Catch and release or keep to eat

[jrhennecke]

The thing is the people that keep the bass are going to keep them and those of us that release them are going to release them.  I don't think there is going to be a large shift in opinion either way.  For me I agree with Brokejw.

[FD.]

I C&R most of the time.  I say it is because I want my kids to have the same fishery as I do but mostly it's because I'm to lazy to clean fish.  

<-------------This 10+ went back after weighing and measurements and I now have a beautiful replica hanging on the wall...

[GitRDoneIke23]

It might not make you very popular, but I don't see anything wrong with it. Even though I catch and release 100%. If everyone was like me the lakes would get over populated though. Just please don't keep anything thats not legal and throw the big ones back to make bigger ones.

WELL SAID!!! We NEED people to eat some fish. Or the lakes would be OVER populated. Some people practice C/R like it's the LAW!!! I usually C&R my bass, but I don't have ANY problem WHATSOEVER with someone eating some.

JMHO

8-)

[Just_Old_Fisherman]

Here is a good report by TPWD concerning catch and relese. It is Titled "Catch-and-Release: Have We Gone too Far?". Couple of key points made are:

1. The concept that releasing all the fish you catch is always the best thing to do is just wrong.

2. One of the possible results of no angler harvest is reduced growth rate of all the fish in a lake because of competition for food.

3. TPWD biologists look at harvest of fish by anglers as one of the tools they have for managing a fish population.

You can see the entire paper at:

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/fish/didyouknow/inland/catchrelease.phtml

[GitRDoneIke23]

Here is a good report by TPWD concerning catch and relese. It is Titled "Catch-and-Release: Have We Gone too Far?". Couple of key points made are:

1. The concept that releasing all the fish you catch is always the best thing to do is just wrong.

2. One of the possible results of no angler harvest is reduced growth rate of all the fish in a lake because of competition for food.

3. TPWD biologists look at harvest of fish by anglers as one of the tools they have for managing a fish population.

You can see the entire paper at:

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/fish/didyouknow/inland/catchrelease.phtml

I remember reading that. A VERY good read!!!

8-)

[paangler3117]

i usually keep about a dozen bass a year, maybe a few less. i would rather eat striper or walleye personally. I fished a small pond for years. there was an older gentleman that would take a five gallon buket of blugill and crappie a week out of this pond. after he passed away, everything in the pond became stunted. even the bass. so your doing lake's a favor by selective harvesting some fish!

jim

[tyrius.]

Does anyone know if a lack of people keeping bass would be a reason for fisheries that are "stunted"?

If the bass are overpopulated and can not find enough food then they will become stunted.  Illinois' DNR has a pond management document that touches on this.  It states that when largemouth bass average less than one pound or are very thin that you should keep all bass you catch until the situation is corrected.

http://www.ifishillinois.org/programs/Lake_Plant/Lake%20Management.pdf

see page 30.

[tyrius.]

Here is a good report by TPWD concerning catch and relese. It is Titled "Catch-and-Release: Have We Gone too Far?". Couple of key points made are:

1. The concept that releasing all the fish you catch is always the best thing to do is just wrong.

2. One of the possible results of no angler harvest is reduced growth rate of all the fish in a lake because of competition for food.

3. TPWD biologists look at harvest of fish by anglers as one of the tools they have for managing a fish population.

You can see the entire paper at:

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/fish/didyouknow/inland/catchrelease.phtml

For effective pond management, Illinois' DNR recommends harvesting bass at 20-30 pounds per acre per year and bluegill at 50-70.

http://www.ifishillinois.org/programs/Lake_Plant/Tips%20for%20Pond%20Mgmt.pdf

[GobbleDog]

Florida lakes ain't as pristine as they once were. I wouldn't eat anything from any of our lakes. Fertilizer, street runoff, and lord knows what else. Not to mention the giant leaches which are visible on the roofs of their mouths.

Gimme a good mai-mai anyday.  A young fish, out in the ocean blue, clean clear meat...

[tallydude]

It is your right as a legal angler to keep your legal limit & I will defend that right to the bitter end.

If some one tells me they are for 100% catch & release I'll tell them they don't truly understand conservation. I firmly believe in Selective Harvesting; with that being said I haven't keep a bass in several years. The removal of smaller bass improves the overall population in both numbers & size.

I agree with Catt. I know that Fish Chris is a big proponent of selective harvesting as well. Like Catt, I haven't kept a bass in years (especially out of the water here in Florida). However a lot of that has to do with the fact that there are FAR better tasting fish here in the ocean that I have easy access to.

[Nitro 882]

I've been catching and releasing bass since long before Ray Scott made it popular. Mainly 'cause I ain't never been hungry enough to eat a bass---yuck.

Now, if a walleye or rainbow make the mistake of biting my hook it's "catch and FILLET."

[burleytog]

We brought back a cooler full of largemouth and spot from Russell this weekend.

When we fish Douglas, we always bring home a limit.  There's a reason lakes have small size restrictions.

[Rattlinrogue]

I'm a catch and release guy,but I'll keep a few small ones from time to time to fry up.My biologist at my favorite lake says this helps the population more than just total C and R.

[Chris Lockwood]

A true fisherman strives from stories of fishing, not by eating or making a prize of a fish.

[Guest muddy]

A true fisherman strives from stories of fishing, not by eating or making a prize of a fish.

. HEY BURLEY WHAT WERE THOSE INITIALS