How Pay Lakes are Killing Thousands of GIANT Catfish

Have you ever wondered, what is a pay lake? If you fish for catfish, you probably want to catch a really big catfish at some point. For most catfish fishermen this means fishing for catfish in a local lake or river. For others, who are not near bodies of water with catfish, this means fishing in a pay-to-fish-lake, also known as a pay lake. Paylakes are places where you pay to fish in a private lake that is stocked with catfish from a public body of water. In this video podcast I will discuss what pay lakes are and how they impact the catfishing world. Some of the biggest catfish in America are caught in public water and transported to pay lakes where people pay to fish for them. Fishing for giant catfish in pay to fish lakes is nothing new. The catfish pay lakes have been around a long time and are very popular.
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[@rickyhall1477]

Here in Michigan, when I was little about 25 to 30 years ago my great grandpa wanted me to catch my very first fish and we went to a fish farm that had a pond in back where they stocked fish in the pond. I went inside and saw a white building covered in swimming pools with fish. It was one of my greatest memories 😊

[@stanwilliamso3094]

I don’t think public fish should be used for this.

[@DieterMelhorn]

I don’t necessarily like it, but in the same breath they could be simply killing and eating all those fish and doing just as much damage. Like I’ve said before, the lack of respect for the species is the problem that has plagued catfish forever.

[@davidwoolsey2135]

AGREED. The PayLake owners should buy from a hatchery. I can't catch a deer, transport it to a private reserve, and then charge folks to hunt it. It shouldn't work that way for PayLake businesses either, catching a trophy, transport it, and then charge a person to catch it and keep it.

[@daveallover]

There is common ground here, buy your inventory from a hatchery.

[@Scott.Farkus]

There's a place near me; they have an Olympic sized swimming pool in their back yard that they stock with huge Trout. You can fish for fun for a fee and a barbless hook or you can keep what you catch and per pound for the fish you keep with whatever hook or lure you want. Some of the fish barely fit in a 5 gallon bucket without falling out. 3 or 4 fish and you've got a bucket full. Never fished a pay lake for catfish though. I've heard some people refer to Catfish as "Trash Fish" I don't considering them a trash fish, I'd rather catch Catfish than Bass any day. I'm not opposed catching both though.

[@robertfusco3884]

If any species is removed from public water for sale in a private setting, a fee such as a license should be paid by the harvester.

[@travismilligan9604]

The single biggest problem with pay lakes is greed, they never close and the fish never get a chance to recover. They are hammered night and day untill they die and get tossed into the woods to rot. If a pay lake was open 2 or 3 days a week and the fish had time to recover and had a good food source there wouldnt be so much waste

[@DieterMelhorn]

Greed = free market economy = what America was built on. Nobody wants government rules, laws or regulations until their toes get stepped on.

[@brandonhouston3683]

Around here the pay lakes and ponds close from November through March and no one ever fishes them because you have to PAY

[@hunteranglin3750]

Most big fish lakes close every winter and the ones I fish have planted of bait in them and the big fish might lose 5 pounds from when they where put in and stay that weight all through the summer

[@HawgWyldFishing]

That’s not the biggest problem. The bigger problem is they take the fish from lakes and rivers and shove them in a mud hole to starve to death. Many use chemicals that they dump in the lakes to make the fish more actively feed, as if starving to death wasn’t enough to begin with. There’s no pay lake in the country where a baitfish population is large enough or stable enough to feed the bigger fish. Many don’t even have bait fish in them, because that would cost money and they have zero interest in spending money on anything other than more big fish.

[@EmberMcLain23]

There’s one up here in WV called Zets that closes at night and is closed on Mondays

[@HomesickforAlaska]

I used to take my sons to a Trout farm in Wasington in the early 90's and I didn't see a problem with it as the fish were purchased from a hatchery and actually raised to larger sizes on site, the farm was very child oriented and I saw it as a way to get my sons interested in fishing, however it was VERY EXPENSIVE. As far as pay lakes for catfish, they SHOULD NOT be taking fish out of public waters to stock these lakes, especially "Trophy Size" fish. Here in Alabama we have regulations with a number and size limit on larger catfish, and they cannot be transported alive across State lines. However we also have County run lakes (1 in each county) that are "pay lakes" but they are stocked with a variety of hatchery fish and not from public waters. Outside of the County lakes I don't know of any pay lakes in my area, I don't think its much of a thing down here.

[@DieterMelhorn]

Yes sir, trout lakes are a little different in that they’re selling a farm raised product. As I’ve said before, taking fish from public waters to use in private lakes is like cutting timber in a national park to sell as lumber, except, the pay lakes are doing it legal for the most part.

[@jasonlittle4049]

100 percent agree with u my biggest problem is they use wild fish not hatchery-raised fish I think taking fish from the wild from a Prophet like that is not right

[@1871corporationUSA]

Funnily enough When I lived in Tennessee, they got their catfish from Alabama lakes......

[@skeeet5758]

Most people used to consider a catfish a trash fish. But if you look in the book it's technically a trophy fish over certain inches.

[@justinbentley1026]

I feel there should be a way to regulate pay lakes, I know people would hate it. But pay lakes do give opportunities to people that may not get the chance to chase a certain species. I feel if the lakes were only allowed a certain amount of mass per hectare, then it would help fish survive into spawn. This would mean wildlife resource people would have to weight fish before dumping and if the pay lakes are over, the fish could go back to whatever river or a massive fine.

[@TonyMccune-r2n]

Here in WV it's illegal to catch and sell fish to pay lakes and it should be

[@FPPS.45]

Yup, cant sell wild Game Fish in WV for bait even, can use them/ Eat them but no profit, that kind of activity causes greedy ppl to keep them all, people who dont even fish normally would be decimating our fish pops

[@jonlewis6093]

This debate will go on forever. Make catfish a game fish and it will slow it down. But you made validate points in the message on both sides. It’s about lake management. I can watch any social media and see limb lines and trot lines. That ain’t fishing either in my opinion. You see people taking a 50lb blue and keeping it out of the water for way to long and dropping them and same with big flats. We all have our opinions but again lake management and management of the species

[@johnknotts885]

There should only be one catfish over 34 inches allowed to be harvested per day on any body of water then you wouldn’t have that problem

[@butchsasser6131]

Dieter melhorn, if everyone spoke like you do on this topic I believe things would go a lot smoother. You are the only fisherman I have heard that actually explains both sides of the argument. I fish anywhere I can get a hook wet, paylakes included and I do think the stocking part has gotten out of control, mostly in Ohio. But I do love the catfish and I would like to see actual data showing that paylakes are depleting rivers and lakes..

