C&R Ice fishing?

[Dylan33]

Does ANYONE practice catch and release while ice fishing?

I don't ice fish much, and I don't want to start any fights or get anyone mad, BUT why is it that during open water season C&R seems to be practiced more than in the winter?

Like I said, I don't get out much, but when I do, it seems that everyone I talk to feels like they have to keep every fish that is cleanable.

Am I missing something, why won't people release a few fish in the winter?

[EBass]

I put them back 99% of the time in summer/winter. Took 1 walleye this year. Actually Brandon took it, but I caught it. I also bought the conservation lic so I only get 1/2 a limit any ways.

[MinnGuy]

I only keep a couple keepers, if that. The rest go back unless physically damaged.

[GatorBait]

I am a huge believer in only taking what I'm going to eat. I don't stock my freezer with a possession limit. Never have, though I know many that do. If I'm not going to eat them within the next day or two, they go back in the hole. Pretty conservative way for me to do it. I love catching them, but I'm not eating them for every meal either.

I'm very big with C&R with northern pike, I'll keep one or two 8-12lb'ers and pickle them which gives me enough for the year, the rest get a picture of fame and send back home to swim again.

[Eric_Kruger]

Im 99 percent C&R, Halloween weekend every year I do a cabin trip with the guys and will keep a limit (I have the conservation Lisc = 3 eyes). but other than that i send em all back

[mww24]

I catch and release just about every fish. The only ones I keep are the ones my boy wants to eat that he catches. he decides to throw more back than keep. I'm hopefully teaching him to take what we can eat only like stated above. I don't have a problem with people keeping limits.It's there choice as sportsman to keep whats legal if they so chose. I've seen the size of fish go down on some C&R only lakes. More fish need more food so sometimes harvest helps the size.

[Dylan33]

wow...it's good to see and hear that some people practice C&R as well.

and I know it's just a matter of time before I get ripped by someone who says "if it is legal, they can keep whatever they want and mind your own business"

For the record, I am not ripping anyone, I just wish more people let more fish go. That is all..

[CJH]

Does ANYONE practice catch and release while ice fishing?

Yes. I C&R 99% of the time as well. I keep some walleye/sauger from my yearly trip up to LOW and maybe keep some pannies once in the spring/summer if we have a get together. That's it. Don't need or want a freezer full of fish.

My friends are the same way. We don't need to fill a bucket every time we are out, that's not why we go.

[Lost Cause]

I'm mostly catch and release. I bass, northern, and muskie fish almost 90% of the time in the summer for the sport of it. And in the winter fish primarily panfish and only ever keep a few. Keep walleyes in the "eater size" range every time I get them though, which is only a handful of times all year. I also buy the conservation license so my limit isn't ever much.

[amateurfishing]

i have practiced strict release so far this year as i have been skunked in all 3 trips to the ice so far

[Lost Cause]

I'm having nearly the same type of season, caught two 3inch perch last outing.

[eyebjim]

I practice catch and release most of the time winter or summer. In winter every one and his uncle can get onto the ice. In the summer you need a boat. I think that may have something to do with it. in other words there are just a lot more people fishing on ice an many have not been educated on the need for C&R.

Personally I have a lot more fun catching fish and watching them swim down the hole knowing I do not have to clean them later.

[CAMAN]

I C&R 99% of the time also, both summer and winter. I just hate cleaning fish and the only time I keep anything is if my uncle or someone who doesn't get out much wants some. But they will clean them, and I will usually help eat them.

[KrabbyPatties]

I keep more fish in the winter than I do in the summer. There are quite a few reasons for this:

- Fish keep better in the winter. In the summer, it can be a race to get home and clean them before they start to spoil. In winter, you don't have to make any special effort to keep them fresh or clean them the instant you pull in the driveway. (Also, the remains freeze up in the outside trash can and don't present the problems they do in summer.)

- In summer, I feel like I can target "big" fish more easily. I'll fish just to hear the birds sing, smell fresh air, and see if I can catch a huge bass, northern, or walleye. In winter, the action is overall slower, so I target panfish, which I consider better eating, especially in winter.

- For me personally, a group of friends and I like to have a big Superbowl fish fry, so I'll keep fish leading up to that (within the legal limits, of course) to contribute to the fun.

So, I don't keep many fish in the summer but am not ashamed to bring some fish home in winter. I do, however, practice selective harvest. I'll opt to keep smaller bluegills, perch, crappies, or bass (I've even been known to keep a rock bass or two since they're so unwanted around here) and return the larger fish to keep the best stock in the lake. Doesn't really affect the amount of meat I get much, but the smaller fish are a somewhat bigger pain to clean.

[LMITOUT]

I put them back 99% of the time in summer/winter.

Same here.

[WhiskeyPete]

I catch and release ALL year. I also attempt to limit-out on walleye every trip I make to Lake of the Woods. I LOVE EATING WALLEYE!!

I don't keep the "dinks". I don't overstock my freezer. All the fish I keep get eaten. I donate fish to friends/family who don't have the opportunity to fish but don't want to pay $13/pound at the store either.

Do whatever you feel is right for your situation. If you don't waste, you are conserving.

[mainbutter]

I've kept a grand total of 2 crappies and one walleye this entire year.. walleye from summer, crappies from this past monday.

[KrabbyPatties]

Am I missing something, why won't people release a few fish in the winter?

Well, a fair portion of them (the fish ) have been speared.

[Pleasant]

I normally do not keep more then one Pike for my father in law to eat, he loves to eat fish and is not physically able to fish anymore. The rest go back in the lake summer and winter.

[simple1]

I only keep what I can eat, but I C&R bigger fish and don't keep many crappie. I prefer to keep gills and 1 or 2 walleye if I'm lucky enough. Also, most of the time the fish I catch are eaten the next day. But I agree, too many people catch their limit of all kinds of fish, and while this is fine, I wish people would practice better fish management.

[NKLCOLT1911]

i 99% c&r i fish for sport i dont even like to eat fish,the only time ill keep any is if im fishing with someone who wants the fish then ill give them the ones i catch.

[Nilsfisher]

I always C&R 99% of the time. there is only one time a year when I keep some fish and I only keep about 2 of them. I like to see the fish get bigger for next year, as long as someone doesn't keep everything they catch. I know some guys that say "if I'm going to spent the time on the ice, I want something to show for it." I always give then [PoorWordUsage]. the couple times a year I fish with them, I pretty much make them throw the fish back after pictures.

[KrabbyPatties]

"if I'm going to spent the time on the ice, I want something to show for it." I always give then [PoorWordUsage].

Fishing didn't start as a recreational persuit. The first fishers ONLY went fishing to have something to show for it.

[BDiss]

i will keep my limits and that's if i am lucky enough to get a limit and only when i go on fishing trips (more than 2 hours from home and spending the night). if i was just to go out to fish on a regular day, i usually don't take any home. i live in the metro and fish around the metro more often then any other and have probably taken fish home once a year and those are never limits.

[pathogen]

I am CR about 90% of the time. When I do keep fish, I generally keep the smaller ones as it takes the resource much less time to replace a small fish than a large one. And I do enjoy catching (and releasing) large fish.