Bass fishing etiquette??

[Mobasser]

This is one of the ages old arguments we have. As WRB said above, selective harvest is the key to a good bass population. Take a few out, and put some back when need be. As long as your obeying your laws and creel limits, who cares what other guys might say. Keep a small tape measure in your box. That way, you can prove to anyone who ask that you have a legal fish. Ethical sportsmen are the ones who understand this. There's a reason these laws are put in place. Obey the laws, and fish away!

 

[TnRiver46]

Sand county almanac by Aldo Leopold is the greatest book you could read on the subject of wise use and conservation vs preservation 

[OG SmashSauce]

11 hours ago, Columbia Craw said:

I drive by Swafford Pond when I fish the Mossyrock end of Riffe.  Bass are a renewable resource but it takes time to grow them.  If you enjoy fishing Swafford, put them back because it's not as good as it used to be.  Glad to have you with us. 

 

Doug

Thanks for the heads up on Swafford! Ya, my brother and I parked at the Swafford Pong sign, walked down the hill there and fished that corner. I caught 4 and he caught 2. We went to the Riffe lake boat launch down the road but it didnt seem like a good place to bank fish.

 

 

 

Glad I started this thread. I've learned a lot of definitely seen a lot of different perspectives on the subject depending on where you live. Really appreciate all the feed back!!

 

Here are the laws for my state: – In lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: No min. size. Only largemouth bass less than 12” may be retained, except 1 over 17” may be retained. Daily limit 5.

Edited May 19, 2020 by OG SmashSauce

[MassYak85]

Bass fisherman are a mixed bag as far as C&R. Some will judge you for keeping any amount or size of bass, some will frown upon keeping big bass, some don't care at all. Personally I see nothing wrong with keeping a couple here and there that are of average size, and if someone wants to keep their catch of a lifetime to put on the wall I can't fault them, even though I wish they'd have released it. 

[MGF]

 I think bass are about the best eating fish there is. Still I rarely keep any these days. There just aren't that many nice bass around here. Last year I did keep a meals worth of sub 12 inch fish per the 12-15 slot limit on our rivers. I just couldn't resist the temptation to treat myself. Assuming the DNR knows what they're doing taking some of those fish should be a good thing...I wouldn't bet on it though. I think they push some of these things through based on popular demand rather than science?

 

Anyway I was recently at a local pond where the fish seem to have all but disappeared. It's a really small pond and I think otters got to them. Anyway I saw a guy fishing catch a small bass on a a live night-crawler. Bass need to be 14 " to keep. I'm not so sure this one was. I never saw the guy measure the fish. He just we straight to his truck and threw the fish in.

 

As you can tell I have mixed thoughts on it. I LOVE to eat the fish I catch but I also want to have plenty to catch. I guess that puts me in the "selective harvest" camp.

 

There are too many people these days who know how to catch fish. Without some restraint we could clean out a body of water in a hurry.

[Goldstar225]

I C&R the majority of the bass I catch but I will keep a few for a meal on occasion (love bass). I won't keep anything over 3#.   

[Patrick Reif]

If the fishery can afford the loss, then there is nothing wrong with selectively harvesting a few fish.

 

I bring home walleye, striper and crappies when ever possible.  

The lake I fish most often has a growing population of spotted bass.  Growing to the point they're starting to cross breed with the smallmouth.

A buddy of mine who studied fishery wildlife sciences at Virginia Tech told me to keep every legal spotted bass I could.

 

The guys who get upset need to realize that fish are one of the most reliable forms of renewable proteins out there.  With that said, every quality breeder sized bass I catch is released unharmed because I enjoy a quality fishery more than a quality fish meal.

[scaleface]

I dont keep large bass . I try to get the smallest over 15 inches I can or the longest just short of 12 inches .I didnt keep a single bass last year or this year . I kept a 5 lber a few years back because it wasnt going to make it , gill hooked rather badly . One has to be careful though , keeping fish close to the legal limit , those game wardens  will try very hard to make them measure illegally . Its better to keep a seventeen inch bass than one that barely measures fifteen .

6 minutes ago, Patrick Reif said:

The guys who get upset need to realize that fish are one of the most reliable forms of renewable proteins out there.  With that said, every quality breeder sized bass I catch is released unharmed because I enjoy a quality fishery more than a quality fish meal.

They are renewable and they are all going expire . 

[Michigander]

Bass taste OK... I think the bigger they are the worse the flavor. If I'm looking for a meal, I just catch a bucket of Bluegill and/or Perch, both of which are delicious and fairly easy to limit out on. Then I go back to sport fishing for bass. ?

