Don’t Forget the Golden Rule

If you plan on fishing at lakes such as Alamo and Roosevelt, you must be aware of current slot limitations on these waters. Whether you are participating in a tournament or for fun, you cannot possess fish outside the law. For instance, at Alamo, you may have one bass per legal fisherman in your possession and no more, and at Roosevelt you cannot have any. This is not an area to guess or use just any old tape measure. The penalties of an error can be severe. The tool that I recommend you carry with you at all times, is the Golden Rule, and you can find them at just about any tackle dealer out there. Now that you have one, you must know how to use it. This sounds like a no-brainer, but I have heard several versions from tournament anglers, on how to measure your fish. The one that counts however, is the one the people that patrol the lakes use. For example, if the slot is 13-16", as it is at the lakes mentioned above, you may not possess bass that touch the 13" mark and they have to extend past the 16" mark. To properly measure your catch you must place your bass, with his mouth closed, right up against the short lip sticking up at the "0" end of the rule, and pinch the tail. With the tail pinched, your bass must not be within the slot in any manner.

The Golden Rule is also used in tournaments at slot lakes that choose to use a paper tournament format. In a paper tournament, you simply measure your catch on the rule, then record the average weight from the marks that correspond with a fish of that size. You then record that weight on a card, and have your counterpart in the boat initial your entry to verify, then release the fish.

The importance of the right tools cannot be underestimated when it comes to slots. You can be found in violation for a fraction of an inch mistake. My advise to you is, next time you plan a trip to a slot lake, don’t forget the Golden Rule.