HOW BIG OF FISH

[rodbuster]

Last year I fished in the W.C. outing out uf Huron there were lots of big fish and a good number of mid size fish.As I trolled past a charter boat they just netted a small fish (about 12 or 13 inch).It went right in the cooler.I have fished Erie for over 30 years and I don't keep small fish and I don't like to see others do it . So I tried to ask the charter on the radio why he would?He would not answer so I told him what I thought about it .I guess I was telling everyone on ch 79 what I thought.I was answered by another charter that said they don't all run there boats like that.Glad to here that.
Now how big dose it have to be to go in your cooler?

[stewart]

For shorelunch I like 'em between 14 and 17 inches. Smaller than 14' they don't seem to have much body. Lots of those little guys to eat, so those are the ones I harvest.

[mnjimcarp]

how was that charter boat fishing? what did the small fish they kept bite on? was the small fish still alive? did it swallow the bait? was it bleeding from the gills? was it releasable? sometimes it is a true sportsman that keeps the smaller fish. particularly if the small fish is going to float to the surface moments after the release. i encourage people in my boat to be responsible and keep the legal fish that are not in good releasable condition. sometimes those fish are smaller than i would like and sometimes those fish are bigger than i would like. it is a good idea to have an idea of the fish you are going to keep prior to catching them. this may vary from lake to lake. depending on the fishery, you might keep some smaller and you might keep some bigger. mortality should always be considered when contemplating keeping or releasing. be a good sport, if they have a good chance of living, widen your release slot. if they are in tough condition, your keepers may occasionally be a little small or a little big. consider the reasons that folks may keep fish that you may not. happy fishing

[ErieAngler]

I once heard a guy ask if he should keep a fish that was around 14". The reply from the skipper (private boat) was "Is it green? Does it have teeth? If so BOX IT!"

Down here on the western basin there are days when you could toss back 100 of those 14-15" fish and never catch one over that. This year will be no exception with the 1999 year class rivaling the famous '82 hatch. My dad will stand there while I clean fish and pick out the smallest fillets for his bag with good reason.....they are the best.

Those of us that are fish and keep fishermen have been bashed for not throwing 7# plus fish back even though we have been told over and over that the medium sized fish are the most prolific because of the vigor of their eggs etc. So what does that leave for our harvest "slot"? The 14" to 18" fish.

Personally I will box any fish over 14" and if there is a choice I sort small (toss bigger fish back).

[rodbuster]

I agree I have had to keep fish that would end up bird food too.This fish did not seem that way.They were drift fishing and there was no fighting to get the hook out.
I have seen people come to the dock with a limit of small fish.I guess they throw the big ones back.

[Frank from TBay]

I do not freeze fish and like it fresh. If the little lady sends her man out to bring back supper we do our best to bring back 13-15in fish. But sometimes if the fishing is hard and we get one a little bigger or some a little smaller those fish are in the wrong place at the wrong time. To me we do not keep any fish over 3lbs unless injured. The little guys are the best eating and I do not have a problem harvesting the small guys for supper.

[cisco]

I, too, stopped freezing fish years ago. For me, the ideal eating size walleyes are the non-breeding 12 to 16 inchers. It does not hurt the resource to remove these forage competitors from the pool of reproducing fish.

Long before the MDNR established slot requirements on Minn lakes, Leech Lake anglers tended to cooperate on a voluntary slot of their own doing. At the time, folks were urged to release those over 18 inches, and keep for the table those under that length.

[GORD]

When i was a kid, they said "let them go and let them grow". Now they say "use selective harvest and throw the big ones back. they are the breeders". ?????? HOT DOGS ANYONE ??????

[tug]

I like em over 22inchs In the 4-5lb range. More meat per bag limit.

[T-Mac]

Rather see them killing a little one than a big one.
I'd rather eat the little one, too.