C&r Rant

[Hattrick7]

Take a different approach to this guy.

 

When he is fishing you motor over to him, introduce yourself, and talk about fishing the lake. Get his input and philosophy of fishing while being nice.

 

Do not aggravate or challenge the guy in any manner. Wave to him as you motor by or he goes by you.

 

If you have a GPS unit on your boat you need to mark all of the places he fishes, be it his one favorite or a number of alternatives. Then start a list of the times he is on the lake at these places so you will know that he does not fish on Mondays, but Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays he starts at point A, moves to point B and finishes at point C.

 

Now you know him by name; probably where he lives on the lake; where the fishes; when the starts; when he finishes; and you have a nice profile of his fishing culture.

 

Here is when you strike! You get on the lake a half hour or a full hour before him and hit his places before he gets the opportunity. This will limit the number of fish he catches as you would have hooked the majority before he arrives.

 

Once again, don't confront him. Any confrontations are to come from law enforcement authorities.

 

Good luck.

I'm with Sam if he's a regular I'd get to know him. Once you get to know him a little better it'll be easier to voice your concern without sounding like the game warden. Plus you'll be able to see if he's taking in fish that aren't legal.

[Catt]

My biggest C&R Rant!

People who think they have a right to shove C&R down everyones throat?

That's the responce you would likely get!

Since the 70s this topic has been hotly contested, some with fights breaking out.

Ever been to a town hall or county meeting where C&R is debated?

I agree with Sam on this one

Me personal opinion is selective harvesting is more effective than 100% CR.

I agree with Sam on this one

[flyfisher]

Take a different approach to this guy.

 

When he is fishing you motor over to him, introduce yourself, and talk about fishing the lake. Get his input and philosophy of fishing while being nice.

 

Do not aggravate or challenge the guy in any manner. Wave to him as you motor by or he goes by you.

 

If you have a GPS unit on your boat you need to mark all of the places he fishes, be it his one favorite or a number of alternatives. Then start a list of the times he is on the lake at these places so you will know that he does not fish on Mondays, but Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays he starts at point A, moves to point B and finishes at point C.

 

Now you know him by name; probably where he lives on the lake; where the fishes; when the starts; when he finishes; and you have a nice profile of his fishing culture.

 

Here is when you strike! You get on the lake a half hour or a full hour before him and hit his places before he gets the opportunity. This will limit the number of fish he catches as you would have hooked the majority before he arrives.

 

Once again, don't confront him. Any confrontations are to come from law enforcement authorities.

 

Good luck.

Wow that seems really crappy to me.  Act like you are his friend to get some info then take his spots on the days you know he is out there because you stalked him?

 

Sorry but that is just bad regardless of your thoughts on C&R.  If he is breaking the law tell the authorities and let them handle the situation.

[TRYTOFISH]

I don't have a problem with anyone keeping what they catch as long that they are legal. I think there is a reason why they set limits on size and quanity. I keep alot of what i catch because i like to eat fish. I have fish in my freezer that i keep for fish fry's and me and moma. When I get to the point when I have enough I release. If you dont have any limits on your lake, I would contact your fish & game to ask why or if they can do anything to establish some. There will always be some Clown breaking the rules wherever you go or some Treehugger thinking your destroying mother nature. Best thing you could do is do what you can legally and in good taste. Good luck with it!

[J Francho]

If he's breaking the law, report him.  If not, it's really none of your business what he does with his catch. 

[SPEEDBEAD.]

LOL, C&R threads.....

 

Food stamps, spot burning?  This is entertaining.

[Brian Needham]

LOL, C&R threads.....

 

Food stamps, spot burning?  This is entertaining.

 

nail on head, speedbead, nail on head.

 

I wont say much until they start acting like "animals" ........

[ww2farmer]

I am 100% catch and release for bass, but I am going to start keeping everything I catch....... Within legal limits of course, and post videos of me filleting 5lbers on here just to cause an uproar, just because I like to be a d bag..... Actually I probably won't, that's too much work. For years people equate there lack of fishing success with other people keeping to many fish, when the truth of the matter is people like to blame there sucky ability to catch on someone else, rather than looking in the mirror.

[Ratherbfishing]

We live in different times.  Way back when, people fished almost excusively to eat-sometimes to the detriment of the fishery.  It became (or was) as much a cultural thing as a necessity to keep and eat the fish you caught.  Having said this, it STILL bothers me when I witness someone going back again and again and again, keeping nearly everything-even if it's within legal size and daily/possession limits.  Nevertheless, if he is legal, there's not much you can (or should) do about it.  If, on the other hand, you believe he is violating the law, it should be addressed.  While I like to believe communities ought to police themselves as much as possible, let the police handle it.

[Raul]

It is far fetched but that may be his most reliable method of putting food on the table. Do you know if he is living off the grid? Or is without a steady job? Those probably aren't the answers but they are possibilities.

 

Being poor is not an excuse to break the law.

 

I have nothing against people keeping fish to eat as long as they do it legally ( with a license ), respecting sizes and catch limits, any other way than that it´s called poaching.

[WRB]

During the late 60's and early 70's I was a staunch advocate of catch and releasing largemouth bass, specifically trophy size bass. To say that I ran into a brick wall is putting things lightly. I got letters back from Ray Scott, the president of B.A.S.S. stating fishing pressure alone had no affect on bass populations, the bass are prolific spawner's, good renewable resource. Times have changed and I now find myself on opposite side of the C&R issue.