[Captain America]

I prefer to eat catfish, walleye, pike, or panfish. They all taste better IMO, and I like the idea of letting the bass go. I still put most of the species i mentioned above back. I only like to keep 1 or 2 walleye, pike, cats every once in a while IF they are perfect eaters and I'm in a mood. Panfish is another story ?. If everyone kept all of the fish they could legally keep, there would be a lot less fish to go around. That being said, if you gut hook a fish bad (bleeding, entire hook in stomach, is not reviving on the release), and it is a legal keeper, it might be in the fish's best interest to be fried up. I like to pinch the barbs on my hooks. It really helps when you get a swallowed hook, or when the hook is tangled in the skin in the corner of the mouth. Much less damage in those cases. 

[Michigander]

If I had the choice, I would go with Walleye dinner in a heartbeat. I have to make a special trip to go get them as I live in an area that mostly lacks them locally. Well... at least from a body of water I would actually eat the fish out of.

 

That's another factor for the OP, learn about your lake and see if it is even safe to eat the fish from it.

[islandbass]

On 5/18/2020 at 3:30 PM, OG SmashSauce said:

Hello!

 

I don't know if etiquette is the right word BUT!..... I am very new to bass fishing. I caught my first 4 this last Saturday here in Washington State and I am completely hooked!

 

My questions are.... Do people actually keep/eat the bass they catch?

Is it just for sport and you should always put them back?

If you do keep them, do they taste good? 

 

I am only asking because I had some guys watching me and I wasn't sure what to do so I put all 4 back in. It was an awkward feeling for some reason with them watching me...like they were judging me lol

 

Thanks!

We have limits in our state so just follow the rules. So if you want to keep, you can. 
 

Our lakes are naturally high in mercury. I read that somewhere a long time ago (I think it’s in the reg book) so if you’re going to eat them, it might be a good idea to release the bigger ones for your own safety. 
 

Screw the guy looking at you. He has no right over you. Just follow our state’s and he can’t do jack.
 

With that said, I think many of us here practice catch and release by choice. One thing to also keep in mind that you probably already know is that bass are on their own in our state. There is no stalking program for them. And this is one reason I don’t keep them because I know that’s the least I can do. Did I mention my family doesn’t eat fish, lol?

[Bird]

The bottom line is, we all have different DNA and will always have opinions that are valid to some and not so much to others. 

 

Was born and raised in a small farming community where hunting and fishing was a very common activity. 

 

We ate every deer, squirrel , rabbit and Turkey we shot and kept every single fish we caught except mud cats. Lol

 

Today at almost 60, I simply don't have the heart to kill a fish.

I look at a bass as a beautiful skilled predator and don't require them as a food source. 

Very satisfying to watch them swim away and possibly caught another day.

 

The wife on the other hand thinks every fish caught should end up in a frying pan.

YES, you let her catch a fish and she's clutching it with both hands all the way to the kitchen. 

 

A great topic with no right or wrong. 

 

 

 

 

[scaleface]

22 minutes ago, Michigander said:

If I had the choice, I would go with Walleye dinner in a heartbeat.

If walleye were as prolific as bass around here , I would be chasing them most of the time . They are good . I had yellow perch once and man , I think that was the best tasting fish I ever had .

[OG SmashSauce]

32 minutes ago, Captain America said:

I prefer to eat catfish, walleye, pike, or panfish. They all taste better IMO, and I like the idea of letting the bass go. I still put most of the species i mentioned above back. I only like to keep 1 or 2 walleye, pike, cats every once in a while IF they are perfect eaters and I'm in a mood. Panfish is another story ?. If everyone kept all of the fish they could legally keep, there would be a lot less fish to go around. That being said, if you gut hook a fish bad (bleeding, entire hook in stomach, is not reviving on the release), and it is a legal keeper, it might be in the fish's best interest to be fried up. I like to pinch the barbs on my hooks. It really helps when you get a swallowed hook, or when the hook is tangled in the skin in the corner of the mouth. Much less damage in those cases. 

 

SEAHAWKS!

 

You're the first person to mention about pinching the barbs.... is that a common practice with most bass fisherman???

 

Also, a couple people mentioned about getting a bad hook set in the fish and cook it up cause it was gonna die anyways.... If its NOT legal size and its gonna die....do you keep it or do you just have to let it die in the water? I'm sure I can just look that up but was curious.

[Captain America]

2 minutes ago, OG SmashSauce said:

 

SEAHAWKS!

 

You're the first person to mention about pinching the barbs.... is that a common practice with most bass fisherman???

 

Also, a couple people mentioned about getting a bad hook set in the fish and cook it up cause it was gonna die anyways.... If its NOT legal size and its gonna die....do you keep it or do you just have to let it die in the water? I'm sure I can just look that up but was curious.

I don't think most people pinch barbs. In some places, however, it is the law. I just do it because I have seen it prevent damage, and I am putting them back anyway. Ethically, I'd keep the fish. Legally, the game warden does not care why you kept the fish. It is up to your discretion. 

[scaleface]

14 minutes ago, OG SmashSauce said:

If its NOT legal size and its gonna die....do you keep it or do you just have to let it die in the water?