[@DieterMelhorn]

Thank you sir. There are a lot of stakeholders and for my own sanity I try to see all sides of the argument. It’s the only way you’ll reach compromise.

[@hammerd9103]

It takes so long for catfish to reach trophy size. Obviously the reason they take from public fisheries. I’m also hearing commercial fisherman are now targeting trophy fish for pay lakes (pay is good). With that being said, I would think it does have an impact on the public waters, or it will. I do agree commercial fishing catches trophy caliber fish regardless. We just need to keep the pressure and fight for more research and possible regulation.

[@Triforce_Games]

we have a couple of paylakes locally. there used to be a bunch in a 100 mile radius but over the years there are only a few left and the ones left are the ones that get there fish from fish hatcheries.

[@AndrewNeeley22]

I love to fish paylake and public waters I have a trophy lake near me I can see both sides of this issue it is ran very well with rules lots of shad and bluegill in the pond to sustain the fish two aerators run 24/7. I do see the concern and maybe some better regulations are needed at the end of the day. I don't own a boat so paylake does appeal to me however I fish my public waters I think the biggest appeal is the ease of access to the water and knowing many fish are in there.

[@Firebrrat31]

In my state you can't transport any live fish or crayfish there more Lenient On the crayfish.

[@mattdowning771]

The ACA show on this subject a few days was very enlightening and there's no doubt that the panel has seen a negative affect on an unregulated resource. There needs to be some laws and regulations based on the experience this panel has seen. Getting legislation for it seems very daunting.

[@Deepoutdoors]

Private pay lake fishing reminds me of that Leave It to Beaver tv show: S2.E13 Happy Weekend. This was back in 1958, and not much has changed!

[@DieterMelhorn]

LOL….I need to go find that episode!!

[@patsparadise4114]

I was thinking of that very same episode 😂

[@jasonmiller9530]

My father and I used to fish a pay lake, its was 10 bucks and you could keep 5 channel and 7 carp i think. Most of the fish were around 2-4 pounds, u fished here to eat clean fish. If you caught a big fish, like a 30lb flathead, they would give you a voucher to come back and fish for free if you put it back. Ive also been to pay ponds in small areas that had big fish and the place was run down and you could tell they didnt care about the fish. The place we fished, if you ran a stringer through the mouth you had to keep it, they wouldnt allow it back in the ponds due to possible infections

[@kennethtephabock5634]

We have a pay lake in my area and I visit sometimes but there hard to catch catfish any suggestions on how to catch more thanks for your videos

[@shawnwalters3931]

The your KZbin podcasts and all your topics and how you go into detail about the situation. Keep up the great content

[@DieterMelhorn]

Thank you for the kind words and for the comment. I drop a new video every Sunday morning at 9am, and when fishing news breaks!!’

[@fishin-impossible2992]

Dieter Dang do you have me BLOCKED ? I remember in 2010 I was at Mt island lake on an early sat morning and 2 guys were loading up their john boat and the bottom of the boat was full of fish from 1lb up to a few in the 40s , they had about 6 in of water in the boat and were going to carry them to a pay lake to Sell . Thanks for bringing this old subject back up , now can you do anything to stop this.

[@DieterMelhorn]

Blocked? Don’t look like it…I see this post.

[@fishin-impossible2992]

I can't post my own Comment I have to post in someone else's comment feed

[@chriswalls5831]

Pay lakes with giant catfish around 100 lbs or more think any big catfish you catch in them catch n release but to keep them alive need a big water fountain

[@jacobfunkhouser6600]

Im in Northern VA, and theres a paylake/hatchery about 20 min from me in WV. Were about an hour and a half from the trophy cat waters of the Potomac and Rappahannock and 2-3 from the tidal James so i dont believe this little family business gets those big ones from those waters and they rather grow their own. However, the water conditions and sizes of the ponds are definitely not ideal for those fish because they do provide channels flats and blues, and the biggest i saw growing up was in the 50lb range. But, without that hatchery, i may not have learned what i learned during those years as a kid riding 10 miles up the road and catching big cats, i may never have graduated from that style of fishing and discovered those tidal rivers i mentioned before, so it really seems like a double edged sword because the general idea of a paylake can be extremely benefical to younger or older or inexperienced anglers who may not have access to quality lakes and rivers, but it has to be done right. Also, here in VA, if anyone is removing those big blues from the river, i cant see it hurting the fishery. Especially since the blue cat hate seems to be gaining steam in the chesapeake bay area.

[@djgoodot]

When I was a kid we had a rainbow trout pay lake 12 minutes away and 6 bucks to fish for the day…. BUT… the people that owned it raised the fish themselves and stocked it themselves… small knit community for everyone type deal.. Keep what you catch.. 35 years later now the lake is the hatchery selling to others and no one can fish there….

[@codywoods5841]

As a catfish farmer in Mississippi i know that we have ponds with breeding size fish that are used for getting eggs for the hatchery after so many years they replace them they are very large. that would be perfect for paylakes they are going to be killed either way they should buy them . Instead of getting fish from public waters.

[@allentharp2384]

ive never seen one in oklahoma like you describe saw one in north texas and you had to keep whatever you caught and pay by the pound . in oklahoma ive seen leases like deer to access certain areas. but cats are game fish except channel and hull head and the throw you under the jail for selling game fish in tuis state

[@inannashu689]

I've seen Trout fishing ponds as well. I don't know I actually fish to eat,not for fun.Catfish happens to be my favorite.I have no problem with catfish ponds (never been to one) but we can't just say someone can't do something because we don't like it,if that was the case I'd stop catch and release/trophy fishing because that would eliminate a whole lot of traffic( on the lakes and rivers) and rude boaters in my life.

[@DieterMelhorn]

“We can’t just say someone can’t do something because we don’t like it”. No truer words have ever been spoken. VERY WELL SAID! 👍👍

[@dinkoverstinkcatfishing5722]

All this, oh, but it's legal stuff. Just because something is legal doesn't always necessarily mean it's right. Js, there is a potentially bigger issue at hand other than if it's legal or not or if the fish die in a day or in a yr. The big picture is in general is the catfish needs to be taken a look at, and regulations need to be set in place. Times have changed the pressure on Catfishing, which has greatly inclined, and all the rules limit needs to be udjusted imo.

[@mikecannon6378]

Unfortunately Dieter I have been on our home lake, Wylie. And I have seen people pulls up and pull in hoop nets with large fish in them. Bad thing is they don't have the commercial fisherman tags on them

[@DieterMelhorn]

I think NC has the ability legislatively to make transporting multiple fish illegal.

