Catch and Release

[cpierce]

I saw this article on the Utah forum concerning Utah's rivers and the problem that a strict "catch and release" mentality is causing. I thought it was interesting.

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=12325639

I probably release 90% of all trout and bass that I catch, but I try and keep panfish and some brookies depending on the circumstances. I am not a confirmed "keeper" or "releaser"

Like the article says, I too think some fisheries need to have some harvest. The rainbows in the South Fork of the Snake is one example that comes to my mind.

I have seen a swing on this board in the last year or so to blast some people for harvesting. I haven't seen reports from some previous regulars, and I think it is a direct result of them being "attacked" for harvesting. I hate to see that. I think harvesting is an important part of the overall plan for our fisheries, that is why it is lawful, and and an encouraged part of our regulations.

I am not trying to incite an argument or even to point fingers at anyone. I just think that it is good for all of us to know, that for the overall health of our fisheries, harvest has an important role to play.
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[prvrt]

Good article. I think I will keep on enjoying my fish dinners.
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[idahoron]

I keep all the perch I can stand in Carey lake. They are a little on the small side, and a keeper there is about 9". Harvesting them will do good. I only keep enough crappie and perch from CJ and Salmon falls to eat for the week, or I might keep extra if someone in church wants some.

Catfish, oh boy. Here comes the other side of me. I used to keep about every cat I caught. I don't do that any more. The simple fact is I can't handle or use that much fish Idaho has NO limit on them. Jacob and I caught 38 cats on our last trip. The average weight was about 5 pounds. MANY were 8 to 10 pounds. We would have needed a 1 ton truck and a chest freezer to handle all the fish.
I only keep 3 to 4 pound fish now. I only keep what I want to eat and I do NOT plan to freeze any unless I have a special dinner coming up. I will never kill another 15 pound or bigger cat unless I am looking at a new state record. Those big cats are OLD. A 21" 4 pound cat here in Idaho is 10 years old. A 15 pound 30" cat would be avery old fish. I won't push my views down peoples throats but I do tell people about the age and let them make up their own minds.
When I was young the hardest thing I did when I was first hunting was to pass up a legal 2 point buck. When Jacob turned lose his first 10 pound fish he was bummed out a little. Now it is easy for him, or I for that matter to turn lose a 10 pound or bigger catfish. But it took time and it took catching a few to change our minds.
We eat a lot of fish in our house. I don't plan on reducing any at all. But I do watch what I keep and keep only what I can use. The worst thing that can happen is a freezer burned fish. I don't like it when that happens. Ron
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[windriver]

That is a very interesting article. Thank you. This has made me think about different rivers and lakes. Yellowstone has a couple of lakes that are over crowded with cutthroat. If a few were harvested I believe the average size would go up, but I am no biologist.

I was also wondering about the place I was bass fishing on Monday. It seemed to have too many bass, but maybe there is enough food for them and they just need more time to grow up?

Should the bass in Ririe be changed to harvesting a limit of bass under 12" since there are so few over 12"?

This brings up a lot of questions. It would be nice to talk to a biologist about each situation.

Windriver
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[gstott]

I really wish they would change the regs on that place. Maybe allow 6 bass under 12" to weed out all those little guys. They've been looking really healthy this year, but I still think they could use some thinning. I wouldn't mind going from catching over 100 fish every time I go there, but having the majority be little 8-10" cookie cutter fish, to catching half that, but having them be larger on average. I think it's a pretty fertile body of water, it just has too many mouths to feed in my book.
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[flygoddess]

I think most the bashing comes from the ones that catch a BIG fish or a lot of big fish which aren't good tasting, or they totally miss handle it then release it.
I can't see anyone getting bashed for a nice LEGAL stringer of pan size..just my thoughts.

I am one of many that fly fish only on the Provos. We move a lot and really don't want to be dragging a stringer around or even the old fashion Creel (which would be a great look..LOL)

But, I guide on the Provos and while there are one or two stunted fish, the Masses are big and healthy.

It is that time of year that I actually harvest one or two for dinner...wish me luck.[]
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[michael44]

I hope nobody ever gives me crap for keeping fish.[mad]
I love fish! I could eat fish every day of the week.
Deer Steak and eggs for breakfast!
Elk burger for lunch!
Trout fillets for Dinner!
It doesn't get any better than that[]

I like to do all sorts of different things with the critters and fish I harvest. Jerky, smoked, sausages. Yum Yum!

I would much rather have meats and fish that I have harvested and prepared than anything purchased from the local grocery store.
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[kochanut]

its your right, do as you wish! i even kept one at a "trophy" lake last week and got asked when i was loading up why i kept it. my resopnse.. cause i wanted one to eat and im allowed to keep one.

