meeting in Bishop.

This new amendment will protect both the Fish and Game, and Tournament Anglers from negative actions that could be exercised. Until then approval fish smart, catch and hold only four.