[@z-fishing-adventures]

Paylakes are absolutely having an impact on the fishing. You don't take thousands upon thousands of pounds of big fish out of the water without having an impact. For example, I've fished John H Kerr Lake (Buggs Island Lake) for catfish for years. Pay lakers have been seen multiple times bringing water trucks to fill them with fish. Over the past year, the catfish catches have drastically declined. Not just for me, but for many others. Something stinks, and it ain't the fish.

[@thedangler4912]

I think with the rise in popularity with catfishing in general there needs to be some big steps taken in order to insure our catfish populations can sustain all the excess fishing pressure. Here in indiana, there is no limit what so ever for any species or size catfish. As an avid catfisherman i see a major decline in my local lakes. Places you would have a 4 or 5 fish night years ago you are lucky to even get a takedown now

[@DieterMelhorn]

Very good points!!!

[@garyshircliff6905]

Except you're wrong, because I live in Indiana also, and I'm an avid catfisherman! Indiana has no size limit in lakes, but has a 13" minimum limit in streams and rivers. Also only 1 bluecat, 1 flathead may exceed 35" and only 1 channel cat can exceed 28" They put this size limit to reduce commercial fisherman from taking more than 1 trophy size/ breeder fish per day. At least it's on the Conservation Officers radar.

[@thedangler4912]

@@garyshircliff6905 did I say anything about streams or rivers

[@ou-fp7zq]

South Carolina has a similar problem

[@jeffsmith350]

It should be illegal in every state to transport and take fish out of a public lake,To stock a pond. I wished South Carolina had a blue cat fish hatchery just to put back in the lakes.

[@85Bow]

Mr. Dieter would you fish the santee rig w/ live bait? Mostly in the river. Anchored up also. Thanks

[@DieterMelhorn]

You can fish it with either bait....

[@85Bow]

@@DieterMelhorn thank you

[@charlieringo5701]

I've seen shootings,fights,tent fires poles broken,poles pulled in the lakes and a lot of crazy stuff so as I grew up I just stayed away from them

[@butch19831]

I know a guy thst owns a catfish paylake here in WV and he catched his trophy fish out of santee cooper.. he told me that himself

[@CatfishDreams]

There has been numerous shock studies on the Ohio River that led up to Ohio's law changes. Kentucky did shock studies as well on the ohio and came to the same information as Ohio but chooses to not put stricter regulations into affect on the Ohio River. The shock studies have shown that trophy catfish have been depleted. Tournament numbers have shown the numbers have been severely depleted. Unfortunately this battle has been on going for years and it's always the same song, they don't care. Which is why a lot of the people that have fought the battle have given up. I live dead smack in the middle of paylake central SW Ohio. In my younger days before I was educated, I fished paylakes and some of the ones people discuss, there is a lot of negatives with paylakes even beyond the fish issue.

[@DieterMelhorn]

Great feedback! Thank you!

[@Bamapride1000]

We had some pay lakes around where I grew up and the guy didn’t put any fish in his lakes over 15lbs and he fed his fish. He would go castanet shad from the damn and dump em into the lakes. He would catch enough in one trip to feed em for a week or two and he had minnows and bluegills stocked. He also had channel cats stocked in a couple lakes but got some fish to be caught right then in his other 4 lakes. There’s no way he done any damage to the public waters around where we lived. From what I’ve heard and read there needs to be fish removed from public waters on an annual basis to keep the predator and prey fish in tune with nature. I don’t think enough people catch the amount of big fish (big being 20+ pounds) from any one body of water that it would hurt that lake. I live in Alabama and there’s not a whole lot of people you see consistently carrying 20+ pound fish out of any body of water. For that matter it’s rare to see anybody consistently catching 10-15 pound catfish from a body of water. I caught 2 mid 50’s fish and a 67 pound fish off my cousins pier one morning and put em in the cage just to let my cousin and his neighbor see em and they was calling folks to come see em from the next county over. There was a pile of people came to see em saying that’s the biggest fish they’d ever seen.

[@Z71Ranger]

We have a private pay lake here that charges $3.00 per pound fresh catfish that you catch… There is one catch 😂 you have to keep what you catch… At least one fish no matter what… They will weigh the fish you pay them and it your fish you can keep it or release it… But you still have to pay… You can catch a 10 pound cat fish and have to pay $30 your day is most likely over… I’ve seen people catch 25 pound fish and they get it near the bank and start jerking the line and rod trying to break it off… A lot of people use 4 pound line so they can break off the big fish without having to pay… It’s fun to fish there mostly 1 and 2 and 3 pound fish good eating size…

[@nachopretzel3533]

Im completely repulsed at the idea of pay lakes. Ban pay lakes.

[@wrf121]

My hometown lake, Jackson city reservoir, aka Hammertown Lake, has been fished out of anything but 1 or 2 pound catfish. I most usually catch under a pound size. After a spring trip to Kerr Lake, I haven't bothered going fishing at home. I have pay lakes all around my area, just can't bring myself to patronize them.

[@DieterMelhorn]

Small lakes can get pummeled by overfishing.

[@REELTIMECATFISHING]

But you love fishing Warren Farley. Get out and go, you never know what you may catch.

[@trudyspringer3249]

Most paylakes are not like that extreme is a real bad one but the smaller family owned one are only open the weekend and don’t do what extreme doe

[@pietrociambelli715]

I feel like until catfish gets off the trash fish list nothing will change but I have a reservoir close to me that everybody says has no big cats but just last night me and my son caught 11 shovels smallest was 23 lbs largest was 43 I feel people go with nightcrawlers and chicken liver don't catch um so there ain't no fish.

[@gregtrent5068]

Imagine how much uproar from bass fisherman if it was trophy bass being moved.

[@matthewsmith9769]

Interesting. Never heard of a "pay lake".

[@Flathead-fb5tk]

Guys, how many catfish even get the chance to get to a trophy size in public waters nowadays? Most anglers i know are NOT catch and release oriented, and that goes for any species that they hook. I know the paylake situation looks awful to people but lets be real, so many large fish are kept and killed every single day, just check social media. Hell, nowadays you've got people making fun of catch and release fisherman. I'd love to see all the trophy cats swimming freely as much as everyone else but be honest, so many will never get the chance. All i can do as an angler is what i believe is right, and that is release them. But its also other peoples right to keep those big catfish if they please. One over 35 inches a day, thats a big catfish and a trophy to a LOT of people.

