Sunshine
05-25-2000, 07:43 AM
I'm concerned that sometimes we are our own worst enemies. Let me start off by saying that I'm in favor of and practice CPR (catch, photo and release). I also keep an occasional walleye for the dinner table for my immediate family and myself. I also fish a lot for muskies and bass and always release them. With that being said, here's my concern. Lately, anytime someone mentions that they are keeping fish for the table, it appears that some people on this site bash them for their decision. I've seen it happen recently to someone who was reporting a Lake Eire walleye catch and now by someone asking for smallmouth recipes. I thought that these individuals were asking valid questions and did not deserve the abuse that they received. IMHO. It seems that some of us have taken CPR to an extreme that requires ALL fish to be released for another day. It appears to me that this is an extreme. Are we setting ourselves up with fanatic groups like PETA? Why are some people always eager to condemn others for keeping fish, even when their decision was legal and apparently morally right in their minds?
Frankly, I've thought a lot about my stated opinion and the sharing of my feelings with this group for some time, but have been hesitant to express my feelings because I don't want to be characterized as a PETA lover. We need to be careful about the perceptions that we give to others. I'm afraid that if we portray the image that we should all release all the fish we catch, the fanatics will have a field day with us. I'm afraid that we'll be portrayed as people who enjoy hurting animals for a short time before releasing them for the next brutal treatment. There's something to be said about fishing for the gathering of food and we can justify our activities accordingly. Our image is starting to bother me. If we become fanatics ourselves and chastise everyone else who keeps some fish, I think we're hurting our own image and ourselves. Sadly, I've had my own children come home from school and question my decisions to hunt or fish. They're getting misinformation from someone and it's our obligation to set the record straight (that's a whole different conversation that can tie us up forever)
I think that we need to help educate others on the decisions that they make without sarcasm. With knowledge comes responsibility. We need to get this message out. This site is a great wealth of information. People who come here will/do improve their fishing knowledge and will improve their catches. Let's keep educating them further. I can remember a time when I kept every fish that I caught. This was also a time when I did not catch many fish. As my knowledge grew and my ability to catch more fish grew I still kept allot of fish. For me, I thought that I had something to prove to others. Look at me, I'm good, I can catch fish! But as I continued to improve my fishing techniques I also realized that I could hurt the environment that I so deeply cherished. It then became MY decision to start practicing CPR. I also started doing local tournaments because I was still a competitive person by nature and enjoyed seeing how I ranked with others. But once again, I went through a learning process that I think many others go through. I think that this should be the message that we should send out to others. With knowledge comes responsibility.
Frankly, I've thought a lot about my stated opinion and the sharing of my feelings with this group for some time, but have been hesitant to express my feelings because I don't want to be characterized as a PETA lover. We need to be careful about the perceptions that we give to others. I'm afraid that if we portray the image that we should all release all the fish we catch, the fanatics will have a field day with us. I'm afraid that we'll be portrayed as people who enjoy hurting animals for a short time before releasing them for the next brutal treatment. There's something to be said about fishing for the gathering of food and we can justify our activities accordingly. Our image is starting to bother me. If we become fanatics ourselves and chastise everyone else who keeps some fish, I think we're hurting our own image and ourselves. Sadly, I've had my own children come home from school and question my decisions to hunt or fish. They're getting misinformation from someone and it's our obligation to set the record straight (that's a whole different conversation that can tie us up forever)
I think that we need to help educate others on the decisions that they make without sarcasm. With knowledge comes responsibility. We need to get this message out. This site is a great wealth of information. People who come here will/do improve their fishing knowledge and will improve their catches. Let's keep educating them further. I can remember a time when I kept every fish that I caught. This was also a time when I did not catch many fish. As my knowledge grew and my ability to catch more fish grew I still kept allot of fish. For me, I thought that I had something to prove to others. Look at me, I'm good, I can catch fish! But as I continued to improve my fishing techniques I also realized that I could hurt the environment that I so deeply cherished. It then became MY decision to start practicing CPR. I also started doing local tournaments because I was still a competitive person by nature and enjoyed seeing how I ranked with others. But once again, I went through a learning process that I think many others go through. I think that this should be the message that we should send out to others. With knowledge comes responsibility.