New "State Record"

[cjac]

Chief takes the lead in the "creepy/stalker" post of the week contest.

[muskiemanAD]

That was a great read on the Chippewa Muskies! Very good information and very interesting. Would be cool if they did one of those studies on Tonka some time!

[reinhard1]

the whole thing comes down to personal fishing ethics. if this kid has a legal licence and follows the laws i dont care what he does with his fish. most bass fishermen release their prized fish, same with steelhead guys and gals and musky addicts. i realease all large fish regardless of species. most of the large fish i have caught were by accident, did not "hunt" them or "target" them.

i respect muskie fishermen because it is a challenging species and you work hard at getting that special 50incher plus. however i dont think chastizing some kid that apperantly only one poster here knows solves anything. over time hopefully he sees the light and releases these valuable predators and starts thinking reproductions on his walls rather than killing these great fish.

it all starts at home. set an example to your children so they can carry your ethics on to theirs. all fish are special, not one particular species. good luck.

[CaptainMusky]

The most common reference to being an elitist comes from other muskie fishermen, usually on the internet boards.

Apparently it's supposed to be a slam, but if what I am is an elitist, then I guess people just aren't using the word in the context they think they are, because I'm not offended.

JS

John, no disrespect, but I am completely confused by what you said. I quoted your previous post where you basically scoffed at musky fishermen as elitists and now you say you are one?

It certainly sounded like you took offence to it or at least didnt agree with it to me.

[bobbymalone]

this might be the worst thread I have ever read on this HSOforum.

Shame on all the participants.

[john skarie]

First of all Chief, context of my post and why it was written may be helpful, not to you of course as you apparently didn't understand the thread in the first place if you think that conversation has any application to this topic.

Secondly, I speak for myself and myself only.

Thirdly, I've always enjoyed talking about fishing with others, but actually most of my posts can be found on other topics than fishing on these forums.

Lastly, I must be really bored to even reply to what you wrote.

JS

[john skarie]

Captain;

If "what I am" is considered elitist to others, than I am one and will give no apologies for it. I find it helpful to call people out when they start the elitist talk so I have an idea to what exactly they are refering to.

I think it's funny when the elitist verbage comes out whenever C&R is discussed.

That seems to be the lithmus test for many here on whether you are an elitist or not.

Funny how calling someone a name gives people the impression they are right.

JS

[50inchpig]

creepy. not the first time JS has been (mis)quoted from another thread. not cool then, not cool now. whatever the topic at hand may be, thank God he's on our side.

hats off to you, JS - for always keeping it about the fish.

[MUSKY18]

Chief takes the lead in the "creepy/stalker" post of the week contest.

that is some funny stuff right there!!!!

[Shoot2Kill]

this might be the worst thread I have ever read on this HSOforum.

Shame on all the participants.

What? Shame on all the participants. Please. Tell me what I should be ashamed of in anything I’ve posted.

Until just a little bit ago it was a decent debate that wasn’t too out of control and it’s still not compared to some I’ve seen on this forum – the last post by Chief (I do agree with Cjac…hahaha) was staring to push the envelope but JS handled it well. You ever see the “horn porn” debates that happen each fall in the hunting forums. Wow. This is tame.

The sad thing here is this….we’re not the problem…we’re getting in fights with each other when in all reality; we generally all do feel the same way! It’s the people that DON’T read these forums and care about the resource that we need to be posting for…not each other. If we were all in the same room together we’d most likely all get along just fine, tip some beers back, and tell some hellacious fish stories!

[Tragic_Mishap]

Well said Shoot2Kill

[CaptainMusky]

I think it's funny when the elitist verbage comes out whenever C&R is discussed.

That seems to be the lithmus test for many here on whether you are an elitist or not.

Funny how calling someone a name gives people the impression they are right.

JS

John, if you are referring to me throwing that reference out at all in response to your posts or in response to anything that was posted here that is not what I was getting at. I was NOT calling anyone an elitist, I said these are reasons why musky fishermen are seen/called it. I wasnt calling you one or anyone else here for that matter. I would fall into the same group myself.

I was merely stating the point, how futile it may be, that through all of our education efforts, whether its through organizations like MI, magazines, websites, newspapers, etc Musky fishermen ARE seen as an elitist group to many of the "outsiders" and went on to explain why.

We are in the gross minority when on the water and many other fishermen dont like us. Some of it is brought on by our actions and some is just plain ignorance on their part. Either way its an uphill battle that we always seem to wage to make any headway in getting more waters for muskies in MN.