[@michellebrant3261]

Our closest one is in WV I has all different size. And specice they grow them themselves it use to be great I caught 46' blue 38' flat now it's so over crowded might fish all day for one bite

[@chefmeh6073]

They definitely dont grow catfish that size. I can almost guarantee it. Takes years and years for them to get that big. They are pulling them from rivers

[@ROLLUPMT]

Pay lakes should have state regulations like any other business as in lake conditions/water quality, ample food sources .Maybe limit hours of operation. Make access limited to elderly, handicap/disabled and young children because alot of bank fishing spots aren't always the easiest places to get to,.and last of all they should be stocked with farmed fish only that's my take on it

[@user-kw7rt9zl4e]

I don’t want the government in my business

[@OhioRiverFisherman]

Paylakes are killing the big trophy cats. The fish only last 3or4 weeks and then they die. U cant take a river fish and think they're gonna live in a 4 foot pond. It's a gambling parlor for fishing. They destroyed the licking river for catfishing, used to be able to catch some nice cats out of the river, but now u cant even get a bite. Same thing with the Ohio River, the fishing is going down hill each year. Even the skipjacks are getting caught out and sold for bait to these paylakes. I know how big the paylakes are, I get it. But I fish the rivers and ive seen the downfall. I've been fishing the Ohio River for 30 years and it's getting harder and harder to catch em. The net guys are also killing other fish, hybrids, stripers, smallmouth, ect, they get caught in the nets and die.

[@jeffn9311]

Was just at a huge lake today in NC. Largest Cat was around 3lbs out of 12 fish. I have noticed over the years of fishing that all of our lakes and rivers are truly over fished. NC needs to change some of the laws and put a little more of our tax dollars into our lakes and rivers. But I will not hold my breath on that.

[@jasonlittle4049]

Pay lakes is like throwing a fish in a swimming pool and then catching them and calling it fishing😅

[@CatmandoTNR]

Guess the same can be said about the public waters that get stocked.

[@charlieringo5701]

I live in Indiana and they get some fish from small fisheries and a lot of them do take fish from the Ohio River and no one cares out this way but I agree

[@MAJIC2044]

As a US carp angler pay lakes are also a problem for us does not help the popultion when it comes to trophy carp.

[@DieterMelhorn]

I’ve always wondered if carp lakes are something carp fishermen like having because access is easy, or if they’re impacting the carp population.

[@pauldockins9635]

Very nice coverage, spreading weeds , disease, and invasive species is one of my biggest worry’s

[@philemfulloflead]

Hey this is perfect. I pay lake in Ohio. All the good bodies of water near me are a bit of a drive so usually I go to Rainbow lakes off of 235. These fish have plenty to feed on and grow and prosper. New owner as of this year as well and they seem to be taking things very serious. I started posting pics of some of the hogs i catch there starting last year on google maps if you wanna check it out. I even got new photo i still need to post. I might as well get on to doing that rn.

[@chefmeh6073]

Heard so just laziness. Make the drive and stop supporting trophy pay lakes

[@philemfulloflead]

@@chefmeh6073 ill do what I want to do

[@philemfulloflead]

@chefmeh6073 ill do what I want to do. There's always that a%@hole I swear.

[@chefmeh6073]

@philemfulloflead someones got to be one. Rather be an asshole than lazy. Just say you can't fish.

[@bradreynoldsbtcatfishingad7656]

Nice coverage on the topic!

[@skeeet5758]

The other problem we had down at the river was the little bird would jump in the water and as you would help it out the other bird would hit you in the back or hit you in the butt and it put a guy into the water I said I went down to pick that thing up and it caught me for a surprise when it hit me. It hit me hard and it made me mad I said oh I thought somebody had tackled me from another boat that I didn't see or something it got me for a surprise and then when it was acting like it was caught up and fishing line I shot the line and that guy said are you shooting at a predator bird I said absolutely not I shot the line. You could tell that bird was waiting for someone to come over there and help it out and that guy said you know that bird did me the same way every time I went to reach down to help it out it seemed like the other bird would try to put me in the water but I said you really don't see what's going on there's a big predator bird to my 2:00 we're at 12:00 its at 2:00. so that's when him and I both decided to shoot both birds they were trying to either hurt somebody or they were smart and they were playing a game I don't know what it was but there was really something going on and it spooked both myself and the other guy I said well when the other bird comes in I'll shoot it you shoot the other one. That other bird swooped in and I got him too but to me it almost seemed like there was a large either one or two vulture birds that were watching I said you see back in that hole and it scared that guy he said I think they're trying to kill us and I said I think it right. I really didn't get a make out the bird to say 100% what it was but it to me it looks like a predator bird or a vulture.

[@steventreadwell3087]

Thanks to some states for stopping commercial fishermen from transporting big catfish alive.

[@DieterMelhorn]

You bet

[@skeeet5758]

One other thing I will say about some of the local paylake guys around here a local fisherman had problems with one of his kids without saying too much needed surgery and they all donated it was a total tax write off of them and got the kid fixed up and they made a donation to the Cincinnati children's hospital so for guys to sit here and say bad things about those types of guys honestly you need to think. I would have to take up for those guys and they honestly spend a lot of money they find out that you do something like you paint cars or you make handmade crafts or whatever it is they support other folks too. I've set around the bonfire of many times have a good time and they were buying just saying. Now I'm talking about a friend that I've helped out you know they didn't have much money or they were struggling and I had a little extra and I said hey I got you don't worry about it you don't owe me nothing and they really appreciate it and they showed the support once they actually got rolling. I donated time I donated whatever it took and never charged them dime. I never asked for nothing in return they were more than generous there's still that way they're blessed and they said if you got the Lord's ear just say a prayer for us that's all they're still that way they're blessed. I've even heard some of the guys that we've helped out they would break down and cry and say there's nobody else in the world to help me like those two guys. I've never been one of those guys to say oh I helped you out I think I should fish for free no I paid my way every time I've ever went. As a friend you should because that's what they do they make money you can't have a friend that thinks they're going to get something for free every time you talk. So for people to sit back and have a PETA claim against a place like that think about it man it's a business it's commercial. If there's something wrong with somebody's pond that somebody's got a problem with instead of just complaining why don't they just say hey there's a problem and ask the owner. You might hear well I've been fighting the algae problem I've been fighting a algae bloom I've been trying to pay these fines that people try to hit me with that are bogus. They would have fish and wildlife come out and a biologist to check everything and they try to keep it in check it's hard sometimes. When somebody put somebody's name out and throws it through the mud it's hard to get that back and people can write cease and desist letters to stop you from slandering their business. I know a lot of folks usually won't do that because they're not that way but I've seen it happen people complain and then when the business owner actually talks about the good things that he has done for folks they would say I usually don't brag and I don't look at it as somebody would owe me for saying something but this is the things that I have done for folks and I never said one word because a lot of people don't like their business being out there. I would urge folks if they've got a problem they need to bring it to their attention if they think they can do a better job you can always open up your own pay lake and see how you do. A lot of them very much love catfish and they are a conservationist and they would actually pay to have as long as it's a tax donation to the fishing game and the army engineer corps at the lake. I even know that they donate bait to the camping folks the 4-H they donate gear they donate time they donate food so the kids can have a good time they buy McDonald's or whatever they want to eat. I'm not getting sensitive all I'm saying is maybe you should think before you go saying stuff about folks like that that are usually just down-to-earth country laid back folks. It's not always about the money but you know it takes money to eat and it takes money to live.

