To keep or throw back.....why the complaints??

[DR_Bass]

Fish Chris, me and one of my fishing buds seem to always catch fish that already have holes in their mouths, especially when we fish our regular holes.  ;D

[basser89]

Hey bigtex,

I caught what you said in your other post and that's why I posted what I did there.

"I fish a farm pond from time to time that has some really big bass! Some are close to double digits, which is good for MD. However, there are a lot of smaller bass in this same pond and the owner thinks its over populated. So they asked my fishing partner and I to remove some of the smaller bass (well after the spawn) to help fatten up the bigger ones". Not an exact quote, but that was the jist of it.

I grew up eating bass because that's how I was raised. So I can understand keeping some from a small private pond. Its been years since I've kept any bass (just started fishing this private pond last year so my partner and I haven't started harvesting any bass there yet). I am another that won't keep any bass from public waters.

As others have said, as long as you are keeping any fish within your state's laws. By all means, keep some if you like!  

[Whopper-Stopper]

I just can't bring myself to cut into a bass.  But who's to say a guy can't keep a stringer full of fish?

Though only time I do keep them is when I hook one in the gills and have done all that I could do to revive him.  

[Glenn]

Great points by everyone.  Here's some additional food for thought: http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/catch_and_release_bass.html

[Daniel My Brother]

Glenn,

GREAT article! It really opened my eyes, and makes a lot of sense.

Thank You!

[Ben]

Matt-Fly, Yep I'm a very stong advocate of catch and release, "when I'm doing the right thing for the lake". On the lake I fish, if I caught 400, 12" - 13" a year, and was not over the total creal limit allowed in the freezer I would keep 400 a year, and if I thought we could eat that darn many. There have been many times my dad and I have cleaned 20 bass from one trip because the lake has a 10 bass per person limit. There is a hellava difference between keeping over populated 12" - 13" bass and keeping the few big bass in a lake.

Don't shout foul because "you" think all bass have to be released. I'm probably helping the lake I fish by keeping as many of those little pesky suckers the law will allow than you are with your high and mighty everything should be released attitude.

We have gone many times and caught as many as 100 bass in one day, and not more than a 1/2 dozen be over 14". Years back, we used to constanlty get into schools of bass where we could catch "and" release 30 - 50 bass in just a couple of hours, and none of them would be under two pounds. Now your lucky to catch that many 2+ pounders in 10 trips.

So grow up, learn what's right for your waters and pratice what's recommended for those. Don't critize someone else's practices when you don't know the lake they are fishing. I will say, I don't know of many lakes that can consistanly support all the big bass being pulled out just to hang on a wall or dragged around town just to show of to your buddies what you caught. Any big bass picture you see me take will always have the boat and the lake in it, because the picture was taken when the fish came out of the water and the fish went right back in the water. Not hauled around in some livewell and all up and down the boat ramp, just to have it so stressed if it did get released, it probably died.

Like I said in my first post, I have a tendency to ruffle feathers when it comes to catch and release because too many don't really know the true concept behind it. You have to know "your" lakes and what's best for "them".

[paparock]

Glenn, I had been reading some on this recently and think it would be worth a larger discussion both for my as well others educations. What do others think?

[Hightekrednek]

Here in Washington they have a slot limit with a no-no zone from 11"-17" you can keep 5 altogether and only one out of those can be over 17. In the 3 years since this has been implimented the states fisheries quality have greatly increased. After seeing the results I don't think twice about keeping 3 or 4 small ones for dinner, and on a very rare occasion, a nice 18 incher.  I won't keep anything though, until I know that the lake has a good population of smaller bass and can take it.

[Jerkbate]

Bigtex, I'm with you.  Keep as many as you like as long as you are within the legal limit.  I don't care if your fishing public or private waters.  It's been said before, but I'll say it again the biologist set the specific lake limits for a reason.  Keeping fish within those limits will improve the fishery.  I think the C&R has gone overboard.  Some of the smaller lakes in my area used to produce a good many double digit fish.  Now I'm lucky to catch one double digit a year.  The reason, people refuse to keep fish that are within the limits set by the mdwfp, and you end up with overpopulation.  The older fish are caught or die off naturally.  Then your left with a lake full of smaller fish because competition for food is so severe.  Don't get me wrong, I have released every double digit fish I have ever caught, and don't remember ever keeping one over 5 lbs.  But the smaller ones that are within legal limit better beware.  You never know when I'll take a notion to fry up a good mess or have some family or friends wanting some fish.  Also, I've eaten crappie, cats, bream, and bass.  Crappie is the best, but bass fillets are pretty good too.  It's all in how it's prepared.