[CaptainMusky]

The sad thing here is this….we’re not the problem…we’re getting in fights with each other when in all reality; we generally all do feel the same way! It’s the people that DON’T read these forums and care about the resource that we need to be posting for…not each other. If we were all in the same room together we’d most likely all get along just fine, tip some beers back, and tell some hellacious fish stories!

Exactly. The one thing that I have learned about typed responses to something whether it be email or internet posts in forums, how things are typed and interpreted by the reader can be quite different.

As a whole I think everyone agrees with each other in general on conservation of muskies, but sometimes the words dont translate well to type.

I think the only thing that may have gotten a little out of hand here were people flaming this guy when no one but him knows all the facts. From some first hand accounts it doesnt sound like he has a good handle on release tactics based on comments by others here, but stories in print and what really happened are two different things. The magazines and newspapers are in the business to make money from interesting stories.

How many times in the last 5 years have you seen a story on the news about "almost a new state record muskie"? I can think of about a half dozen. One fish was only 52" and skinny as heck. The report said "just 2 inches shy of the current state record". LOL I still laugh about that one because even that wasnt right.

[muskiemanAD]

this might be the worst thread I have ever read on this HSOforum.

Shame on all the participants.

But those political topics you seem to always be in are really a lot better? Give me a break, every topic on this forum has those that agree and don't agree, nothing different than bickering about who's fault it is for the Gov being shutdown!

[john skarie]

Captain;

I wasn't singling anyone out with my elitist comments, or even really caring if they were directed at me.

I find it very interesting that people like to play the elitist and the Peta card when C&R comes up. You know, if you care so much about fish you should just quit fishing and join Peta!!

I love that one.

I do think it's funny that I've never heard another fishermen, meaning a walleye guy, trout guy etc. refer to me or muskie fishermen as elitist. It always happens on a muskie HSOforum.

JS

[HooknHorns]

Forget it, im glad your amused.

[cbrooks]

Captain;

I wasn't singling anyone out with my elitist comments, or even really caring if they were directed at me.

I find it very interesting that people like to play the elitist and the Peta card when C&R comes up. You know, if you care so much about fish you should just quit fishing and join Peta!!

I love that one.

I do think it's funny that I've never heard another fishermen, meaning a walleye guy, trout guy etc. refer to me or muskie fishermen as elitist. It always happens on a muskie HSOforum.

JS

I feel the same John. I just try to avoid topics like this thread because of that exact card gets played sooner or later.

I think the best way and I think Shoottokill said earlier in some form or another. Just try to teach C&R by example instead of lecturing. Not directing that at anyone here.

[Muskiefool]

I let Muskies and Large Pike go not for myself but for others to enjoy, I do things for Muskies and Big Pike that I don't do for other fish simply because I am taken back by them anytime I encounter the fish; Ive seen Muskies change people and help people when they are down and when they just need something to change things around for them.

Ive seen guys say I'm going to keep my first 50, 51, 49, 55; then they get her and I ask did you keep her? and Ive yet to hear one say yes, its always the same. Its not the catch that is so fulfilling but seeing her swim; knowing there's a chance she'll make another person smile.

If this guy wants to incrementally harvest every big fish he catches; he has the right, it doesn't mean I appreciate his effort or that he's right about it for doing so but it does give me inspiration.

If feeling and acting like I do about Muskies and Big makes me (in your eyes) better than you; that's your perception, and maybe its just your conscience telling you to look at the resource in a different way.

If letting a few fish go makes me a bad person I'll be the bad guy.

Its not an unlimited bounty but its not going to go away from one guy, it goes away from the thought that its OK to kill them all if they are big enough.

Heres a true 50# fish swimming away (56X26), much more inspiring to me; how about you.

[HooknHorns]

Cool picture. I dont think youd ever see an arguement about releasing a muskie but i could be wrong.

[RumRiverRat]

All I can say is wow.

Veiled threats and the forcing of ones ethics on another all in one thread.

[CaptainMusky]

All I can say is wow.

Veiled threats and the forcing of ones ethics on another all in one thread.

Became a train wreck in a hurry.

That is an awesome pic. Something we all strive for. It's funny how many people will say they saw a 50# fish follow but few have actually held a true 50# to even know what they are like. It's a very rare beast. I think just the excitement of it all warps perception. I will never forget the first big fish I saw, it made my knees buckle. In fact I didn't even do a figure 8 because it scared the [PoorWordUsage] out of me. Lol

[Tragic_Mishap]

an awesome fish and a super cool picture

[jwmiller33]

That is an AWESOME pic! Congrats on the successful release. What city is that in the background?

[cbrooks]

Just a guess. Lake St Clair- Detroit

[BoxMN]

Just a guess. Lake St Clair- Detroit

That's not a fish, it's a lost Soviet Class sub! Nice