[@chrisunstess4641]

Idk why you kept hammering down "no research has been done." KY Fish and wildlife has done surveys of different pools along the ohio and numbers have dropped over the years. Also if they take so long to get so big, what makes you think theres no impact when theyre doing thousands of lbs weekly? I get trying to remain unbiased but come on. If youre going to have a commercial fisherman/paylaker on, you could also bring on a trophy fisherman or someone experienced and maybe even a fish and wildlife official or representative.

[@DieterMelhorn]

Thanks for the feedback. If you can PM me that research I’d love to take a look at it. All of these research papers are posted online so that other researchers can cite the information.

[@lesr4105]

Double edged sword about the last stop. I'd safely estimate 100 public water "sportsman" to pay lake fishers. How many pw fishers end the life cycle of any size catfish they catch? I'm guilty of keeping trophy sizes because I eat them. Anything I catch for the next 6 months will be be released because I have stocked my freezer. Just being real and pulling back the curtain. Good topic

[@DieterMelhorn]

Thanks for your honest feedback. I have no idea how many catfish are kept versus being released. I’d venture a guess that that majority of catfish tournament anglers seldom ever keep fish. With that said, they only represent maybe 4,000 anglers nationwide.

[@calebpartenheimer7636]

I didn't even know pay lakes were a thing until last year. Personally I think it sounds a little stupid and silly to pay to go throw some lines in the water and catch a fish unless your doing well financially. I also realized last year that most public bodies of water like lakes and state parks are stocked. Up until then, especially when I was a kid/teenager, I just thought, "Well this water has always been here, so the fished have always naturally been here and just reproduce. I still struggle to understand why certain fish struggle to adapt and survive in certain bodies of water which is where "not native" comes from. It also makes sense why games wardens and some folks in general like laws and guidelines protecting fish. To finish the more I learn and observe all there is that makes the wildlife world works, I'm starting to come to a personal conclusion that it's rediculous how much time and energy we devote to protect and support wildlife animals vs how much we use to protect and help lives of human beings. It shows and says we care way more about wild animals and nature than we do lives of human beings. That is where I get urked off with fishing licensing and other fees. Do I like fishing? Yes, bit there is a fine line where it becomes a problem.

[@keithbartlett6708]

Thank you!

[@stephenhair5501]

Poaching or abusing limits on catching Catfish out of Public Waters for a Private for Profit Pay Lake should be against the law and strictly enforced. Purchase live catfish from Hatcheries and raise them and have at it. Pay Lakes for Catfish, particularly Trophy Size Catfish, are a death trap and these fish will suffer or die.

[@Norse94]

Okay but I don’t understand then so why can they catch and transport these fish? ? I was told that it’s illegal to transport live fish !!

[@blairbrown8787]

Its a lot of pay lakes around this part of nc im in. Actually have a few close friends that are all but addicted to it. Ive tried it a few and think along with the gambling its one of the dumbest things ive ever done when "fishing"

[@DieterMelhorn]

Are they carp or catfish lakes?

[@charlesshepherd9132]

I’ve fished at “paylakes” where you are catching stocked fish in order to eat. I have no issue with that kind of paylake at all. If their supply of fish is coming from the common public waters, especially for the purpose of gambling on whether you will catch the giant they have bought from public waters, then I have a huge issue with that. Nothing like raping natural resources for personal gain. I would love to see the states pass laws that make it illegal to take fish from public waters to be sold to private lakes for profit.

[@jasonsechrist1]

Leave the paylakes alone, my great great grandfather used to fish some the lakes around my home. You people do realize that the fish being caught in public waters especially catfish are being eaten, so thats an immediate death. The paylakes dont eat the fish, they feed the fish regularly and the fisherman throw tons of bait out in the lakes. Personally I carp fish, and these big lakes are often overran with carp so its not hurting the eco systems to remove them. These paylakes have been around for a long long time and provide recreation to thousands of people that keep people from doing other things like getting in trouble. I personally saw carp fishing totally change a drug addict and turned his life around because it gave him something constructive to do instead of just throwing his life away. You lake fisherman think you own the fish in the waters but you dont, paylakers pay taxes too and they most certainly payed taxes to the government to build those fisheries and stock them, but they never use the lakes. Get over it, if a lake has a problem with over fishing the wildlife officers will put a limit on the catches. Santee Cooper was over fished and it wasn't paylakes that caused the depletion it was recreational fishing catching too many fish and taking them home to eat. So find something else to complain about because paylakes dont put a dent in the real problems of over fishing.

[@darrenloveless7401]

Just curious as to whether any DNRs have done mortality studies on catfish caught in catfish tournaments that are then released. I have seen them for bass, stripers, etc and the results arent good.

[@DieterMelhorn]

In my research none have ever been done. Why? Well, sadly, biologists don’t really care. Also, more importantly, they are very hearty and do very well even in less than desirable conditions.

[@skeeet5758]

I was fishing on the river once and I had a guy that was watching he said I seen you pick that bird up and put it on the bank once it had come out of a nest it was a predator bird I think it was a hawk so you know they're protected and I was just trying to do the right thing but then when I said it back up on the bank it did it again. He said I seen what that bird did he said I think that thing is a little bit smarter than what we think I said I think you're right too. Then I actually had found it back on the bank once and I went to get in the mud a little bit to try to help it out you know scoop it up out of there and get it untangled it was caught up in some fishing string well when I did that there was something that was in the water and there was an eye witness he said dude do not help it. And I felt like I was being lured out the final straw was I was at 12:00 and there was something at 2:00 and there was a guy down there that was in camo he said did you see that big bird I said yeah it's trying to lure me out so we had to shoot two predator birds that day they tried to attack not only me but him as well. Sometimes I think it's meant to be for an animal. To be put down. When I put my boat in the water he said I don't know I almost went out there myself but I got a gut feeling that something's up I said I know just be ready and sure enough that's what happened we had to shoot two predator birds and you know they were decent size I mean enough to where I could put you in the water I've had a large birds attack me and let's just say people call you a liar and say there's not birds big enough to pack somebody off until they find out what the aviation bird is. We had a couple tower climbers that actually got killed from those birds what they do is they find something that's really up on something and they knock them down and when they die or when the animal dies they eat it they're huge they're almost 6 ft I don't trust animals. I've had animals actually asked me for help and you know they come straight to you and they pretty much lay down on the ground and let you do whatever you want to do I would help a few out but I've almost had that bite me in the butt.

