10lb Walleye club - mixed message

[Mark Hennessey]

I've been following the 10+ club and have pondered this thought. It seems to me that we're missing a key ingredient to qualify (or if it exists, I'm not aware of it). IMHO, to keep the fish population strong for future generations, those fish should be released back into the lakes for future generations to enjoy the thrill of fishing.

Maybe I've been missing the boat, but I've been attempting to educate my children on the importance of catch, photo and release. For example, my daughter (age 9) released a 5.5lb Smallmouth, my niece (age 14) released a 31lb Lake Trout, and my son (age 13) releases any walleye over 20". NOW, they're hammering me with "Why didn't we keep our big fish like everyone else".

Perhaps, I'm missing the point but I'd appreciate your opinion on this issue.

[Backwater Eddy]

Many are C/R fish, all but 2 I have entered were released. They were kept due to mortality, they were bleeder's so not much choice.

BE

[Todd_NE]

Good point Mark, however, I subscribe to the "selective harvest" theory over the complete catch and release. The fish I and my friends have up were all released by the way. It sounds like you are teaching your kids selective harvest as a point of fact.

Many biologists feel the best fish to release are typically the 18-26", those tend to be the most prolific and successful reproducing fish. But I tend to also think it can't hurt the genetics if that 'ol girl gets a few more shots at some progeny!

I wouldn't personally get upset at someone keeping the "fish of a lifetime", but the replica's are the way to go in my opinion anyway so it's the best of both worlds.

Todd

[tpet96]

Being an avid Lake Erie angler, I see MANY hog walleyes being pulled from the water each season. I have to admit, I've kept some hogs in the 12-14 lb range, but after a while you learn those bigger fish don't taste great anyways. Myself and quite a few anglers on Erie do the CPR (Catch Photo Release) on the larger eyes now, keeping those in the 16-18" range. Better eaters, and also allowing the larger females to produce more hatches for the future, allowing our children and our children's children the same opportunities that we have today. Not that this was helpful in anyway, but just a note to add to your post.

[Minnesota]

I mounted 1 walleye that I felt was an excellent sample of the species. All the other big ones have been photographed and released. I have the pictures blown up in to an 8 x 10 and then I frame the picture and hang it on the wall by the mounted one. I write the date, location, weight and length on the edge of the picture with a black sharpie marker. Then I cut the lure I caught the fish with off of my line, leaving the original knot in tact, and hang it off the frame of the picture. It makes me feel good in that I get a memory that I can share with friends and family and at the same time, maybe some kid might catch that fish next year and be the envy of all his little buddies.

My "Wall of Fame" has 1 frame with no picture in it though. Thanks to the person that was kind enough to steal 5000.00 worth of stuff out of my boat last fall. But hey, maybe there is a black market for disposable cameras with 3/4 of the film already shot.

Minnesota(not bitter, just careless-lesson learned)

"As fisherman, we are all members of a brotherhood."

[WAeyes]

I feel there is nothing wrong with keeping that special fish for a mount. I am not a big fan of the replica fish, it just doesn't do it for me. Now that doesn't mean I don't believe in selective harvest, because I do very much. I am very picky about the fish I keep, I try not to keep any obvious females from late fall on into the next spawn. By doing this very religiously I feel that I am doing my part in helping reproduction. So if I say this piggy is going on the wall,(which is very seldom) I don't feel bad about it because I think about all the fish I also release. On the other hand, keeping these big fish just for the meat sickens me beyond belief.

[curt quesnell]

hats off to you minnesota.....

i agree with what you say...a good picture holding a whopper
is a great memory of not only the fish, but the day, the
weather, the boat and more.

i think some (some) people go a little overboard on catch and release, but more power to em as the enjoy this great sport
in there own, legal , way.

not to slight the taxidermists (i have 2 walleyes mounted)
but i enjoy the 8x10 of the 11 pounder that got put back
just as much....plus you can keep every big fish you catch
on film and and put em on the wall framed.

have your own fishing wall of fame.....or hall of frames...
or wall of frames.....or something you come up with

minnesota has a good idea for everyone

curt quesnell

[RickyP]

If you really want to be disgusted, check out the Maumee River in mid-April when the snaggers are ripping the hawgs off their spawning beds. It's terrible. I can't believe it's allowed.

[stewart]

I think the big ones need to be put back not so much so that they can spawn some more, but just so that we have a catchable number of big fish swimming out there.

[BD]

I have kept only one fish for mounting (13lbs, Aug.76) since I started fishing. Twenty five years ago the replica mounts we have today were not available and it was my "fish of a lifetime". Releasing that fish would not have done any good anyway as it had been hooked in the gill and was sure to die if released. I practice catch and release now on spawning size fish, keeping only enough eaters for a meal, but there are some fish that are hooked to badly to release. They would die anyway. So mount them or eat them and don't feel bad about it.
P.S. Good luck with the kids!

"An angler is a man who spends rainy days sitting around on the muddy banks of rivers doing nothing because his wife won't let him do it at home." --- Irish saying

[Airwave(OH)]

BD Wow 25yrs. ago ---You need to get out there and get another one quick... LOL...

[BD]

It was from Winnebago! Believe it or not! Stevens reef, 11:00pm, full moon, light ripple, 5 of diamonds, bit right next to the boat, broke the tip of the rod on the gunwale when it hit... But you are right! It's about time for another memory maker!

"An angler is a man who spends rainy days sitting around on the muddy banks of
rivers doing nothing because his wife won't let him do it at home." --- Irish saying