Deal or No Deal

[Surface Tension]

"The world is always changing. 30 yrs ago we thought we had the answer, we may think selective harvest is the answer now, but what will we be doing in 30 yrs from now?"

You'll have to trust that the DNR is capable of managing the fisheries though fish limits and slots.

"How is discussing a trade off between C&R fishing for an "imaginary" world class fishery playing into the hands of PETA?"

Anti organizations take you rights and privileges away by chizzling at them a little at a time. The last thing we need is to divide ourselves as Sportsmen on this issue.

"IMO C&R would not in itself create that great fishery. It was a meant as a fun question. Would you make the deal?"

No DEAL

"Why can we not have a fun discussion here?"

A discussion about loosing the privileges to harvest fish is about as "fun" as a funeral for me and think its potentially dangerous.

"Who said anything about changing heritages and traditions? My grandfathers and friends "traditions" were to fill the basket, bring em home and go out and fill it again."

That would be against the law then as it is now, the legal harvest of fish isn't. Your right, there has been change in attitudes between the generations. Your grandfather kept everything for the table. Still in your grandfathers time there were seasons and limits that were adjusted to protect the fisheries. Today fish managers have a better handle on fish management. I'm confident the regulations we have today along with promotion of selective harvest will continue to protect fish.

Special interest groups that are the minority have a way and are know to make changes our DNR would otherwise not endorse. Whether they be PETA or total C&R Anglers, those groups more then often don't reflect the majority but their effectiveness in lobbing gets them results. Its no secret

Sportsmen are the worst for taking action and standing up for their rights and privileges. That is why I take this hard stand toward the Deal or No Deal. Your intension's may have been just for fun but the possible outcome could be drastic.

[LMITOUT]

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lol with a name like limit out I have a hard time believing you dont like to take home a few for the table once in a while.

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It's just a name that I chose long ago to reflect the fact that I love to fish. In fact, I C&R 98% of the fish I catch as I don't have the hunger for fish like others do. Early in the season when the water is cool is when fish are best to keep so I might keep a couple here and there, but after that it's all throw backs. Fresh fish are always best so very few ever hit the freezer in my house. I'm out for the big ones for the sport of it, hence the reason I chose "Deal". I suppose it could get boring catching world class fish everytime out though.......nah!

[DTro]

"A discussion about loosing the privileges to harvest fish is about as "fun" as a funeral for me and think its potentially dangerous."

If it's not fun, you could "choose" not to participate.

Also, isn't it a little hypocritical to totally support the DNR regs when every year, our " harvest right" IS being chipped away little by little? How many times can you say that the limit was raised or the slot was opened....not many, I'm sure.

If you don't think C&R works, look at the Musky fishery. The musky organizations have worked hard to produce an awesome quality of fish. It's all in people's perceptions, I betchya a 30" musky tastes just as good as a 30" pike, but perception is to not eat the musky, and now look at the pike fishery.....abismal.

I pretty sure we are on the same side on this one, but there was no need to turn this into a political argument. Just a fun little game.

Go ahead, now move it to the "appropriate" **foghorn** forum or just delete it altogether......

I'm going fishing

[efgh]

No Deal, If I want a meal of fish I find the time to go fishing, if I get skunked I don;t run to Cubs or any where else to buy fish, those fish are dead for may be 2 or three months, its fresh fish or none for me.

[eyehead]

No Deal, sure I love to catch big fish but nothing beats some fresh walleye or sunfish yyuuumm

[Surface Tension]

Dtro,

Hey your bobbers up. Now thats fun.

[MedicDan]

I'll go with this. I had thoughts on it, I see it both ways. I see opposing arguements, and people for it, I am more 50/50, I'll stay neutral.

[Bobby Bass]

No Deal, got to earn your dues, catching small fish is what makes a big fish a big deal. I also enjoy fish as a meal.

[hanson]

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catching small fish is what makes a big fish a big deal.

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Now there is a quote that I have to agree with!!

Catching a 10lb walleye on your local recreational lake in the summer is way more satisfying than catching a 10lb walleye out of Mille Lacs. If we're talking about having a world class fishing lake that anybody and their brother can go to and catch trophy class fish over and over again, we already have one in Upper Red Lake and that lake has brought out the best and worst attitudes in many people. Pure greed and disregard for others also comes to mind.

I will agree that the DNR and us anglers are going to have to adapt and change as the sport of fishing becomes more advanced and technology takes over.

