catch and release

[rickn]

Good points made in Garys post. Here is my question. You get to go fishing for a weekend, drive 250 miles to the camp. You hit the water, and the gods are watching, and its fast action. Do you take (or release) the four fish limit and quit for the day, or c&r and enjoy the day. I am not into panfish, or bass. Whats the honest feelings here?

[Box]

I'd most likely keep what I was going to eat that night (2 small fish or 1 nice one), knowing that the fishing was most likely going to keep on being good the next day, and keep fishing for fun. Then keep what I'd eat the next day and keep fishing. I most likely wouldn't even keep any to bring home, due most likely to the hassle of freezing, etc., or possibly bring a couple home. We eat most of what we keep while at the resort/camp. If we want fish back at home we go to a nearby restaurant... or fish at a local lake and get some real fresh fish.

Big thing for me is to keep fishing, and make 100% sure I am legal.

-Box

[rickn]

I seldom bring ish home, usually releasing everything, but I ill usually keep fishing while it's good. I don't want to drive that far, tgen quit after releasing my limit. Plus, most times it's not that fast or hot.

[curt quesnell]

This is a very good senario. The dream trip and the fish are
really going...you keep what you want to eat in camp and continue
to fish possibly killing and wasting 50 or 60 fish a day.

Of course you want to keep fishing. So find the least intrusive
way to catch the fish and leave room in the pail for those fish
that are not in real good shape after you catch them.

On a fly in trip or on a remote drive in lake you can easily have
200 fish days. Its is very possible that you kill and release
more fish than you keep to eat.

Handle fish with care if you plan on releasing them.

Curt Quesnell

[Box]

That is a good idea on this scenario Curt. To not keep the fish for eating until you get one (or two, etc) that likely won't make it, and keep them for the eating.

A wise idea and one that will stay with me.

And handling the fish with care should always be practiced.

-Box

[curt quesnell]

RickN,

This spring, fishing on Lake of the Woods was better than even the
oldtimers could remember. Elm Point and South Buffalo, always
good in May and June, were off the charts this spring.

In an effort to keep fishing most of the day we raised the bar a bit
and stayed away from the easiest fish. We pulled planer boards with
big water spinners and clip weights out in 27 feet of water when the big packs of boats were in 10 to 15 feet. We used Jigs and Powerbait minnows on 5 mile reef with the other 2 boats that were out there. We trolled crankbaits in real shallow water. The bite was so good we still caught fish and to top it off we got some experiance doin stuff we really hadnt done before.

This might be an alternative to pounding away on one school of fish
all day. The challenge of finding another school or catching them
in a new way might slow your "catchin" down a little and improve your
"fishin".

I know we had lots of fun.


Curt Quesnell

[rickn]

I should add that thetimes this has happened, I was in 9-15 feet of water, and also, so everyone knows, I SELDOM bring anything home, except what I don't think will live. I just thought in Garys topic,it sounded like it would be abuse to fish all day and keep releasing. Thanks for the input, Rick

[Chad]

One thing I do know is that once they are on ice they dont survive as opposed to release they have a better chance. I have been fishing many times and have not kept any fish. I enjoy the act of fishing but not necessiarily the act of cleaning fish. Does that mean I shouldn't go fishing? Of course not.

Rather then try to convince people not to fish anymore we should try to convince them to switch tactics. Fish are easily gut hooked using a lindyrig which is a mainstay tactic in MN. If more people used barbless hooks, crank baits and jigs we would see less of a problem.

Read the article in the In Fish 2002 Walleye Special. It sheds a light on some reason for laws in regards to closed seasons. They really do not do much to protect the fish since not many would be on the water anyway as compared to the summer. Some think the closure is more of a sales tactic. People get excited about the opener and more people get caught up and go fishing maybe only once.

The resource is there for everyone to use and if we all take care of it there is room for all of use to do our thing, be it catch our limit and go home, tournemnt fish and put everything back or catch a few and throw the rest back.

I think it is our responsibility to pass on the tradition. Teach new people to fish, espicially kids. Fishing is fun, lets keep it that way.

Chad

[llg]

My conclusion from these posts is:

Ideally it is unethical to release a fish that will not surviive, but realistically it is sometimes necessary to release a damaged fish so we may continue fishing, or to avoid breaking limit laws, When releasing fish we must do our best to make sure it will survive. Most of us feel guilty when a damaged fish is released but we have to be realistic.

In my opinion, Curt Q. has the best method to insure the least amount of damage to the fishery, especially when on a "power fishing" trip.