A new Fisherman and Keeping Fish . . .

[michaeledward]

So, I was out yesterday, with a relatively new, nicely equipped fly-fisher person. We did not have a great day. The rivers were high and fast and difficult to fish. We were rained on pretty heavily in Tamworth. (Not a great experience for a new flyfisherperson).

Anyhow, we finally ended up at a fly-fishing only pond, where our new fisherperson caught a nice little brookie.

I managed to hook and land a pretty substantial brookie myself -- maybe 17". I netted the fish and was bringing it around to show my fishing partner ...

Apparently, some of my fly-fishing colleagues at the crowded little pond made some 'snarky' comments about me keeping the fish, and a fish of that size.

While I had the fish out of the water, I moved quickly. I only handled the fish with my catch & release net. And, while I debated keeping the fish for the frying pan, I released the fish back into the pond. It swam away enthusiastically.

Do you ever keep fish?
Do you feel you have to be sneaky about it?
When was the last time you introduced a new person to the sport?
What's the best way to get the newbie enthusiastic about the sport?

[flytackle]

Counting keeper stripers and white and yellow perch;, I certainly keep more than 5 fish a year, but normally not that many trout. As far as fellows making "snarky" remarks - that really frosts me. If it's legal to keep 'em and they have a problem with it, they ought to do something about it through the state's Fish and Game dept. - get the law changed, but not get sanctimonious with anglers who are succesfully catching fish and keeping what the law allows. If I caught the fish and I want to eat it, it's none of their business, and it certainly isn't "their fish to catch too". It may have been before I caught it, but not any more! Fishing is a blood sport. I never had a duck hunter look askance at me after I dropped a teal in the dekes. Usually it was met with a "high five", not the hairy eyeball!!
I'm introducing kids to the sport on a regular basis - they want to keep fish (remember?), are proud to bring them home, and love eating them! Cheers, Alec

[overmywaders]

I keep fish, depending on my wants and that of some friends who don't fish. I quit fishing for about ten years because I could not justify injuring/torturing creatures solely for my pleasure. I returned to the sport only when I was able to keep some fish and set a limit on the number of fish I caught per day. For each river I will set a personal limit of number of fish taken (whether kept or released) that day, for example 6, and when I reach that limit I leave the river. This works for me, it might not work for everyone. It means I spend more time enjoying the stream and the day, and less time casting, which is probably good as my casting is not a thing of beauty and only gets worse with practice. :)

I would certainly encourage a new fisherman to keep his fish. There is something very fulfilling about hunting/gathering one's own food.

I do not feel it necessary to "be sneaky" about keeping fish. I am harming no one, nor do I wish to give offense. I cannot be responsible for their feelings toward my lawful, ethical behavior.

Best regards,
Reed
www.overmywaders.com

[fessiewig]

I can only echo the responses of the others with regard to keeping fish. I don't eat fish so I release all that I hook (one way or another :D ) but have no problem with other anglers keeping their limit caught within the laws and regulations for the water they are fishing.

p.s. one fisher, many fishers

[Blake P]

I am all for Catch n Release of all salmonoids.
However If the fish were more abundandt I might consume more. The only two fish I have killed was a large Striper ( I only killed it because I thought no one would ever belive i caught a fish that size on a fly rod.)
the other one was a freshly stocked rainbow witch was badly hooked. I gave it to a guy at work who gladly appreciated it.
I have seen guys who have taken trophy rainbows and just killed them for the same reasons.
lets face it its legal to keep fish and I bet there are still alot of them sitting in the freezer. the only way we can promote this stuff is by means of education.
Now I think fish look so much better in the water. Especially out great brook trout, they must be kept wild or if you can still catch a wild one in NH if you can't i can give anyone the opportunity to catch one here jsut ask.
I have ridiculed people people for taking big trout. this guy yelled across the river one time and said look at this fish i caught? I looked and noticed the fish was 6-7 lbs. I yelled back at him it would look alot better in the water.
After I said it, Ifelt very bad. Who was I to tell this guy what his fish liked it was his right to keep it, he worked for it why not show it off, bottom line is it was his right and who was I to ruin his day on the largest trout he had ever caught? I haven't opend my mouth since.
There is also a law out there tht protects sprotsman. It is unlawful to harrass anyone who is taking legal fish or game. i think its something like that, its a civil crime, the fine is up to 500 bucks.

