Catch & Release

[Johnathan Rainey]

This is my first post ever. I've always been a fan of catch and release for bass anyways. But every now and again, I'll keep a few. BUT, I'm very strict in which ones I keep. As in they can not be over 14" (depending on lake/river regulations). I see how mad people can get over this subject. But I've always researched and found that culling out the smaller bass out of lakes is much healthier for the entire ecosystem. What do others think? And why?

[sprint61]

I agree with you plus they taste good. 

[Darren.]

First, welcome aboard, Johnathan!

Personally, I release all the fish I catch now.

Have kept crappie and a bass or two 30 years
ago. Fish just isn't a staple in my diet. I'll let 
others eat 'em.

[nascar2428]

In my neck of the woods, 14" is the smallest you can keep. I personally only practice catch and release. The only time I get upset is when the regulations are being broken . To each his own when it comes to catch and release.

[ethan-333]

i release all bass. better tasting fish out there imho. and i cant bear the thought off keeping a fish that i could catch later and it weighs 5 lbs lol

bluegill, catfish, sauger/walleye, rainbow trout, crappie, white bass id rather eat those

 

[Jaderose]

I C&R only.  With that said, does that mean YOU should?  Nope...so long as the fish you are taking are of legal size and you are not otherwise fishing illegally, you are good to go.  Even if it DID p*ss me off....that would be my problem.  Not yours.

[Mike L]

I don't keep them either. However I have moved bass to another body of water if where Ive caught them is hurting the fishery because of over population. And only then if it was documented as such. 

 

Mike 

[BassinLou]

I practice C&R 100% of the time, if other anglers want to eat their catch, and they are legal catches. Enjoy.. 

[Hog Basser]

Catch & Release on public waters for the most part for me, but will sometimes keep a few to eat.  But I have private waters where culling is necessary and I actually love the taste of bass when prepared properly.  I regularly eat bass, catfish and crappie I catch on my own private waters and keep my fishery healthy with the practice.  Makes for a lot more bigguns down the road since all the forage doesn't get gobbled up every year.  

[Johnathan Rainey]

Like lake chesdin here in my area, there are almost no small fish. Quality bass only. I never would keep fish out of there. But then great creek lake has really small fish, then a giant gap that goes straight to 6+ pders. I'd keep every small fish out of there to get rid of the gap, if it were legal. But I would monitor my outtake of the lake to make sure I didn't take so many that the ecosystem got extremely off balance. I wouldn't just throw them away of course! But I'd love to see some 2 and 3 pd fish in there. But there is none. That's the only way I could see it being a good thing to keep that many. But too many small fish will kill off the big fish in a hurry.

[tander]

I mostly practice C & R but I have no problem in keeping some to eat. Saying that, I prefer crappie over bass any day.

[slonezp]

[N Florida Mike]

I throw back every bass over 3, unless they die on me.Im a big fish eater so I'll keep some smaller bass, mainly to cull out some of the smaller fish on the home lake.I prefer catfish and bream but small fileted bass are good too.

[Sam]

Tackle, rods, reels and other equipment     $1,500

Bass Boat, Motor, Trailer, Gas, Oil, Batteries, etc.     $35,000

Catching and releasing those beautiful bass       Priceless

How about going to the Introductions and letting know a little about you.

And do you live in McKenney? Best ice cream shop in the state is in McKinney. Just watch the local cops and their radar.

Welcome to the Forums. We look forward to reading your posts and giving you our input.

[yugrac]

Have not kept a fish since I was 14 years old, [42 years ago] and then all I ever kept were bluegill or catfish.  I throw back every thing  I catch.

The hunt and the catch is what I am after, if I want fish I go to long john silvers.

[jc68]

catch and release only on bass.  bream and crappie were made for eating. 

[Raul]

Dear Mr Dink, meet Mrs frying pan.

[RCCA]

To each his own. I hunt and fish like a Native American and only keep what I need. In a solid year at Toledo Bend I have kept zero bass cause I don't need them yet. When I do keep some from there, they will be a hair over 14 inches. It's Lent and I love to eat fish and find bass second only to sac-a-lait. I'm just not greedy about it and don't freezer burn fish for my ego. 

[Bluebasser86]

I wish I liked to eat fish so I could help cull some of the little bass out of a couple of the local lakes. Nothing wrong with keeping some fish to eat, just practice selective harvest. Release the big ones to get bigger and only keep what you can eat that day. This is a very sensitive subject for sure, but some fish have to be removed to keep a fishery healthy in a majority of cases. I don't have any problem with keeping fish like I described, it's the "gotta fill the freezer", types that irritate me. Plus, in Kansas anyways, if you have a freezer full of fish, you're likely over your possession limit (3 times the daily creel limit). 

[Catt]

I practice selective harvesting under the direction of a fishery biologist. These were removed, measured, weighed, blood, & scale samples taken by a biologist. The fish were cleaned & given to a homeless shelter.

[Sam]

8 hours ago, Little Fish.... said:

To each his own. I hunt and fish like a Native American and only keep what I need. In a solid year at Toledo Bend I have kept zero bass cause I don't need them yet. When I do keep some from there, they will be a hair over 14 inches. It's Lent and I love to eat fish and find bass second only to sac-a-lait. I'm just not greedy about it and don't freezer burn fish for my ego. 

Sac-a-Lait = crappie for those of you who don't know.

Hunting and fishing in Louisiana is outstanding. Keeping your Louisiana bounty does not injure the population since the mammals and fish do so well in the Louisiana environment.

Little Fish, be sure to nail a bunch of nutria, too.

Louisiana = Sportsman Paradise.

Come to Louisiana as you are and leave different!!!!!

It is a cultural thing.

Geaux Tigers!

[Bankbeater]

I keep catfish, bluegill, and crappie.  I don't care for the taste of bass.

[MDBowHunter]

When It comes to bass its C&R, but that's just because I don't care for their taste all that much. Now when it comes to crappie, yellow perch, snakeheads or catfish, let's heat up the oil. YUM YUM

[Fishin Ethan]

I always catch and release and part of that is because I fish ponds. Catch and Relase is a must. My friend caught a 8lb bass out of a pond then threw it back. Release the fish so you can catch it again.

Let'm go Let'm grow

[DaileyLimit]

I C&R almost all the time.  Once or twice a year, I'll help catch bluegill/crappie/catfish for a big fish fry. 

Last year, I took two multi-day kayak trips on the Buffalo River.  Kept a few rock bass to eat for dinner and plan on doing it again this year.  Would've kept a smallmouth or two, but never caught any keeper length fish. 

Super fresh fish, cooked over an open fire on the bank of the river is too good for me to pass up.