Its impossible to put the same regulation on all lakes and expect to achieve the same results. Many, many variables play a role in determining whether or not catch and release is appropriate in a particular lake. However, the number one factor in determining if a slot (keeping smaller fish) is appropriate for increasing the "quality" of a fishery: recruitment. In general, if recruitment of the first few age classes is very high, keeping and eating those fish will increase the quality in that lake. However, if recruitment in the first few age classes is low, keeping those smaller fish will harm the fishery.

It gets alot more complicated than that but thats a start. For example, what if a lake is loaded with bass under 15 inches, the fish you catch are very fat (no problem with the prey/forage ratio), growth rates of those fish are on par with normal (no stunting), but you almost never see a fish over 15 inches? Hmmm, then whats the problem?

Without a doubt, the number one problem with bass fisheries today is overcrowding, and this is a result of the catch and release craze of the 70's. Most fisheries today can only benefit from keeping sub 12 inch fish. And thats a fact.