[overmywaders]

Blake,

You say "the only way we can promote this stuff is by means of education." I agree, we should teach youngsters (and oldsters) that trout are not windup toys or Pepsi cans to be recycled, but sensate creatures that deserve respect. When killed they should be dispatched cleanly and quickly and consumed with childlike pride and rejoicing.

Best regards,
Reed
www.overmywaders.com

[Tom Jutras]

Intersting post has got me thinking so here is my 2 cents. I believe in limiting your kill and not killing your limit. I was verbally attacted one day by another anlger who witnessed me kill 2 trout and told me to leave the pond because I had my limit and I was done. He told me how much of a better fisherman and person he was because he released all his trout so a person like me could come and catch fish. The truth is I was catching lots of fish that day and I released many. He was not doing well at all. This man did not know me or what my experiences as a angler were. He was the worst sort I have ever come across while fishing. The language he used was foul and the attitude he expressed was righteous.

If you release all the fish you catch you are admired by me. If you are doing this and you feel that you are better because of if, I'm not impressed.

There are so many reasons that an angler might kill a fish. I have taken fish on some of my trips with special people who enjoy a meal of trout during our special time that we shared together. I know of a friend who was killing a fish to bring to a person who had not much time left to live and wanted to eat a fish. How could this be viewed as dishonorable?

When we are out on the water and practice what we believe without getting in someones face I think that does more for our sport to get people involved in conservation. When our opinions are expressed too strongly I think it damages our image as fly fishers. Please think before you act.

Don't be too hard on others they will come around!

Fish often and kill infrequently!

Tom

[fessiewig]

Like I said before, I don't (well, very rarely) kill a fish. Everything I catch I release. But I guess I'm the worst of all fishers because the fish I will kill, on that rare occasion, will be (dare I say it) native brook trout and only if I can cook them over an open fire (in a frying pan) with bacon fat. I know, it's dumb, but every once in a while the hunter gatherer in me takes over. :?

I really don't have a problem with someone taking their legal limit each day they fish. That's the law! Those who think killing fish is wrong should work with fish & game to change the law. Actually if we were to severely reduce the limit of fish folks could kill the state could reduce the number of fish they stock. Many stocked fish are stocked into "put & take" rivers and if not harvested would die during the hot months of the summer anyway.

I suppose you could get into a long philosophical discussion over the pro's and con's of killing fish, but instead let's go fishing and practice what we believe.

[cap]

That guy with his vocal opinion was a numero uno schmuck IMHO....he should learn to keep his mouth shut...He probably looks down his nose at spin fisherman too...or worm fisherman...He pobably thinks he is siperior to them....She should take a kid fishing and get in touch with his roots!

It's guys like this that really irk me....he does'nt deserve to be called 1) a Sporstman or 2) an Angler...he's a wannabe....

I bet he would take candy from baby too!

I kill more than 5 per year...stockers, wild ones, big ones, small ones, whatever...All taken legally, ethically and respectfully! I release plenty too!

I took a new fisherman fishing this past weekend...Zebco reels, garden hackle, red and white bobbers, Daredevils and Mepps spinners...We even tried a casting bubble and a fly......We ate what we caught and we let the little ones go!

I'd rather fish with this or any 10 year old worm fisherman, than a wonk flyfisher - catch and release - effete snob with a mouth and an opinion, anyday....anyday!

[flytackle]

Well said Cap!
:D http://www.forrestlodge.com/graphics_new/frying_fish.jpg :D
I love fly fishing!!!

