Practice catch and release tactics for the rise of bigger fish

[jiml]

ive always been a catch and release fisherman, i keep a couple a year but most every fish goes back in the lake, i would rather see that 10 pound brood salmon go home on some kids line than on mine so back it goes. whats got me thinking about how catch and release effects a fishery is when the guys studying  the lakes and making the rules start increasing limits, there may be reasons for this. i mostly fish sebago now for the salmon, soon the togue limit will be unlimited fish under 23 inches and one one over 30, the one over 30 was because too many complained about not being able to keep a trophy fish. the reasoning is that catch and release has allowed too many togue to fill the lake which may be hurting salmon populations as well as togue size. they want less togue in the lake and feel that increasing the size of the larger togue will help keep the numbers of smaller togue in check and by making the unlimited catch of smaller toge it would help fisherman understand that keeping some togue will help the fishery in time. catch and release is a great ideal for a fisherman to have but some lakes its not wanted by those that study these things.

Do you have an article you drew this information from> I would love to read it!  Thanks for posting it sounds interesting as heck!!!!

[CJiceaddict]

ive always been a catch and release fisherman, i keep a couple a year but most every fish goes back in the lake, i would rather see that 10 pound brood salmon go home on some kids line than on mine so back it goes. whats got me thinking about how catch and release effects a fishery is when the guys studying  the lakes and making the rules start increasing limits, there may be reasons for this. i mostly fish sebago now for the salmon, soon the togue limit will be unlimited fish under 23 inches and one one over 30, the one over 30 was because too many complained about not being able to keep a trophy fish. the reasoning is that catch and release has allowed too many togue to fill the lake which may be hurting salmon populations as well as togue size. they want less togue in the lake and feel that increasing the size of the larger togue will help keep the numbers of smaller togue in check and by making the unlimited catch of smaller toge it would help fisherman understand that keeping some togue will help the fishery in time. catch and release is a great ideal for a fisherman to have but some lakes its not wanted by those that study these things.

I think this train of thought is catching on. They are slowly changing some of the limits to slot style limits. I find for perch and pike, generally of coarse, there are 2 kinds of places. Places you will catch tons of fish all day long but they are small, and places where it might not be as fast all the time, but there are quality fish located there. I am a huge fan of places like that and support efforts that would make more places with quality fish in them.

[coldsteel]

I think this train of thought is catching on. They are slowly changing some of the limits to slot style limits. I find for perch and pike, generally of coarse, there are 2 kinds of places. Places you will catch tons of fish all day long but they are small, and places where it might not be as fast all the time, but there are quality fish located there. I am a huge fan of places like that and support efforts that would make more places with quality fish in them.

x2

[fishlessman]

Do you have an article you drew this information from> I would love to read it!  Thanks for posting it sounds interesting as heck!!!!

theres lots of stuff in this link, lots of opinions, but alot of these guys fish sebago every week thru the year, and there is some stuff from a committee formed to help sebago salmon and stuff from the biologists, you just have to sift thru it. whats a little concerning is that some of the study is taken from outside newengland and they are using that as gospel to fix some problems on sebago. i guess time will tell, but i do see some potential. now how they teach the 20 pound togue to eat little togue and not 4 pound salmon has me a little stumped

[Dull Hooks]

Anyway......my opinion is anglers should pay attention to the regulations set forth by the experts and only keep what you plan to consume......if the experts want a specific species targeted for destruction they will set that reg!


 Exactly the same way I think.And with the short comings with many states with budgets and budget cuts , it's tough for them to do their job they way they'd probably like too.It's not up to myself or jiml from Mass. or anyone else to decide whats best for the bodies of water we fish.
 I don't buy anyone that says I keep smaller fish , to eat some and use the rest for fertilizer or to say that so so lake has nothing but stunted fish.Maybe that body of water isn't fertile enough to grow bigger fish or big enough to grow bigger fish.All I know from when I'm out there and for an hour I've caught nothing but 4-5 inch perch I'm moving to a different spot.
 All I know is that catch and release anglers keep fish in the system large or small.Or some one that only catches enough for a meal or two keep fish the system.Who knows the next person to set foot out there is totally new to the sport or kids , and they catch something.And that keeps them coming back , learning and becoming better at it and having fun.
 After all we're out there to have fun , and maybe catch a few fish

[potatomansoup]

JIML,

I think that you are absolutely spot on, everything that you said is completely valid especialy the part where you caught a fish and said it is your choice what to do with it as long as it is in the legal limits, senseless killing of pickerel and other fish is ridic... If you are going to utilize the fish for a meal than by all means... Biologist do the research and "know" whats best for each ecosystem, that is why there are laws in place, if they needed to be changed or amended they would...

Well said!

I think also we need to remember that most of the "Game" fish are non-native... So be careful what you wish for...Bass, Sunfish, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Landlocked Salmon and a host of other fish have been introduced into our lakes in order to attract anglers, but why should that be at the peril of a beautiful Native Pickerel or Yellow Perch?