C & R has become a cult with some anglers that believe every single bass caught must be released.

It was wrong when Scott took his stand, he later reversed his position, not from his original belief that fishing pressure was harmful, it looked bad to have hundreds of dead bass at the end of his tournaments that became food for fish fries. Livewells were developed and better fish handling skills are still evolving.

In-Fisherman had it right with their "Selective Harvest" in the 80's that continues today. Properly handle the special trophy fish and keep fish that will not survive or a size that are overly populated.

What the 100% C & R angler doesn't acknowledge is it's impossible to release 100% of the bass, some don't survive after catching it. There is a post catch mortality rate, the bigger the fish, the higher that rate becomes. It's doesn't harm a fishery to keep a few fish to eat, there is always a combination of factors that deplete a fish species from a body of water as large as a lake.

Should you harass another angler for fishing within regulations...no! Should you turn in another angler for fishing illegally... Yes!

Tom

[J Francho]

But Tom, you had no financial interest in your beliefs, then and now....

[AK-Jax86]

Wow that seems really crappy to me.  Act like you are his friend to get some info then take his spots on the days you know he is out there because you stalked him?

 

Sorry but that is just bad regardless of your thoughts on C&R.  If he is breaking the law tell the authorities and let them handle the situation.

I have to agree with everything you said. Acting like you are someone's friend to steal their spots... That's some teenage little girl middle school type s*** lol

[PABASS]

First don't approach him, did anyone not read about the angler whom was killed recently, shot over approaching a young person whom was stealing something from his boat.  You simply leave it to your DNR, call them let them deal with this person who may well be in there legal right.  Second concerning bass I am 100% C&R, I agree with Selective Harvest its proven by biologist to be healthy for a lake, around here there is just to much pollution to eat the trout and walleye.

[WRB]

But Tom, you had no financial interest in your beliefs, then and now....

None then, none now. Although being retired, almost retired, I may rethink fishing for food! It cost me an average of $50 to fish a day.

Tom

[CayMar]

Being poor is not an excuse to break the law.

 

I have nothing against people keeping fish to eat as long as they do it legally ( with a license ), respecting sizes and catch limits, any other way than that it´s called poaching.

I agree with you. I wasn't justifying any illegal activity just saying we don't know the guys situation.

[Bob C]

I see an older guy in my local lake usually in the same spot every time. He takes his limit of gills and perch of all sizes. If your guy stays in the same spot he's probably found a good gill area. I'm not c&r. I'll take a couple LM home for dinner. I only keep legal ones and I've brought home plenty that were 18" plus. I don't understand the c&r only thinking. Deer, turkey, small game, it's all sports. I like to fish for the fun, sport and a good meal. It doesn't get any better than that.

[retiredbosn]

In regards to the OP, if it's a private lake: depending on the state you live the creel limit/size laws governing state owned/managed waters do not apply. I know it sounds weird but in some states the state agencies have no authority over private water. Many states do not require licensing to fish privately owned water nor do they set creel/possession/size limits. A local brickyard has several private ponds that anyone can fish, just have to pay a trespass fee, the ponds are not stocked except after construction/reclamation. I've seen one person take nearly 75 crappie home after fishing one day! A housing development I lived in once had a fishing pond, I called DNR once on a guy that had a bucket full of fish, he got a ticket for trespass but nothing for not having a license or creel limit violations.

It's this a private or public lake?

[fishguy613]

its a public lake, in Canada not the us

[EvanT123]

. For years people equate there lack of fishing success with other people keeping to many fish, when the truth of the matter is people like to blame there sucky ability to catch on someone else, rather than looking in the mirror.

That was me for quite awhile lol.

[Brian Needham]

its a public lake, in Canada not the us

 

friend the ole chap to find out his story, eh?

[SirSnookalot]

None then, none now. Although being retired, almost retired, I may rethink fishing for food! It cost me an average of $50 to fish a day.

Tom

$50 is probably very conservative once tackle and line replacement, new combos, boat maintenance, insurance and number of other things are factored in.

[KyakR]

My dad had a saying when I was a kid and got hot-headed: "You never know who you're dealing with when you approach a stranger." He may have a history of privation and desperation......he may be eating them, he may just be doing what he always did from his boyhood when putting dead fish on a stringer was just what you did. Or he may have a Glock in his pocket. Not to be alarmist, but a hefty respect for the complexity and possibilities of other people is a good thing. Avoid him if he vexes you. If he's breaking the law I agree with the others here who say report him. But good for you for caring what happens ecologically speaking

[ww2farmer]

That was me for quite awhile lol.

We all do it. I don't know how many times I have had a bad day and blamed this, that, or another thing for it, when it was really just my own fault for not figuring it out for the day

[Phil_M]

On my home lake, poachers can be identified by their trips to the bank to swap out identical coolers and down here in the time of budget cuts, the Fish and Game guys love to be called even if it turns out to be nothing.

 

My kids grew up watching me throw everything back.  One outing my daughter caught a flounder and was about to throw it back.  She looked at me like I had 6 heads when I said, "No no no, this one's coming home with us."  After dinner, she understood.