"Catch and Release Pros and Cons"

[Vic Tankersley]

Gentlemen, give me your thoughts on ,"Catch and Release"....What is the best for our fisheries. I know what Bill Dance says , "Keep what you can eat and release the rest"..That was for all species, and at the time was a good thing, but I believe the catch and release bit for Large Mouth Bass and spotted bass needs to be looked at a little closer. BASS members look down on us meat eaters thinking that we are hurting their fishery and taking money out of their pockets when we take bass home for food. I say, "HOG WASH MEN". First studies have shown that some species will not live after you have handled them and kept them in a live well for tournaments for long periods of time. The Universities of Auburn and LSU and several more colledges have done extensive studies on actual BASS tournaments and have found that in some Hot weather tournaments around 60% of all fish returned died shortly after releasing. In milder conditions this falls to about 40%. Bluegil and other Sunfishes do real good when returned immediately to their enviorment. I am a firm believer in releasing any fish which cannot be fillet with an electric knife, small bluegill and always cull the bigger bulls to maintain the populations and to save these bigger gills genes for the next generations of fishes. I know of one incident where the BASS fishermen have raised Hell with the out of state fishermen who come down to Guntersville, Al and keep and fillet daily creel limits of 4 to 5 lb bass to take home. This they say is killing Guntersville Lakes fish population. Again I say, "HOG WASH MEN". Those out of state revenues help pay for things like restocking of species in our state, as well as all states fish programs. Any night my family wants a meal of fresh fish I want to make sure they can enjoy one. So my thoughts are as Bill would like to say but couldn't being a BASS member. "Keep what You can eat and Freeze the rest"...LOLRITFL

[Jeffrey D. Abney]

I'm with Bruce, I would like to hear your input LOFR....I value your view point even if it differs with mine.....You've added good perspective on several discussions that were of interest to me......

[Bruce Condello]

Of course.  I'm honored.

[dick tabbert]

Thank you Bruce for the words of wisdom. As you know I'll be trying to straighten out my pond this year and you steered me towards Pond Boss. Bill Cody has expressed to me that he would help me out and also very knowledgeable. He helped me with my weed problem and my bubbler. He has high regards for your accomplishments on your ponds and blue gill as do I. I appreciate any words of wisdom Bruce weather directly or indirectly and try to use them for my ultimate goal a pond full of monster gills. Again thanks now I have to learn the difference between a male and female gill, I'm thinking most of it is the coloration. Again Thanks

[Derrick Bustle]

I Personally catch and release almost everything i catch. there is only One reason and one reason only that i keep. and that is if it is a true trophy. And in that case i will eat the meat. I feel that every person has the right to practice as they please. This is just what i do.

[Tony Livingston]

Indeed, the rules Bruce posted are quite clear in regards to criticizing another member's fishing and harvest practices. I don't recall ever seeing anything that I would consider disrespectful when it comes to catch and release discussions, but there certainly exists the possibility for some volatility. Fortunately, I know that the members of BBG are of the highest caliber, and to my knowledge have never failed to take the high road and conduct themselves accordingly. It is quite refreshing to visit a forum where you know you are welcome, and the members willingly share information with one another.

Bruce also states that it's "Ok to share what you do, but don't slam somebody else for what they like to do". I interpret that as meaning it is acceptable to state your opinions and practices, as long as you do not berate those who are not in agreement with you.  I have touched on my personal harvest strategies many times, as recently as yesterday in my blog entry. My thoughts and opinions on this subject may be different from other members', but I have never been made to feel like an outsider, or unwelcome.

I thank everyone for freely sharing their wisdom, and making BBG such an enjoyable forum to visit. 

 

[Tony Livingston]

Man, I need to type faster......

Good info on the harvest strategies, Bruce. All of your recommendations are in play at the Livingston's ponds :)

[Jeffrey D. Abney]

I concur Tony! Well put.....

[harald kronemeyer]

I am always open to others opinions. Doesnt mean you will change my mind but this is a free country and you are allowed your opinion.

[chris]

I have to agree with most of what has been said.

I do release most of the small gills I catch. I keep some,for an elderly neighbor who as she says,

I like the small ones they taste the best. I will spend the time to clean her 6 or so every couple of weeks.

The ones that are 7 to 8 inches get released into the frying pan. I only keep 10 to 12 at a time.

If I ever caught a big one.over 1 pound I would be hard pressed to release it. However I believe I

would return it,so it could hopefuly reproduce. unfortunately a 1/2 pound gill in my area is a monster.

[harald kronemeyer]

Chris I have a similer issue. We seldom see Big gils like some of the pictures I see on the web site. 8" is a big gil around here. The biggest I have caught this year was 9 and a quarter. I am on such a big lake which is connected to Lake Michigan. Im sure the big ones are out there but tough to find.

[dick tabbert]

Wow what a subject could even get heated. No matter what the answer your going to step on somebodies toes. Here's where I am on the subject of catch and release. You know nothings cheap and every time we crank up the car it cost money we add the boat to that equation more money. No we have that rod and reel that use to be $19.95 for the combo which have gone up 5 or 6 times or better that not even a real decent one. We have all our miscellaneous baits, hooks, floats, fishing line, life jackets, and the list goes on and on. We have to purchase a fishing  licenses in every state we fish in and being out of state that is an inflated price but never the less you better have one. Now my first fish I catch every year is about a $500.00 fish more or less. I think you can see where I'm going with this. You have payed for the fish through your license if you keep them or not. If someone wants to eat a bass so be it, its his fish he can do what he or she wants with it as long as he or she doesn't break any laws doing so. Personally I don't eat bass they are not at the top of my food chain so I chunk them back , that's my prerogative. Actually I through most of my fish back and the only thing I would consider keeping would be Perch, Gills and Crappies in that order but still through most of them back. I won't say I never ate Bass Small mouth tasting much better than large mouth my opinion of coarse. It's really not rocket science we paid for the fishing license it says we can keep 5 bass them 5 bass are yours if you want to take them home do so. If you want to through them back it's your option. We here much to much about the subject of catch and release. I have a friend who says I catch it I release it in my freezer, I guess that's a form of catch and release that many people practice and we really don't have the right to say its a wrong thing to do according to there license it isn't the fish are there's. Remember it's not cheap to fish and at about $150.00 a pound they can eat them if they catch them legally I would if I wanted to. Now we get to private ponds that's a whole other animal. If someone come's over to fish my pond I have rules and expect then to be honored. I'm trying to manage the pond hoping to improve my numbers and quality of fish and explain to them why so at this time its mostly a catch and release lake with the exception keep all the catfish you want, that was a mistake on my part when I initially stocked it. Before I had a pond I managed to fish some local pond myself, I always asked what rule's he had if any and was true to them. I considered it an honor to fish in there establishment and followed the rules to the tee. You know you can really go on for ever about catch and release and like I sad at the beginning you won't please everybody but it's really up to us as sportsman and individuals to remember they have right to and it's really not our place to force our opinions on them or there's on us. Hope that everyone has a very special spring enjoying everyday the good lord has planned for us to the fullest. GOOD FISHIN..

[Jeffrey D. Abney]

Thanks Dick....well put....