[@dannycornett6151]

In my area paylakes are a big thing. And its all a money thing. My local bait shop caters for paylakes. I have been offered money for the fish i catch. I don't sell my fish. I CPR all I catch. .And the state rally don't do anything until there is a complaint about the paylake.

[@DieterMelhorn]

We mainly have carp lakes here, which are on the pay lake business model.

[@dannycornett6151]

@@DieterMelhorn People clam the handicap reason. There isn't a state lake or city for the Ohio river that doesn't have handicap fishing in East Kentucky

[@TheRiverBugProject]

i got a paylake here with 60 and 90 pound fish i want to go there but this is what makes me not want to

[@charlieringo5701]

There's a lot of arguments about the tournament side but it's not that bad there probably around 30 lakes around my area and a lot of people fish these lakes and it's a large business in the lakes and a lot of arguments I'll stick with the rivers and streams and have plenty of pictures and great times

[@scottwilkins1591]

Hoop nets should be illegal within so many miles of a boat ramp, and no fish should be allowed to cross state line's alive yet the Mdc and alot of over states allow it. Get big loser fever or maybe some of these big companies in catfish who only care about money and not the sport.

[@DillonTrinhProductions]

The best pay lakes are not even in America, Thailand has one of the best fishing lakes, which help fishermen catching native fish in a safe way, basically preserving giant freshwater fish like the Mekong Giant Catfish. These fish are treated with respect and provide them a healthy environment without any issues, some of these lakes have hotels, restaurants, etc, way better compared to the lakes in America.

[@DieterMelhorn]

You’re correct. The lakes are well maintained and they have strict regulations and on tackle, and at many of them you have to get in the water with the fish for pictures.

[@z-fishing-adventures]

Paradise Xtreme in ohio is absolutely disgusting. Over 9000lbs of flathead catfish in the past year. Let's say there is an average of 40lbs per fish. That's at least 225 flathead catfish that will be kìlled from just this one pay lake. I made a comment on their Facebook and was banned from their page within seconds. They're shady and scummy.

[@wayneeden98]

I completely understand everything you explained but there's probably not enough money for recordable research and the ecology of any body of water is probably the most delicate to work with plus the biggest headache

[@DieterMelhorn]

You’re probably spot on with that assessment.

[@kshunter15]

Monetary gains of any kind from a public body of water should be banned period. I said what I said. Not all, but too many who use public water for their own financial gain do not manage fish and wildlife with any kind of future longevity awareness. There is nothing wrong with a pay lake as long as those fish are bought from a hatchery. This would be no different than what most states do to stock public lakes with taxpayer money. Essentially, you have already paid to fish the pay lakes that stock their waters with fish from public water. It's just my opinion, you covered the topic well.

[@Rottidad]

I wonder how many trophy fish survive being caught. Held for pictures, bruising internal organs and breaking jaws, etc. actually survive.

[@DieterMelhorn]

97%+

[@raygissendanner1476]

Great information thank you

[@DieterMelhorn]

Thanks for the comment and for watching!

[@turkN9NE]

I'm not a fan of pay lakes. they're all catfish lakes in Northern Indiana. People pay money to take 10 channel cats that are under 5 pounds each. no joke. I think it's garbage. also, the cost of admission at some of these places is absolutely outrageous, imo. I don't eat fish caught around here because the steel mills keep dumping chemicals into the water on accident.. I just fish for sport

[@skeeet5758]