[Guest bigtex]

Great points by everyone. Here's some additional food for thought: http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/catch_and_release_bass.html

Thank you Glenn for that link.  

[J@k3 01s3n]

I don't usually complain at all. I figure my strict catch and release just helps balance out another guys catch and keep attitude. I think that for fisheries to survive, it is ideal to have a good mix of people like that. The only time I really get p'ed off is when I see fish all over the bank because some dummy kept them in a bucket in 90 degree weather and they died before he was done fishing. >

[Poor Richard]

Hey Jake, the bluegills are bedding all over SW Michigan.    (I'm from Kalamazoo, yes!)  Got half a dozen kickin' largemouth yesterday eve in "our lake" in Berrien County.  Nephew also had a bass get out of hand and stick a hook in his thigh.  Good thing we fish with the barbs pressed down.  

Fish can rot while still live on the stringer.  Encourage everyone to use a cooler, throw those 'gills (or badly bleeding bass) right on the ice.  Makes them easier to clean, too:  they'll be firm--and deceased, which is nice, since you don't have to chase them around the kitchen.  I can't imagine crappies after they've been on a stringer.  And ours are fine fish, right Jake?  

Catch and Release for bass in our area improves the fishng considerably.  Our lakes are fished hard, and this has helped a lot.  However, we still need a SLOT LIMIT, SLOT LIMIT,  -   SLOT!  -   LIMIT!  

-----------------------------------

"Fish don't bite as good as they used to, and they never did."  - R.B.   :

[Guest bigtex]

I don't usually complain at all. I figure my strict catch and release just helps balance out another guys catch and keep attitude.

The only time I really get p'ed off is when I see fish all over the bank because some dummy kept them in a bucket in 90 degree weather and they died before he was done fishing. >

Jakeolsen2219---I really like your first comment.  

I also agree with your last statement.  I can't stand that either.  If you catch a mess of fish and then decide not to keep them and it is too late to put them back, then give them to someone that wants them.  I have several people in my town that can't get out of the house anymore so I will clean up a mess for them, cook 'em up, and have lunch or dinner with them.  We will swap fishing stories and I will often discuss with them what is going on in bassresource.com.

[Guest ouachitabassangler]

So some of you fish a lake where C&R isn't part of the fisheries plan, thinking release assures another angler will enjoy catching a bass? How many times will every caught bass continue to be catchable? Is the lake so weakly populated the catchable bass must be recycled? If so bassing on that lake ought to be prohibited. Take the extreme of C&R, in tournament fishing, with 500 bass weighed in then released. How would you know you have not caught one carrying LMBV, that one fish infecting the other 4? Your livewell multiplied by just a few dozen others with one infected bass might have just assured no future angler will catch a nice bass for the next 10 years. Maybe there is no disease to spread, but your water temperature got one degree too hot. Hours later after weigh-in the bass are released, swimming away, seemingly OK. How do you know those bass didn't die from delayed mortality factors a week later? There's plenty of evidence both those scenarios occur very often, especially in hot water in summer. Instead of accomplishing your goal of assuring future catches, the opposite can happen. The guy harvesting what he catches is doing far better toward the fishery in those instances. The tournament angler doesn't return the next day to check on the welfare of his released bass. He assumes he did the right thing. OK, so lets get away from the tournament angler thing. You haul a bass up and its swollen air bladder has disfigured the body. You attempt a decompression needle fix. You realize that bass is in deep ka-ka, but put it back into the lake, not knowing how much it was weakened and further susceptible to disease and parasites. Three hundred other guys fishing weekly and releasing all they catch don't realize they are perplexing managers who know those 301 anglers are collectively forcing an increase in creel limits or a slot limit to protect an age class directly threatened by an overpoulated age class. How much good did you do all year? You might have had a negative impact on the fishery where harvest of at least one age class is vital for health of the fishery. Maybe your philosophy results in such a decrease in forage all age classes begin to be stunted, but you are convinced you are building a trophy lake.

Jim

[J@k3 01s3n]

Hey Jake, the bluegills are bedding all over SW Michigan.  

My Favorite time of the year!

Thanks for your comments BigTex

[Matt Fly]

Jim,

   good points, but in Tx, our TP&W department will tell you when and where to keep all bass.    Certain time of the year, crappie on deep lakes in the winter will die from the sudden pressure changes when brought up.  Thus no length restrictions, and all crappie caught must be retained.

