Catch and Release Fishing

Wow. Lots of people really connected to nature here.

Before 9/11 there was a hydro dam on the Susquehanna that had a Fish pier on the downstream wall of the dam breast. The state of Maryland would only let you keep striped bass that were 42" or longer. So, many guys would catch a 40" striper and then "release it" by dropping it 50ft to the water, where it would surely suffer before it died.
Ive seen trout fishermen pull their rigs out of a fish that swallowed it and up would come vital organs that one would certainly miss if they were ripped out of you.
"Catch and release" if done in tournaments and for undersized or closed season species should have the line cut if the rig isnt a snap retrieval or barbless.

I usually catch what well eat that day. I dont like to freeze fish, they dont taste right after a few days.

Im goin out for some early season walleye next week before I leave to work in Argentina. Im takin my fly rig along to fish on my off times

There are many sections of rivers and streams here in Michigan that are designated catch and release, artificial fly only. I think it is for the fishing purists, who are often wealthy and have paid to have these sections created. That's not really a bad thing, as the fish from these sections always move downstream in their later years, I just don't like the catch & release bit, unless the fish is undersized.

A couple years ago I was fishing a private lake with a large spoon. A pike hit that thing just as it hit the water and swallowed it, hooking into its gills (certain death). I felt doubly bad because the fish measured 22", 2" too short to keep.

Also two years ago I was watching some people fish for salmon as they ran up the Bear River in Petoskey, MI. The rules are fairly simple. You must hook the fish in the mouth with a single point hook no greater than 3/8" between point and shank.

Most fish got snagged, presenting a difficult catch as they turn and swim away from the line direction. The fisherman I saw who landed snagged fish all took the fish and tossed them upstream, over the dam that they were stuck below.

There was an american indian there. He was snagging salmon as fast as he could and throwing them over his shoulder into the dirt for his kids to play with, right in front of the DNR officer, who could do nothing.

Bump for Thursday.

Wow Farmerman, Argentina! I won't ask what your work entails, but what kind of fish do you expect to catch?

cj, Im hoping to do some trout and slmon fishing. Ive already tried their peacock bass and they can actually get boring because they are so abundant in certain areas.
They have a concern about keeping gear from other countries out. Ive restrung my spinning outfit and flyrod. They have a thing called whirling disease in South America and Argentina and Chile have strict gear requirements. Ill have to have my rigs all pressure washed in an antibacterial solution when I enter. My client has already gotten the fishing permits and we will be in pretty remote areas. (where they eat chipmunks).

CHIPMUNK FRICASSEE
2 pounds diced chipmunk (the legs are most of the meat but the breast is good if you have the patience)
minced garlic
chopped onion
hot peppers
Guinness stout
butter
hot pepper flakes
chicken or possum stock
peeled and quartered potatoes

This actually tastes a lot like chicken (but still with a difference). It's best made with Rocky Mountain chippers(East Coast chippies are too small) and perhaps served with a nice Sauvignon Blanc. Marinate the chipmunk meat in the garlic, onion, hot peppers, and Guinness. Saute in a skillet with butter, pepper flakes, and salt. Cook quickly until browned. Deglaze the skillet with the stock and put it all into a large saucepan or stockpot along with the marinade and the potatoes. Cover and bake at 275 degrees for two hours. Remove from the oven and, in a separate pan, reduce whatever marinade is left and whisk in six ounces of additional butter. Combine reduced marinade with chipmunk meat and serve.

I was kidding actually they eat guinea pigs , I think chipmunks down there are meat eating rats about 6 ft tall. I could be wrong.
I saw some guys gigging catfish last time I ws down there in Nov and the catties look like the big "Flatheads" of the Missouri River. Dont wanna tangle with one of them with my light rods.

Its high summer down there and itll be really hot in the lower areas (where Ill be working of course) we have use of a mining company chopper to get to the fish. I just hate choppers and would almost bag out of it if it wsnt such a damn machismo thing to go anywhere in these eggbeaters. Theres lots of fish in the low areas but most of them are like pirarucu and big prehistoric lookin things that I have no idea what anybody does with .

bs
I think your thought is 150% wrong, catch and release fishing is what most people start out doing many people probably wouldn't start fishing if you couldn't catch and release, most people start with catch and release and then go to eating the fish i'm not talking about everyone. Outcome fish overpopulation over time and the problem with that .........panfish especially eat too much food and then less food for other fish which will end up having hundreds of fish starve to death. such a large amount die that it would be way more than gut hooked released fish.

Whoa. This fish just jumped.

I still agree with my original post. If you are catch and release fishing for sport fish, you should be keeping track of what you catch for knowledge base purposes.

Gut hooking a fish that's not within limits is a horrible thing - one I try to avoid. I mean, what is the point of tossing back a fish that is just going to die and get eaten by a raccoon? Didn't your Dad ever teach you about stomping on that trout that is 1/8" too short?

yes
i agree with your new post your first one made it sound like you disagreed with catch and release altogether, i agree that you should keep any fish you gut hook and should practice using circle hooks. Which significitly lowers the chance of gut hooking fish. They are designed to hook the fish in the corner of the mouth. From Bass to Marlin circle hooks are slowly catching on around the world.

Yeah, I'm using circle hooks too. Still, if a steelhead decides to inhale it, you're only choice is to cut the line and hope it survives.

The steelies are starting their spring run here in west Michigan. I hope to catch some. Friggin monsters.

yeah
never fished for steelhead we usually fish for sunfish, catfish, bass, and occasionally crappie.