[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/forum/gforum.cgi?post=611978;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;page=unread#unread"]http://www.bigfishtackle.com/forum/gforum.cgi?post=611978;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;page=unread#unread[/url]
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[eagleflyfshr]

I, too, release almost all of my catch, if it is unharmed. It is a personal choice. Except for the occasional fresh brookie designed specifically for the grill, the fish I keep are usually only those that I feel have been injured and the chance of revival is slim (gill or deep hook on a trout, etc.) and, of course, it is legal to do so. Although, I am primarily catch and release, I condemn no one for their ideologies (whether keep as many as you legally can or catch and release purism), we all must realize that catch and release was primarily initiated to save our fish populations and to prevent the overharvest abuses of years gone by. We must also realize that today, in most fish habitats, we fisherman have replaced the martins, the river otters, the mink, the fishers, the eagle (although eagle and osprey have rebounded tremendously), etc. and that some harvest is necessary to maintain a healthy ecosystem. Moderation in all things.......... Interesting article. Thanks for sharing it.
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[flygoddess]

funny, we all say we have no problem with how, what, where or who, but someone must have a problem with it...LOL Come out, come out, whom ever you are[laugh][laugh][laugh][laugh]
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[prontotp]

thanks for the article. i actually really like to eat fish but rarely do because I have a hard time not letting them go. I guess that especially on the southfork I can try to convince myself that i am doing other anglers a favor by keeping my rainbows to eat in the future.

[hulapopper]

i was just thinking about the pictures of my father and grandfather fishing. big stringers of trout, bass, catfish everything. and i remember fishing with my grandfather and he would throw nothing back. he would even take squawfish and suckers home for his dogs or for compost.

it's interesting how in two generations anglers feel guilty for keeping fish. i personaly don't keep many due to the fact we can't catch halibut and ling cod at brownlee ! not much for freshwater fish. perch excluded however yummy.
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[Nick1983]

Good read, +1 for posting that up. The only fish I'll keep for consumption are catfish, panfish, and stocked trout from the river. I'll keep a sucker, carp, or undersized panfish for bait. Otherwise, I wish them well and send them back. Oh, and by the way Ron, thanks for the tidbits about the cats, I had no idea the big ones with the butt heads were that old!

I am in no way at all the guy that hugs the trees and eats hummus instead of steak, but I take a little pride in knowing I've done all I can to ensure the fish I do send back may be around for my kid to catch their kids.
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[mikkfin80]

Interesting article thanks for posting it. I am one of those fisherman that like to keep a few fish now and then even on trophy lakes if I am allowed to. I heard a statistic on Henry's lake that about 80 percent of those fish die of old age. There is nothing wrong with it if you are within the limit set by the fish and game.
I get very angered at people who think they are above those limits and take what they feel like. I witnessed a guy a couple years ago at Henry's on opening weekend catch his 2, take them to his truck and left for a while. He showed up a little later in different clothes and harvested 2 more.
I reported him but the fish and game didn't do anything because he had his son with him and he said that he had caught 2 of the fish. Ticks me off pretty bad!
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[cpierce]

I too think the regulations on bass there should be changed to thin out the zillion small ones. That is one place that I usually keep a couple of small bass along with whatever perch I happen to get. It is almost embarrassing to keep them though!

Over all, I think every fishery should be considered separately as to whether or not you keep some or your limit.

There needs to be a balance. Sometimes it is up to us to regulate ourselves, such as what Ron said about the larger catfish. Still it isn't my business to regulate anyone else though.

On the releasing end of it, I favor a moderate rule from F&G like one or two fish for some places. I really hate it if I have injured a fish and then have to let it go, when I know that it isn't going to make it.

Also there are some small reservoirs that I wish fish and game would treat a little more like "community fisheries". One that I know of is usually about fished out by the end of June. If they had a two fish limit there, I think that some of those that just pound this little fishery would go else where to some larger places that can handle the pressure.

This reservoir is 4 tenths of a mile long (when full) and 1 tenth of a mile wide, yet I have seen better than 20 boats or float tubes on it at a time, besides the bank fishermen. There is barely that much parking! The reservoir is small but fertile, if any fish do carry over to fall or beyond they grow to be very nice fish. It is a shame that few survive the spring onslaught. At this place, I think that more releasing is in order.

Either way --- Moderation!
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[idahoron]

Here is a picture of what we did with the Henerys lake trout we caught. This was breakfast! Ron[inline "Cooking cutt's 1.jpg"]
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[flygoddess]

You are actually using the tank IN your vehicle? And with an open flame?![crazy]
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[idahoron]

Heck ya! It is no different than a camper. I do it all the time I just keep the back open. Ron
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[flygoddess]

Okay, but the tanks are outside on a camper last time I looked.....LOL
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[gstott]

I agree about specific regs for specific fisheries. It bugs me that in Utah at least their new focus is on simplifying regulations so that there won't be any confusion. So then they just change all the regs to be the same statewide. It's honestly not that complicated.
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