In short, we let the TP&W run the show, and they do tell us when to keep everything and no release.    Its not a guessing game of how they want the lake maintained, they  let us know.   If you haven't seen Tx slots and creel limits in the yearly regs book, you should, its very detailed and long.

It pays to have the free book in the boat or tackle bag just in case of creel limits, slots or C&R only.  

As for catchable bass, if any one is familar with lake Fayetteville in tx.   2400 acre power plant lake.   Its not uncommon to catch 30+ bass over 4 pounds every trip out, and see 4-5 hook marks in the mouth.     Been that way since the early 90's and still is.

I have heard that Fla. bass are more wary after being caught.

[BassMaster_1]

I think catch and release is a mindset that says "I respect this noble creature as a challenging sporting competitor" rather than as a potential meal.

Well said! Now there is nothing wrong with keeping, im strictly catch and release. I dont have the energy to clean a fish, I would much rather go get one already cleaned at the store. I once read that to keep a healthy population you need to remove 20bass/acre. Keep your fish, but do it smart... Stay within your local limits, please eat what you catch, and release those big healthy spawners! Its a tough situation because you dont know how honest that person is, thats why you probably some people get ticked off. They think here i am C&R and this guy is pulling everything out. Its just a tough thing to regulate and monitor. Its a topic that will forever spark conflict...

[Guest ouachitabassangler]

While not doubting that report of re-caught bass, when I first began taking part in fish sampling, the biologists assumed we were seeing signs of many hookings. But later there on the Arkansas River and in other studies those "obvious" injuries are often not from hooks at all, but damages from parasites, fungal, viral and bacterial infections, and accidental injuries. Many things can cause holes to appear in a bass mouth, including sharp spines from a sloppy bite on a prey fish.

Jim

[Guest bigtex]

Many things can cause holes to appear in a bass mouth, including sharp spines from a sloppy bite on a prey fish.

Jim

Good point Jim.  I would never have thought of that.  That makes a lot of sense.

[Guest bigtex]

I believe in order to maintain a healthy population of bass you will have to thin some of them out.  It is not healthy for the fish to be in a overpopulated pond or lake.

[mudcatwilly]

I don't see anything wrong with keeping a few bass once in awhile.  Most states limit the catch to 5 per day witha length of 15 inches or so.  My policy is to throw back all bass under 4 pounds and over 5 pounds.  The only time I would keep a bass over 5 pounds would be if it was a trophy, say 15 pounds or larger.  Even still, I would try to keep that fish alive, weigh it, photo, and release.  If I happened to catch a state record, I would probably have to keep it because by the time I got it to an official scale to weigh it, it would probably die.  I prefer to release the fish in most cases so they can get bigger.  In my home lake, there is a self sustaining population, so keeping a fish every now and then to eat is not going to impact the fishery.  I think a lot of the pressure to catch and release comes from the fishing shows on TV, including the tournments.  If I catch 20 fish in a day, I would probably keep one.

[Rattlinrogue]

No complaints here! I catch and release because I choose to , and I don't pass judgements on those who keep some.I used to back when it was a sport and a way of getting a fine fried fish dinner.For me,it's all sport now.To any other bassman, what you do is up to you.

[Fish Chris]

Everyone has heard about Catch and Release for many years. In fact, it has become almost a knee-jerk reaction for many anglers, to the point where it has actually caused problems with overpopulations of smaller fish, and the loss of quality, in some fisheries. No doubt about it, C/ R is the 1a class. Selective harvest on the other hand, while it requires a bit more thought, is the advanced course, and can provide increased benefits for most fisheries.

So what's the problem ?

Many people practice a reversed type of selective harvest. That is, they will release every fish that they catch for years and years. Then one day, when they finally catch the fish of a life time, they decide to keep this one and hang it on the wall. The fact of the matter is, it would have been much less detrimental to the fishery had they kept a few smaller fish every now and then, and then released the giant !

Often you will hear the argument about a huge fish having already contributed its trophy genes to the pool, and that it is now past it's spawning prime.

Well first of all, it has been proven that most bass will continue to spawn throughout there entire life, and while they will produce fewer offspring towards the end of there life span, fewer is much better than none at all. Also, a fish which has already proven to have the right genes to get huge, is the exact fish that should be allowed to produce every last baby possible !

Secondly, if a huge fish is released, there is a strong chance that that fish will be caught again, and of course there is also a strong chance that that fish will become some other lucky anglers best catch of a lifetime ! Of course, you yourself, might just be the lucky angler who re-catches that fish when it is even bigger. This is not near as uncommon as people tend to think. I have personally caught, released, and then re-caught several fish from 7 lbs to 13.5 lbs. There is no doubt in my mind that as I continue to release my trophy catches, the odds continue to increase, that I will eventually re-catch a fish which, in the time since it's first release, has grown to be HUGE !

