I don't know if I was the first person to post a big bass pic online with the background edited out, but it's a distinct possibility. I did it for all the logical reasons, no need to explain the obvious. If people dislike it, that's no sweat off my back. I hope they can enjoy a picture of a big bass for what it is, a picture of a big bass and if they're mad, well then they're mad.

As far as what other people do in regards to their pics I can respect all levels of "show and tell" and I certainly appreciate that many of the best fishermen in this state if not the country take it upon themselves to add their pictures to calfishing.com. When I look at the member galleries right now there's 2826 user submitted photos. I think that's awesome whether it's a picture of a bluegill or a big bass, photoshopped or otherwise. It's all part of the community.

For me, I enjoy posting my pics whether I remember to take them in a place that makes the background ambiguous or whether I forget to do it and have to use some photoshop. I don't paste in fake backgrounds to any of my pics (Fish Chris made the joke pic of me under the golden gate bridge on trophybassonly.com, not me lol) but I do take things out. Sometimes I take out stray lures that may be laying around on the deck too ;)

Things I don't typically do these days are; weigh my fish in at the marina, post my fish in Western Outdoor News, post my fish on every fishing website I can find, or make a big deal about every fish I catch. I've done all of these things at some point, I just don't feel compelled to very often any more. I see that as analogous to the photoshop thing, it's just a progression that anyone who catches a lot of big fish will probably come to at some point. Not everyone, but a lot of people. You won't have perspective if you've caught 3 or 4 ten pounders but if you've caught 50 or 100 your view on things changes.

The final stage in this type of progression is to simply not post anything at all, anywhere. I don't think I'll ever get to that point because I enjoy looking through my pics on a lazy day or whilst bored at work - and if a few of you keen eyed individuals can tell the difference between a Coyote bass and a Rancho Seco bass just by looking at the fish, well... you deserve the info :) my .02 on the topic.