I'm for one for protecting the species of catfish I'm for the sport okay that's my go-to fish to catch. I'll tell you a little story over here at the lake gatesville they close to lake down at 9:00 back where I fish at down by the spillway for bait fish and sometimes there's some good cat fishing if he had there's other places where the catfish are good to but that place in particular one evening I was over there and didn't pay it no mind it was I thought it was a stray cat that was just kind of back and forth back and forth whatever I didn't even care it was so little I didn't even look at it you know what I'm saying it just kind of came up here and rubbed me on the back of the leg and I looked down and it was a little thing I didn't pay it on mine well I've got a couple bluegills and just put them up on the bank I was going to cut them up so I really didn't have a bucket to put them in or nothing I just wanted about three or four decent shell crackers pour some cut bait for the night and I started noticing that it wanted one of them fish on my line and then I started looking at a little better it was a baby bobcat. I thought it was kind of cute but it wouldn't let me touch it or nothing but it had touched me on the back of the leg you know kind of rubbing up against me a little bit there and it acted like it was going to call me on the back of the leg and I didn't really give it no mine but when it started eating my bluegill that I had and I started looking at it I said oh man that's a wild animal. A walk down towards the rock face to kind of get away from it and I drove it a fish and then I started noticing I got me a couple more and it was trying to block my way of leaving I said this thing is trying to play me week. I really wasn't going to bother it but then right beside the trash can and it kind of ran up to the top of the trash can and it went to go jump on me it changed colors like it went from this little brown looking thing to its fur stood up and it kind of turned pasty like white looking it changed. Alright then was when I was in fear for my life it had some pretty decent paws on it. So when it went to jump on me I took my fishing pole and wrapped it around its neck the line and I was able to pull on it and get a good choke on it and I'm thankful that I did and then I pinned it down and started going home wild after I did that and I just said I'm going to have to kill it I beat it off the ground to it was dead and stuff to do in the trash can. The engineers stopped me army engineers and said wow that thing went to really get on you didn't it I said yeah it was going to try to do something he said why did you kill it you could have just told it in the water I said I wasn't taking no chances I'd already tried to leave and it was blocking my path. After I got back to my Jeep and I was kind of you know scanning the area with my eyes to kind of look about where it was coming from you could see the rocks where it had been walking up and down quite a bit something had but they were slick you know I know what the kind of look for for an animal trail and I seen two big ones and they were the size of a mountain lion that was the biggest ones I think I have ever seen now when people start catering to animals that's what happens they get too big sometimes and with that one being as aggressive as it was if that one the bigger ones would have came down I would have had a bad day I'm talking it will should have been a really bad day I could probably really hurt you or even killed you. And I came down there early in the morning too and they be a black bear and then I've seen some big water snakes sometimes animals just get too big and I've had a big bobcat come down out of that same spot I mean it was the size of a small dog. But the two that I seen were about double that size they were about the size of a German Shepherd that was a little too big in my opinion and I said to myself and you start looking around there's some big predator birds that come in there they close it down at 9:00 so it's natural habitat for animals to come in and probably feed out of the trash can or off the bank u know what I'm say n. plus you're not allowed to have a firearm or nothing with you so it's good to have some bear spray I mean it's still pretty far off the road and you know there's plenty of game to be had for food and if you've been eating or something like that you just never know how hungry an animal is you know you're not friendly to an animal so it might not be friendly to you you know what I'm saying I don't trust nothing that's wild I try to keep my distance you know what I'm saying especially something that's a predator animal. So my philosophy on animals there's not supposed to be tons so my philosophy on animals. I think it's good to take animals it's good to keep the population in check if it's a protected animal then there's going to be a bullington about it hey don't be doing this don't be doing that but I do remember when they turn them loose that you know they offered not to kill them with money all that. Just like people raising a big snake what why did you bite me well I'm a snake it's an animal it gets so big it can overpower you. It might come in to breeding season and you know you might be perceived as a threat in the animal's eyes you never know. I think people are just overly getting to the point to where they're going to get animals so big that there's not really much they can do if it was to attack them and they look to you as a person that's going to give out food or be the person that they attack I've been attacked. I've been attacked by a mountain lion but it was just hungry it was at my backpack trying to get my stuff it pulled a backpack off of my back not once not twice but three times and destroyed some very expensive gear stuff that you know it takes time to sit back 20 30 bucks to put back to where you can get that piece of gear sometimes. I really didn't get mad at the animal I know it was hungry I was a little bit deeper than you know I probably should have been but I mean when it put me down on the ground I said to myself uh-oh here we go but I could feel the nervousness of the animal before it attacked me you know if I would have had some bait to throw out to actually give it what it wanted I still don't think it would have been satisfied because it was looking to people that was trying to feed them being nice. Yeah it looks like a cuddly animal yeah it looks friendly until he gets hungry and you're in the way of it getting some food or you know you're just not going to lay down for it and let it do what it wants hey yes I love animals yes I will care for a hurt animal or you know try to help something out but I mean there comes a point to where I almost felt like an animal was putting me out to bait it happened to me on the river one time.

[@EddieHaynes-oi4hb]

I've fished pay lakes my entire life (mostly carp) and have enjoyed the tournaments. I completely disagree with those that say no skill is required to catch fish in these lakes. You have to hit your spots with your bait and have the right bait not to mention that you have to get the fish to bank without them getting "off the hook". I grew up poor so getting a boat/truck to go fish the river was not an option. I had friends whose families were well off and I fished the public waters with them an caught a lot of fish. We also cleaned and either froze those fish or ate those fish. Not sure that there is any "science" behind the statement that pay lake fish only live for a summer. If there is, send me a link to the data. I do agree that research needs to start on understanding the fish population in public waters. Once there is data to support a case specifically pointing to pay lakes causing the fish shortage or a reduced quality of fish action should be taken to limit the number of fish "caught" and transported by pay lakes. I hope that this debate turns into something positive for all of us regardless of our preferred fishing method. Hopefully there are n't those out there that believe we shouldn't be allowed to fish if we do not fish the way they fish.

[@donprater2754]

Not necessarily in short order?

[@pyrodave6407]

Pay lakes should be illegal or forced to do like trout ponds buy farm raised fish not steal fish from rivers and lakes. I have no problem with the trout lakes but catfish lakes piss me off

[@jerryrichter6180]

We had gentleman in North Florida, in the seventies, who had about twenty, one acre, man made ponds. He had five ponds, don’t quote me, dedicated to reproduction and development of breeding and brood stock. Fishing was expressly prohibited in these ponds. He had roughly five dedicated to growth and development, and about ten ponds where you could catch channel cats of varying sizes. Different sizes were all mixed together and you paid a certain $ amount per pound. It was a godsend to the elderly lady, who loved to fish and take her favorite neighbor along with her. She really loved it.

[@larryabrams3559]

Farm operation, just like chicken or cows. Not to be classed in these trophy fish lakes.

[@jerryrichter6180]

You are probably right about that, but it’s the closest I’ve seen to one of those. I think he treated his catfish better than the chickens I’ve seen in some of those operations. Like to think so, anyway.

[@skeeet5758]

I would think there's enough money to go around there's plenty of money out there that is commercial fishing they hire people to raise these fish and they truck them in it provides jobs and good times and services for folks that really can't get down to the river bank or get down to the lake I really don't fish too late but the lake the army engineer corps is over here absolutely take that stuff seriously. But for somebody to say that you know it's a killing ground nothing lasts forever and I love the sport of catfishing but hear me out I for one know for a fact that I have seen catfish in pay lakes that have been there for 10-plus years with my own eyes it had a tag. But in a lot of pond fishing you got algae blooms and stuff like that that can really take over it you know it takes a lot of money to keep that going but there's good times to be had I mean there's no pressure on people and you know if they get a big load and they stock often but you know it's to help everybody out the hatchery makes money that place makes money. There's some gambling that goes on but I mean it's not a big deal it's nothing that they don't pay taxes on my personal opinion if you don't want to gamble you don't have to put your money in the pot but there are people that go there to make money gambling and they go over there to have a good time and I've seen people that like to bring their kids out and you know it turn their kids on to a big fish without having the dangers of being out in mother nature sometimes mother nature can be a dangerous place especially being on the river you know there's more people there's food easy to get to there's just whatever you could bring out anything you really want to there's no really too much going on you know if you're out by yourself with your kids animals do attack when there's a lot more people or you know a place that's designed to take people in and let them do their thing it makes it easier for folks to get out there. Some people try to take and just keep all the fish that they can take which there is a number of fish that you can take sometimes they're under sometimes they're too small in my opinion I'm just like really why would you even bother but you know whatever if they paid for a fishing license it's not my job to tell somebody what they can do. There's plenty of fish out there I mean you can't save them all and then you might get fish they get too big I mean you could have a nuisance animal on your hands easily.

