Every lake is different and has its own ecosystem.  Fishing for bedding bass in one lake may harm the population, while doing it in another lake may have no affect or even help the bass population.  We have some lakes in Indiana (Wawasee & Maxincukee) that get pounded by tournaments from the end of March thru the entire spawn, yet these lakes continue to produce steady catches year after year.  These two lakes are also the 2 largest natural lakes in the state and that may play a role in their ability to handle the fishing pressure.

The reality is that about 1/10 of a percent of the fry from a bed will become a spawning adult.  That is natures way of controlling the population.  Does that % go down even more if the male is caught and taken to a weigh in?  I don't know the answer to that, but until they make a C&R season in Indiana, people will continue to bed fish.

I really don't think that the ratio of fishermem to fish makes this subject even debatable. There are far more fish than there are people fishing during the spawn to have any negative impact on the population as far as I'm concerned.

Alot of good opinions in this thread, for sure.  MY only thing is, taking the fish miles away from its bed for a weight in sounds problematic.  I mean, C&R is perfectly fine as long as the fish is released in the immediate vicinity of where it was caught.

Ohio did a 2 yr. study on fishing bedding Bass and it is imposible to land and release a male before the nest is completely stripped. it only takes 2 to 5 minutes to strip a nest leave bedding Bass alone a 3 yr. old with a string with a hook tied on it can catch bedding Bass the males job it to protect the eggs and fry until they are big enough to leave the nest and he will hit anything no matter what size. I've talked to divers that have been hit by guarding males.

It all depends on lake size and fish population.  And you have to think about the fish.  Would you want someone bothering you while you're trying to make babies?   I don't think so