Thirdly, you will often hear people say about a huge fish: Well, it's a really old fish and it's probably at the end of it's life span anyway...... Hmmm.... maybe, or maybe not. Obviously an 18 lb bass had to be 15 lbs at one point. A 20 lb'er had to be 18 lbs, and a World record will have to 20 lbs, first. It would be easy to say that this 15, 18, or 20 lb fish was already at the end of its life span, but there is never a way to be sure of that. The plain and simple fact is, a huge fish which is released will have some chance, no matter how slim, of becoming even bigger..... maybe even a world record ! While a huge fish which has been hung above the fireplace will have absolutely no chance !

The bottom line is this: We should always think twice about eliminating the chance for a fellow angler to catch that fish of a lifetime, or even for ourselves, the second time around !

Education is the key

Many years ago I kept a sub-ten bass and had it mounted. Later I regretted that decision, and really wished I would have had a replica made. But live and learn. Why do I mention this here ? I believe this is a great way to put myself on the same level as many anglers who have not been there..... yet. The approach of slamming another angler with, I won't do that, and you shouldn't either never works, and quite simply drives a wedge between yourself and the anglers you are trying to educate. If they have killed a fish in the past, so be it. You cant change that. But through tactful communication, you might possibly prevent this angler from killing more giants in the future.

I truly believe that the vast majority of the anglers who might otherwise keep a huge fish for the wall, would in fact release that fish, if they only knew the importance of that fish to the fishery. Also of course, if they knew how nice the modern replicas were, and how easy it was to have one made.

As for those few anglers who will just never understand, we should always remember this: As an American, and possessing a state fishing license, it is every anglers RIGHT to catch and keep any fish that he wants to, within the regulations set forth by our Fish and Game agencies. We certainly don't want anyone interfering with our rights, therefore we certainly should not interfere with anyone else's.

Again, the best we can do is to educate anglers with all of the facts, and hope that they will make the right decision. Most will.

Taking care of your trophy catch

A strong consideration for anyone who intends to release a huge fish should they catch it, is how to take care of it between the time of the actual catch, photos, weighing, and release. I'm quite sure that many trophy catches, despite the anglers best intentions of releasing the fish alive, will in fact perish, simply because the angler was not prepared to handle the situation.

For starters, no fish should be kept out of the water for any more than a couple minutes at a time...... even less in warm weather.

ALWAYS carry a decent camera. Its also nice to have a disposable 35mm camera stored away in your tackle bag too, just for cheap insurance. ALWAYS carry a reliable scale. There are a ton of reasonably priced models on the market to choose from. I use a Berkeley 50 lb digital. You should also carry a decent spring scale as well, just in case your digital should happen to malfunction.

AFTER you catch that fish of a lifetime is NOT the time to run around looking for a camera or a scale. Quite simply, you need to be prepared at all times.

If you happen to be in a boat with a circulated livewell, this will be fine until you can get your camera and scale ready. If you fish from a small boat like I do, a large icebox which is partially filled with lake water, will suffice as a temporary live well. If you are fishing from the shore, the fish can be placed on a stringer, with a rope or clip put through the lip (not the gills) of the fish, while preparations are made for photos and weighing. Finally, if this is a really big fish (a lake record, a contest winner, etc) and needs to be weighed on a certified scale, then a large, partially filled ice box, or tournament weigh bag should be used to transport the fish to and from the certified scale.

Please allow me to reiterate that a fish should never be out of the water for more than two minutes, or even less in warmer weather.

Please note

A giant Largemouth bass of 10, 13, 17 lbs, or even more, is quite literally a one in millions fish. This fish has beaten absolutely incredible odds to attain this size.

For your own chances of re-catching a huge fish when she has grown to be even bigger, as well as that same chance for your fellow anglers, please release all of the giants.

Catch and Release a Trophy Bass !

Fish Chris

[George Welcome]

This whole subject is really quite simple. If your fish and game allows you to keep fish then it's your right to do so.

What I or anyone else does has nothing to do with your rights when it is you making the decision.

When people fish from my boat it's understood up front that it is catch and release, but I would never tell or suggest what you should do on your own boat, assuming it is your right to keep or throw back the fish.

[JiggaMan512]

Hunters can esp. be weary to complain about keeping a couple bass. ive yet to see a catch and release deer hunt!