Throw it back . I've seen the game wardens enforce some rules that were questionable . A friend of mine who is not a fisherman took his two kids fishing . They only caught a few fish but put them on the same stringer . Game warden ticket him for it .

[OG SmashSauce]

3 minutes ago, scaleface said:

Throw it back . I've seen the game wardens enforce some rules that were questionable . A friend of mine who is not a fisherman took his two kids fishing . They only caught a few fish but put them on the same stringer . Game warden ticket him for it .

Will do.....I guess I see both sides. The fish is gonna die anyways so its a waste of a fish but I could see someone lying and saying that it was dying when it wasnt.

 

d**n....that GW wasnt cool

Edited May 20, 2020 by OG SmashSauce

[JediAmoeba]

Just witnessed a dude this morning - he was using 8 rods(In Pa you are allowed 3), each with a high-low rig and minnows or worms on them.  I tried talking to him and he didn't speak English so it didn't get far.  He wasn't showing a license.

 

I looked in his bucket and he had 4 bass(bass are not in season and can't be kept), 2 perch, 7 trout (5 daily limit), 7 pickerel (all under 18 inches so all illegal besides the daily limit is 4) some bluegill and a bullhead.  

 

These are the people that upset me.  I took pictures of him, the Bucket that I kicked over and his license plate and sent it to the fish commission.  What else can you do?

[Captain America]

It probably wont come up very often. Instances where a fish is going to die are pretty rare. I mean if letting your bait sit on the bottom and coming back an hour later to see if you got one is your method, then it would happen a lot, but if your rod is in your hand, you should be ok for a nice, clean release 99.99% of the time. 

[the reel ess]

I don't usually eat bass, but I will from time to time. usually, it's when I've fished at my buddy's dink factory pond. You SHOULD keep a lot of bass you catch from a pond even if you throw them over the dam. High population will make them smaller. There are places where that's not legal or it's frowned upon by the owner or the HOA. So you do whatever they want. They do taste a lot better when taken from a clean body of water.

[Kletust]

I just posted to give this forum credit.  On any other board this would have turned into a civil war.  The answers to this question will be as varied as "What is the best lure" and many people on each side are adamant about their beliefs. 

 

I don't typically keep bass, mainly because I'm too lazy to have to clean them once I'm home and tired from fishing.  If I'm hungry for fish.... I have no problem keeping a couple, unless it's the spawn and I caught them shallow.  Having started back fishing in kayaks... I'm fine with catch, photo, release.  I'm new to lake fishing (always fished the intercoastal waterway as a kid) so next year I plan to learn alot more about crappie fishing to get some good eating fish.

 

[islandbass]

On 5/18/2020 at 6:33 PM, OG SmashSauce said:

Yaaaaa....gotta say I've never seen this and thanks for the welcome  lol

WRB is completely right about how many of the salmonid chasers feel toward bass. I actually like this attitude because it means fewer idgits, yup, idjits chasing bass for me. All they do is moan and complain about how salmon and steelhead fishing has gone so far down the tubes. They hate everyone and make even the snobbiest self-righteous CNR only bass anglers look saintly. 

[MN Fisher]

3 minutes ago, islandbass said:

WRB is completely right about how many of the salmonid chasers feel toward bass. I actually like this attitude because it means fewer idgits, yup, idjits chasing bass for me. All they do is moan and complain about how salmon and steelhead fishing has gone so far down the tubes. They hate everyone and make even the snobbiest self-righteous CNR only bass anglers look saintly. 

Replace salmonid, salmon and steelhead with walleye, northern and musky in that and you've described Minnesota.

 

(smh)

[islandbass]

7 hours ago, OG SmashSauce said:

 

SEAHAWKS!

 

You're the first person to mention about pinching the barbs.... is that a common practice with most bass fisherman???

 

Also, a couple people mentioned about getting a bad hook set in the fish and cook it up cause it was gonna die anyways.... If its NOT legal size and its gonna die....do you keep it or do you just have to let it die in the water? I'm sure I can just look that up but was curious.

Absolutely not, lol. Most bass anglers use barbs as crutches (ribbing my fellow bass anglers, hee hee) against a true battle with a real chance for losing in a moment of lost focus. The barb keeps fish on. That’s the truth. But it can make releasing fish hard especially when gut hooked that’s the truth. 

 

For myself, I’ve been doing a good job going barbless and crimping barbs when possible because it surely it makes releasing fish very easy.

 

 

To your question, do not keep a fish if it isn’t legal. It isn’t not worth the trouble if you get caught. The thing that helped me on this was realizing that the fish I might have fatally injured, could very well be a meal for another animal looking for food. So loss of life, yes, but not always a waste of life. 

Go HAWKS!

 

6 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Replace salmonid, salmon and steelhead with walleye, northern and musky in that and you've described Minnesota.

 

(smh)

Really? Wow. ?