[@cjr4497]

In my area it is recreational hoop nets and snaggers. They brag about catching 800-900 pounds a day. They don't make one meat run a year either. They don't stop until they don't catch enough to brag about. Louisiana has zero fisheries management.

[@DieterMelhorn]

The long term problem for catfish is the lack of respect for the species, and that’s even among the anglers that fish for them.

[@koreywilliams4570]

I got a 6 lb cat on a piece of chicken off the bank at the lake.

[@bobbyhayes1735]

Fishing in a barrel. Not to sportsman like. Good thing for the handicap people

[@Frenchbroadcatman.]

I don't think my opinion will matter but here goes. Play Lakes have no forage base in them if they do that many big fish will eat them fast that's why you can catch a 70 pound fish on a dough ball there's nothing to eat. Have some buddies that think they are great fishermen cause they fish the lakes. I tell them my 10 year old daughter can catch a big fish there without trying come to the river and see how you do they won't they don't like dry runs of fishing till you catch a big one. I don't like these people taking fish from the rivers and lakes. It costs me thousands of dollars a year for tackle,gas bait license food and other things these people fish a snag free lake no license nothing and catch fish in a few mins I've spent my whole life fishing for. I don't care for these lakes at all. Carp keep all you want they can track over 20 pounds in 5 years or less not so with big cats it takes 3 times as long in certain bodies of water to reach 20 pounds

[@jrhall9409]

My biggest issue is the lack of concern from major name brands like catch the fever, madkatts, ect.. why do i support companies that only care about supporting social media influencers and not thenpeople that pirchased their stuff the last 10 years. Youre one of the first social influencers ive seen talk about the subject. Granted its for views but its a start. You dont think think santee cooper has been overfished from commercial or to eat? Its no longer a top 5 place to catch a trophy fish. Nor on anyones places "gotta fish it one day" like say majority of the places in north Alabama. We have laws and police it as much as we can.

[@DieterMelhorn]

Santee was overfished, both for stripers and blue catfish. They put regulations in place to help curtail that downfall. No fishery ANYWHERE in America has EVER been managed for “trophy” catfish and never will in my opinion. Big catfish have just been a byproduct of the right conditions, limited fishing pressure and good genetics. Yes, I create content for views. No shame or apologies for that. In doing that, and building a following, I do have the power to possibly sway opinions, or at least educate people. I try to keep an open mind to all the stakeholders involved, and also the science behind our fisheries and how we try to manage them in a modern world. It will be interesting to see what unfolds with this topic over the next decade.

[@jrhall9409]

Well at least you admit that between commercial and over harvest from guides/recreational did cause a decline in the fishery. Not sure why you think you need more data to take a harder stance on trophy paylakes then. It was your backyard.

[@DieterMelhorn]

Yes, there was a lot of research and documentation through the SCDNR that showed the unrestricted harvest was have a negative impact. Remember, at this time, no where in America is there a fishery that is managed to grow “trophy catfish”.

[@dereksteele2284]

This is why catfish should have slot limits

[@robertrussell143]

its all about funds, i cant afford a 30 grand boat and 60 truck to haul it with. yes i pay lake, 2.5 hrs to Ohio river or any other major rivers to fish and never lake about 45 minutes. dont get me wrong i love trips to major rivers to fish but they are far and few between each season.

[@FishinNFreedom1776]

If i started to do this with Bass, wonder how long ot would take to get shut down. Or if i started trapping deer and ducks on public groumd and putting them in a pen and charged people to come shoot at them. How long before i got shut down and arrested! What if i walked out on to public forrest and started logging timber for profit.. same thing. Its a public resource owned by tax payers thats being exploited for profit.

[@DieterMelhorn]

The major difference is there are laws in place to stop all the aforementioned things from happening. There are few, if any to prevent what’s happening with putting fish from public waters into pay lakes.

[@FishinNFreedom1776]

@DieterMelhorn I agree, and that's kinda my point.. we can't do all those other things because there are laws against them for good reason. The exact same reason we shouldn't be doing it with catfish. It's a perception thing. The lowly bottom feeding catfish, the poor mans fish.. alot of people don't care about them the same way they do other species.. and these paylakes are just capitalizing on that. Good video. Great topic 👍🏻

[@jasonlittle4049]

I dont call pay like fishing real fishing lol.there stocked fish they're not wild stocked way easier to catch i seen videos of people fishing at pay lakes and they catch like over a hundred fish and like two or three hours you're not going to do that a river or a natural lake.if u fish nothing but pay Lakes u think u good at fishing then go to a real river and fish I bet u see real fast that your not as good as u think. Pay lakes don't really teach you how to fish really. It's like shoting fish in a barrel 😅

[@Frenchbroadcatman.]

Damn right it is. My buddies won't join me on the river cause I catch fish and they don't. Damn bunch of paylakers

[@JohnDudenhoeffer]

A catfish hatchery just for pay lakes .

[@troyvaughn6060]

The pay lakes around Cincinnati and Ohio. They are awful. They constantly fill them up with big catfish which don’t come from farms. I’m sure of and they get them from the rivers and these bigger lakes and they keep piling them in and they have kill off and they just pull them aside and throw them in the woods or whatever I’ve seen it, it’s awful. I was raised on the river bank Fishing and yes, I have done paid lakes, but I’m not proud of it but I don’t even fish anymore. It’s gotten that bad.

[@DieterMelhorn]

There seems to be a lot of chatter around Ohio and the pay lakes there.

[@scottnewton6102]

Ohio pay lakes are giving all pay lakes bad names cause I'm from Louisville KY and I'm not saying we don't have big fish lakes and cause we're just as guilty of stocking big fish but most of the pay lakes here stock farm raised channels which is the money maker here not big fish

[@troyvaughn6060]

@@DieterMelhorn just in the pass two weeks have post about 8000 pounds of fish they have put in three local paid lakes 😔😔😔 I love your videos

[@scottnewton6102]

Cause there are many pay lakes that I can list and name that you can look up like last cast paylake or diddles paylake or Bennetts paylake that take amazing care of it big fish.

[@scottnewton6102]

Also county line paylake

[@macboxfishing5]

A "pay lake" is a bad American attempt at a British fishery. Look up the wonderful fisheries for match fishing, carp fishing, and Wels catfish fishing in the U.K.

[@andybaker5466]

I fished many pay lakes many years ago and it was great, sort of a camp out and fish all night. The death of these catfish was devastating on them! I will never fish one again! The Ohio river has been drained of these trophy fish! You cannot catch fish and gut hook them for them to survive! Why cant they control how many fish you can harvest we have a limit why cant they?