Catch and Release

[radiob]

I practice catch and release pretty much all of the time. I personally just love to be out fishing, catching and then letting them go. Right now in the Missouri Ozarks, we can't keep any black bass. The law is to release any black bass from March 1 through now the date has eluded me, I think it's April 15, on all streams and reives through out the ozarks. What is your all's take on this rule?

Mine personally is whatever. but there are a few in the area that are totally against this rule.

The Radio Guy

[Long Mike]

CPR (catch, photo, release) first, last and always.

[radiob]

CPR (catch, photo, release) first, last and always.

Couldn't agree more!!!!!

[RottManK9]

I second that!  I don't eat fish anyway!  I do it for sport only.  Why keep if you aren't going to eat?

[Marty]

The law is to release any black bass from March 1 through now the date has eluded me, I think it's April 15, on all streams and reives through out the ozarks. What is your all's take on this rule?

On a personal basis it doesn't matter to me because I don't keep fish and don't fish tournaments. DNRs don't always get things perfect, but I'd give yours the benefit of the doubt and assume that the rule benefits the fishery.

[radiob]

I am fairly certain it is to protect the spawn. Right now you can pretty much throw anything at the bank and catch something. So yes I feel the reg. is probably appropriate. Just wanted Others take on it..

Th Radio Guy

[Jimzee]

Hello radiob,

A few of the lakes I fish locally are strictly C&R for Black Bass. I love it and think most of of the majority of the anglers that fish these lakes would like to see this state wide. Some of the lakes such as Summersville, Burnsville, and Sutton are not C&R but have a healthy population due so many anglers that practice this method. Have a Great Day!!!

[Other.]

I C&R only.  Better for the fishery, better for nature, and most of all better for the fish that you caught. However i do agree on what some people belive, some people will kill (instantly) a fish that is sick, injured, or just to weak; as this improves the fishery not harm it. However I'm not really a killer so I give the sick fish a chance to survival. C&R will improve the sport of bass fishing and just the enviroment itself. I dont hate people that practice Catch and Eat but I really wish they would just learn the importance of C&R and might try it out one day. However one thing that does bug me is seeing those jerks with out a licence stuffing there catch in a dry plastic bag leaving it in the sun. I think that if you must kill somthing dont let it suffer do dirty job fast, better yet; dont kill any fish at all. A debate like this will go on forever with out much change I think it will be better to jsut ignore this and not waste your time with it. The more you argue the stronger the people take there sides.

Just remember that not all C&K (catch and keep) people are keeping fish are evil. C&K is a good way to get there sons/daughters hooked on this sport. Once they get older hopefully they will be taught the importance of C&R by who ever taught them how to fish. The more that get hooked on fishing means a bigger chance they will come to BassResource  

[.ghoti.]

I'll play the devil's advocate for just a bit. I'm a C-P-R guy myself. But, there are a lot of lakes and ponds in my area that could seriously benefit from a bit selective harvesting. Two of the places I fish on a regular basis have way too many 10" bass. If the DNR, in one case, and the powers that be, in the other, would allow us to take a few 10-12" fish, I can't see how the fisheries couldn't be improved. I've talked to conservation officers who say that slot limits on certain lakes have been selected to encourage people to take some fish home. But, the catch and release ethic is actually defeating the purpose of the special regulations for those waters. There are many places that would benefit from a reasonable selective harvest. If a body of water can not sustain this, we probably should not be fishing it in the first place.

Small bass are actually pretty good table fare. I've never taken a large one home to eat, unless I've hooked it in the gills, and it looked like it would not survive. A five pounder is not particularly good eating.

Catch and release is not the Holy Grail. A little common sense should be applied to the issue. Take some small ones for the table, and release all the trophies to breed more trophies. Properly managed, fish are a sustainable resource. Catch and release is NOT always better for the fishery.

That's it. I can go back to being the advocate's devil.

Cheers,

GK

[Redlinerobert]

I practice catch and release, as do most of the guys that I know.

[Troutfisher]

Hello radiob,

A few of the lakes I fish locally are strictly C&R for Black Bass. I love it and think most of of the majority of the anglers that fish these lakes would like to see this state wide. Some of the lakes such as Summersville, Burnsville, and Sutton are not C&R but have a healthy population due so many anglers that practice this method. Have a Great Day!!!

I didn't know you were a West Virginia fisherman, welcome abord!  I'm a WV fisherman myself.  We should talk via PM about some honey holes in the mountain state.  

[Jimzee]

Hello radiob,

A few of the lakes I fish locally are strictly C&R for Black Bass. I love it and think most of of the majority of the anglers that fish these lakes would like to see this state wide. Some of the lakes such as Summersville, Burnsville, and Sutton are not C&R but have a healthy population due so many anglers that practice this method. Have a Great Day!!!

I didn't know you were a West Virginia fisherman, welcome abord! I'm a WV fisherman myself. We should talk via PM about some honey holes in the mountain state.

I sure am!! ;D I have been following your posts for quite some time now and have finally joined this awesome site. Real glad I did!!

