Keeping fish in trophy water

[jscheetz]

Hey Fish Hunter,

The area in MT was the East and West Rosebud rivers - just north of Redlodge. Beautiful place - truly God's country - just real dry the last few years.

Porochi - I am sure there were many people with attitudes like yours back when the thousands of people were out "sport shooting" passenger pigeons. You know - didn't want any "busybodys" telling people what they could and couldn't do - after all, it was legal and none of their business. Wasn't their job to be the pigeon cop.

Seen any passenger pigeons lately?

JS

[loo10]

Sad end to a fish that made it to 20-inches-plus... a hook in the tail and a ride to the slaughter house in a WalMart sack. He fought alot of battles and went through alot of abuse to end up like that.

Very sad indeed.

That's why I dont keep the big ones.

They are just too awesome to catch.

I gotta wonder....

once you've had a 20, 22, or 24 incher slam your offering

and you've felt his head shaking;

what goes thru your mind when you decide to kill it?

I'm probably gonna catch some lip for this but

I'd rather catch 1 fish 22" or bigger than 30 under 12" any-day!

LET THE BIG ONES GO.

JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN DO SOMETHING; DOESN'T MEAN YOU SHOULD!

[gonefishin]

As usual the problem with this subject is extremeisim. On one end of the scale there are people who think they should be able to keep all the fish they can catch and on the other end there are the people who believe they have to police everyone on the water.

PETA comes to mind here....just becasue they don't like to fish they think no one should fish and they are willing to do anything to make people conform to their belief. They want to make it so unpleasant that non-conformers quit fishing/hunting just to avoid them.

The vast majority of people on the lake are rational. They understand this isn't an unlimited resource and it has to be managed properly. The problem starts when the firebreathers on either end of the scale start infringing with the rights of others to spend time in legal pursuit of our sport.

The point is we aren't on the river/lake to police people or force our beliefs on them. We are there to enjoy the outdoors. We pay taxes and hire law enforcement to take care of those problems for us.

Law enforcement know where the real problem spots are and when a game warden is called away from those trouble spots because some would be fish policeman thinks he might have seen someone who might have caught a fish that was maybe 1/2 inch to short/long then the game wardens time has been wasted becaue they aren't where they need to be and doing what they need to be doing.

My advice to others would be to remember harassment while you are in legal pursuit of your sport is illegal. If it becomes to much of a problem; call the law on the person harassing you.

[loo10]

As usual the problem with this subject is extremeisim.

......force our beliefs on them.

Oh I just love it when people start using words and phrases like "extremeism"

and "Forcing our beliefs on them."

Give me a break!

What am I gonna hear next...a diversity speech 'cause some of us would rather catch browns than rainbows????

[knuck]

" YA GOTTA BE KIDDING ME " Post"31" is comparing the decimation of passenger pigeon flocks to the act of keeping legal fish as deemed appropriate by the MDC. There is one major differance, around the turn of the previous century there were no hunting or fishing regulations. The so called "sportsmen" and market hunters took what they wanted in excess with little regard for their fellow fishers/hunters. The state of Missouri has a long and successful history of resource management with research ,education and application of regulations. I am a C@R fisherman probably 85 to 90% of the time, but when I catch lunker ,legal fish it is my MDC right to do what I want to with it!!!!!!!!! Without a lecture or eyeballin. The people you hold so little regard for. support this resource as you do. Concentrate your angst on the slobs that don't purchase licenses or tags and could give a darn about limits are other regs. "Purists" have to remember that the entire resource is possible only by the huge amount of money spent by tournament/trophy/recreational/meat fisherman. LIVE WITH IT.

[loo10]

he-he-heeeee

What a spirited forum.

[jscheetz]

Knuck - Only suggestion I can give you is to read BEFORE you type. There was no comparing pigeons to legal taking of trout. I think if you re-read - I specifically said that "attitudes" was the problem. To quote Porochi "But you know what, I won't say squat to you, even if you're in the trophy area and netting them and keeping 10 dozen." Now lets quote you if I may "took what they wanted in excess with little regard for their fellow fishers/hunters." - Now look at your statement and the one above. Shazamm! I think we are on the same page afterall.

JS

[Phil Lilley]

I have helped people land 20-inch-plus trout in the past and if they intend to keep the trophy, I politely point out the advantages (and disadvantages) to getting a replica made and releasing the fish. If they want to keep it I try not to show any attitude although it's disappointing to see a fish like that die. But you know it's just a fish. I'd rather walk away friends with the guy and not enemies.

[boz]

js cheetz, maybe your point was that Porochi should be saying something to people acting outside of the law.Didn't I read that he would discreetly call MDC?I don't think you are on the same page as Knuck.It still sounds as if your'e comparing market hunting/fishing with legal rules and laws.Apples and oranges...

[gonefishin]

Heh heh. Yes, spirited indeed. I have no issue with someone who doesnt want to keep the trout they have caught. It is their right. I dont like to be harassed becasue I want to keep a trout once in a while. Some people have the attitude that anyone who keeps a trout is killing the fishery when it is a well established fact that a certain amount of fish caught by a catch and release fishermen will also die.

I get to go fishing about once per month. If I were to keep my limit everytime I go I would kill 48 fish per year. How many does a catch and release fisherman who catches hundreds or perhaps thousands of fish per year kill?

Of course if nobody ever kept trout there would no longer be a need for the hatcheries and a very healthy industry for the state would die.

I support a persons right to support catch and release. I also support a persons right to keep em if he/she wants. This is what keeps the industry and the fishery healthy.

As far as extremisim goes; If it walks, quacks and looks like a duck, I assume it is a Duck unless shown otherwise.