Cheers, Alec

[Blake P]

Cap
I can appreciate everything you are sayings on some sorts or another. Its people like those we have to educate. I do agree a guy like that is a typical STROKE !
For one I fish with a worm fisherman quite often, I catch 5 fish to his 1, he releases all of his fish when I am with him anyway. However, i alway want my 4 year old son to catch one when he is an adult, i would post some pictures if I knew how, He caught his first fish on a spinner yesterday, we alway release our fish so we may catch them again.
He likes it too. most young normal kids don't like that stuff either they like cheese burgers. He landed his first striper on a fly last year and got a great photo,
Its people like the worm fisherman we have to educate, it doesn't matter how youcatch them its all about the release :lol:

[fessiewig]

From my experience when fishing with a worm you are much more likely to hook the fish deep and trying to remove a deep set hook will most often mortally wound the fish, so you might as well keep it. If you want to practice catch and release you're better off spin or fly fishing. Seeing how this site is is for fly fishers I'd advocate going to fly fishing for your catch and release fishing.

IMHO a worm fisher will consistently out fish a fly fisher. It hurts to say it, but I believe it's true and so did Theodore Gordon.

[Squaretail]

I've got no problem with someone obeying the rules. If the water is designated for 2 fish limit...keep your two fish. If it's 5 fish or 5 lbs good luck to you.
I haven't kept a trout in 10 years. I don't like the taste of trout and I've tried them cooked many different ways-- give me a steak or a hot dog anyday. White Perch on the other hand are a different story. I've had many good fish fries in the big ole skillett over in the Grand lake Stream area. I get a big thrill in trying to play a nice trout "efficiently" and bringing him to the net and watching him swim away after. That's part of the game for me. But I'm no better and no worse of a sportsman than the guy that drops one in the creel now and then.

[Salmosebago]

It never ceases to amaze me when others have a problem with someone OBEYING the law! I tend to just laugh at them and it just pisses them off more. It's the same thing with the smoking police. I have asthma and ride the TREK across Maine for the Am. Lung Assoc. Do I think that smoking isn't the smartest thing to do - yes, do I wish people didn't do it - yes. However, it is legal and it is their right to do it, if I don't like it I go somewhere else. Do I think that killing your limit all the time is foolish - yes, do I wish people didn't do it as often as some do - yes. However, it's legal and it is their right to do so. I would never look down on someone that is within the limits of the law. And we wonder why we are looked at as elitest's? FWIW - I haven't kept a trout or salmon in years but do keep a few stripers.

By the way, I see I'm a "junior member". Who's been talking to my wife?

[michaeledward]

It is very interesting to look at the results of the poll. Thanks everyone who participated.

This poll has me thinking about when I last killed a fish.

Last fall, my 'new' fishing partner and I were at a private hunting and fishing club where we each killed a fish for lunch, and we killed one to come home. Of course, this is a pay-to-fish environment, so I don't really count these fish.

Several years back, I had my kids catch and kill some trout at the fish farm - pay for fish - in Milford. (One of the kids prefered to play with the guts, rather than eat the fish). Of course, this is a pay-to-fish environment, so I don't really count these fish.

Talking with another fishing buddie ... he recalls a time (1994) where we kept a big ole bass from a pond in Massachusetts ... and all we had to cook it with was Jack Daniels and Peanut Butter. Too many scales.

And even farther back than that (89 - 90 - 91 ?)... and this is the fish story of all times ... my friend and his wife were about to move to California. On our last fishing trip before their departure, we landed three nice rainbows from a Western Massachusetts river, and put them on a stringer. As we continued to fish up and down stream, someone came along, and cut the stringer and took the fish. So, I never even got to eat those trout.

So, all this had me thinking, and Thursday night, I took three from the Souhegan in Milford. They will be on the grille tonight.

Mike

[Boneylegs]

I keep the occasional fish for the POSSLQ and myself or when the fish is hooked badly and I know it won't survive. Maybe a dozen a year. And always legally......And I whole-heartedly agree with cap.

Nothing frosts my butt harder than someone who preaches their philosopy to me and tries to brow beat me into following their lead. Certain C&R fanatics really take the cake. As was said before, if the law says I can take 2 fish per day, it's my right to keep those two fish! And I shouldn't be chastised for doing so. It almost makes you want to take a stringer of legally caught fish and dance it in front of their noses, chanting "nyah, nyah, nya nyah nyah"! :twisted: But that's coming down to their level of thinking, I suppose :oops:

Sorry for the rant, but these "preachers" get my fire going..........