[Valascus]

I practice catch and release almost all of the time. I never keep a bass for food unless I am in a situation where selective harvesting of fish needs to be done to improve the overall fishery. If NO fish are kept out of a given fishery, then the predator/prey balance is affected resulting in to many predator fish and not enough bait fish to sustain the population. The results are a lot of small, unhealthy, and stunted fish. Since the competition for food is so fierce many of these fish struggle to get enough food. In situations like that I will catch and keep a few bass within the limits of the law.

I don't have any problem with folks who catch and keep. As long as they are doing everything legally such as having a valid fishing license, not keeping more than the legal limit, not keeping slot limit fish, etc., Then I have no problem with it.   To each their own!

[T-rig]

C&R only for me!

[RWHusker.]

We catch to eat every year, however we fish for Walleye or Crappie, just a personal preference.  I have seen some ponds and small lakes (Under 100 acres) that have needed some harvesting but then also seen them so overkept that they become fished out.  Bigger lakes in our area don't seem to have that problem.  In my boat if it's a bass it's going to swim again.

GO BIG RED

[Redtail]

With me it's - Catch - Smile for a Picture - Release - I can't always get them to smile, but I try!

Some of my friends ask me if they can keep a couple fish when we go out - I tell them they can take as mant pictures as they want, but no hostages on my boat period!

[Redtail]

Radiob - I'm confused!

In this post you said you practice catch and release.

In the post - What do you eat - you said you cook out a lot and grill your catch back at the campsite.

That sounds more like catch and cook?

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Radio- My thoughts on your local laws are GOOD FOR YOU!!!!

States that protect these fish during the spawn are aces in my book.

[roadwarrior]

I rarely keep a bass, but I think keeping little bass is generally a sound management policy (except smallmouth, of course!) I fish a number of ponds, one of which is "lost" to overpopulation, 90% of the bass are small and stunted. Balancing small water is very difficult. Ecology suggests that keeping legal, small bass will improve the environment of most ponds.

[BASS fisherman]

I rarely keep a bass, but I think keeping little bass is generally a sound management policy (except smallmouth, of course!) I fish a number of ponds, one of which is "lost" to overpopulation, 90% of the bass are small and stunted. Balancing small water is very difficult. Ecology suggests that keeping legal, small bass will improve the environment of most ponds.

Exactly!   C & R is vital to a growing fishery, but in some situations it is better to keep a few legal fish for the betterment of the fishery.  If everyone practices C & R, and never keeps any fish, the fish in the smaller lakes and ponds become stunted due to a lack of food, and the high demand for forage.   I too fish a few ponds that are like that.

[IneedAnewScreenName9886691]

Can O Worms

I practice and CPR most of the time, ypically always on public land and in geneal 90% of the time on private, but like mentioned seveal times above there are certain fisheries that could stand some controlled harvest. I am fortunate to have access to many KS private watersheds and the fishing can be quite easy to catch just bass. Many of these owners have paid bioliogists big bucks to come out, shock and make a report on the health of their lake. There is not one report that has ever come back that doesn't say you need to remove X amount weight per every acre.

One in particular we caught and kept over 600 14" or smaller bass in a one year period. This is the same impoundment where I caught a legit 9lb last year!

It's all about biomass and how many pounds of bass each impoundment can support. A lake could support a ton of small bass and most will remain fairly small with a sluggish growth rate or you reduce the amount of small fish and support a well rounded population bass that gives them the ability to grow to their full potential.

I think the C&R is lake specific, I don't think you can paint it with a broad brush. Just my .02

[radiob]

Radiob - I'm confused!

In this post you said you practice catch and release.

In the post - What do you eat - you said you cook out a lot and grill your catch back at the campsite.

That sounds more like catch and cook?

I DID SAY WE COOK OUT A LOT, CRAPPIE AND TROUT. THESE ARE VERY PLENTIFUL ON THE NIANGUA AND BETTER FOR THE FISHERY

[rboat]

I am strickly CP&R. I do not think we need to be killing any bass. Mother nature takes good care of herself if left alone. Around here we have more than enough predators to keep the bass population in check. Hawks, Osprey, Eagles, Herons, Egrets, Gar, Pickeral, Mudfish, Gators, Etc..

I was out on the water today and saw a pair of osprey pick up small bass and bluegills one after another.

Worst part was, I didn't even pick up one.

I guess some days talons are better than hooks.  ;D

[Tpayneful]

I usually practice catch and release but sometimes keep a few small bass and transplant them into ponds that don't have a good population of bass.  I did this two years ago when the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries recommended the harvesting of small bass.  The newest report last year recommended that we cut down on the crappie population.  I transplanted all of the crappie that I caught to other ponds.  I didn't kill fish but I did harvest some.

[Daniel My Brother]

Tpayneful, careful where you choose to put those crappie. Those buggers spread like wildfire.

I think HG2 has exactly the right idea on catch and release, it really depends on what's best for your particular lake.