[coldsteel]

Hahah this topic got a little bit out of control but I will play, what ticks me off is when people feel that it is there right to catch what ever type of fish they want out of a specific body of water so they take the liberty of "stocking" it themselves ie; pike in Winnisquam, now pike are my favorite by far to catch through the ice and I wish NH had a great fishery for them but we dont so I travel to where the fishing is good for them... Instead others take it upon themselves to unintentionally destroy our trout fisheries with such antics... rant over

[jiml]

Hahah this topic got a little bit out of control but I will play, what ticks me off is when people feel that it is there right to catch what ever type of fish they want out of a specific body of water so they take the liberty of "stocking" it themselves ie; pike in Winnisquam, now pike are my favorite by far to catch through the ice and I wish NH had a great fishery for them but we dont so I travel to where the fishing is good for them... Instead others take it upon themselves to unintentionally destroy our trout fisheries with such antics... rant over

Well said.......I call those guys "bucket biologists"!!!!

[Ice Trapper]

Well said I think that killing everything isnt the answer  just take what you can consume just dont waste life or the chance for children to go out to a water body and have a good time! we are all (sportsmen)  Im big on CARMA, Carma can bite you pretty good sometimes,

Type a 1 if your an ethical sportsman or woman
type a 2 if your un-ethical

 

Im a 1 all day and never will change just have a few fish through the ice a year because if you think about it how do fish get bigger? they eat and feed on smaller fish and if you target getting rid of the small ones what will the big ones feed on? and preditory fish like pickerel your going to just kill them cause they eat trout?(well you better start killing all the large and smallmouth bass as well cause they do the same thing) but if you look at it watch the banks in the spring time right after they stock a pond or resivoir and you'll have huge bass stealing your stringers  and eating trout chasing them right on the banks! I seen it first hand! But i love the sight of seeing a child on the ice running over to the flag and start yelling in excitement as they start fighting a fish  then when they get one they dont care how big it is there smile remains pricless in my heart!

[Dull Hooks]

Well said!

I think also we need to remember that most of the "Game" fish are non-native... So be careful what you wish for...Bass, Sunfish, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Landlocked Salmon and a host of other fish have been introduced into our lakes in order to attract anglers, but why should that be at the peril of a beautiful Native Pickerel or Yellow Perch?

Huh ? I didn't realize LLS where not native to our lakes and streams or bass and sunfish too

[Dull Hooks]

Hahah this topic got a little bit out of control but I will play, what ticks me off is when people feel that it is there right to catch what ever type of fish they want out of a specific body of water so they take the liberty of "stocking" it themselves ie; pike in Winnisquam, now pike are my favorite by far to catch through the ice and I wish NH had a great fishery for them but we dont so I travel to where the fishing is good for them... Instead others take it upon themselves to unintentionally destroy our trout fisheries with such antics... rant over

Don't think it's gotten a little bit out of control.It's been a good discussion so far and everyone has shared their opinion on what they think on the topic that was started. Maybe it's the early onset of cabin fever , the holidays creeping up or maybe just being flat out bored as to why it's continued on this long. 

[coldsteel]

Don't think it's gotten a little bit out of control.It's been a good discussion so far and everyone has shared their opinion on what they think on the topic that was started. Maybe it's the early onset of cabin fever , the holidays creeping up or maybe just being flat out bored as to why it's continued on this long. 

no no no hahah i had a poor choice of words i meant off track we went from catch and release to how everyone takes things into their own hands, and decides whats best for the fisheries thats all...This is a great discussion i agree

[jiml]

Seems like a topic like this starts every season.......it is a good topic though....I have enjoyed reading it!

[coldsteel]

Seems like a topic like this starts every season.......it is a good topic though....I have enjoyed reading it!

x2 it is nice that it is an intelligent one and not a p!$$!ng contest haha

[CJiceaddict]

x2 it is nice that it is an intelligent one and not a p!$$!ng contest haha

It has been nice- usually there isn't this much meaningful conversation. If a thread gets this far- usually threats are made and it is locked and blocked.... Heres to a good ice fishing season. The spots I drove by today were all white with the dusting of snow we got, I think there may be a couple places early next week!

[coldsteel]

CJ thats awesome.. my buddy i went to Plymouth with Green Puffin checked ponds today and said alot of small ones are locked up, nothing significant as of yet but hopes are for next week aswell just have to get through tomoro and I think it should be good

[winnisquam guy]

releasing bigger fish is good for the species as a whole in whatever body of water you fish. for example, maine has a slot limit for stripers. most larger stripers are egg bearing and are important for the species to grow. i believe if too many large fish get removed from a water body, it upsets the natural balance.

[Ice Trapper]

highly agree to all of ya, when i see yall out on the ice ill be raising my glass up high! we are all brothers in the outdoors!

[coldsteel]

well put ice trapper!!!!