[slick814]

No deal... not in my lifetime

Can't even bring myself to believe that anyone would give up the right to choose to keep a few when they so desired. As far as the "World Class Fishery" goes... not sure what you mean... if it means catching nothing but trophy sized fish, time after time after time? Believe it or not, boys, it would get a bit boring. After a while, they aren't trophy fish to you anymore. If you don't believe me, think of it this way. As you've grown older and (hopefully) become a better fisherman, hasn't your idea of what a "big" fish is changed? Why? Because when you were a kid, the 13" Walleye you caught looked big to you. The 5 lb.'er looked big as you got a bit older & more successful. Now, if it's not a solid 10 lbs., it's not a trophy fish...

Kind of like the NASCAR drivers are always saying. "Yeah, 190 MPH is fast, but when everyone else around you is going that speed, it doesn't seem so fast anymore."

It's a relative thing, you catch all 10 lb. Walleye & Largemouths, then you have to loook for a 20 to be a trophy. After a while, it just becomes another fish, because there are limits to how big they can get.

If you mean being able to catch fish on a consistent basis, having days where you can catch 30+ fish in a day, depending on species, etc.? Well, we've already got those, you just need to find them and put some time on the water in.

So again, no deal, no way, no how, not in my lifetime....

[Slyster]

Lets not get negative. I love these topics and so do most of you.. they are interesting and active.

Seems there are two types of people emerging in this thread.

1- Those who like to FISH.

2- Those who like to EAT fish.

(Of course we are all a mixture of those both of those things.) Is it simply more of a matter of how tastey people want their food?

I C&R because I like to FISH! Sometimes people seem to treat fishing like a trip to the local market.. I'd think that it would become more like a chore and not as enjoyable. I fish because it's fun.. not to feed the family.

So.. two different philosophies... 1- fish for food. 2- fish for experience.

Of course eveyone has both but some lean more to the left or right.

Here's is why I like to fish- something I wrote in the panfish forum a while back- "... the warm sunshine.. the cold cooler.. the sounds.. the equipment.. the quiet Minn-Kota motor.. the rocking boat.. the sights- especially cruising near forested shores or even near the beautiful homes (although the ski boats and jetskis stink)... fishing is really just a fraction of the whole experience."

[jerkin'm]

No deal...even though ,as stated by most, I eat very few fish, I want the option to be able to keep a few. I would be in favor of making some of the "experimental lakes", catch and release only. I don't think every single lake needs to be harvested. Catching giant gills and crappies is a blast for all and easily done if the lake is treated properly. The dnr is on the right track with the experimental lakes but unfortunately the fish grow and so do the crowds. In the area I fish there is a couple lakes where the fish grew but so did the angler pressure and greed. Lowering the limit doesn't help if the crowds go through the roof on news of a good bite. Would it kill us to have a couple catch and release only lakes? And maybe have an artificial lure rule as well...I think dtro poses an interesting question and should not be getting the bashing for just posing a hypothetical situation..my .02

[DTro]

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Dtro,

Hey your bobbers up.

Now thats fun.

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I am a cat man......what is this bobber thing you refer to?

Does it click or glow in the dark?

[Dennis Steele]

I don't think the original question mentioned anything about this being a state wide situation. Its an open ended question that could pertain to only one body of water.

Assuming that a C&R regulation would produce trophy class fishing,(not saying that it does or would on every body of water) I would say DEAL.

I get more out of catching fish that I do in keeping fish.

I would also prefer to catch larger fish than smaller fish.

Now this is not to say that I don't enjoy keeping fish or that I am against it. Anyone who knows me, knows I love a good fish fry!

I also have faith in DNR fisheries management, but realize that they manage the fisheries for different purposes.

Some bodies of water are managed for trophy class fishing and some are managed for catch and keep.

[Joe's Kid]

As a former president might say, it depends on what the definition of world class fishing is. Is it a limit of eating size walleye or crappie? Oops, sorry. No eating allowed. OK, let me start over. Is it a big ol' salmon to throw on the grill? Dang, sorry. Is it a gunnysack full of bullheads to roll in cornmeal an... DOOHH! Pickled northern mmmmmm. Smoked carp, sunfish chips, a delicious bass, blackened catfish,perch strips omigosh, I gotta go.

Sorry, no deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeel!

[Slyster]

Again.. all about taste and the mouth. What about the sport?

[Joe's Kid]

Ah, Slyster, as you said in your previous post, let's not get negative.(I mean me,too.) I was just trying to inject a bit of levity. I should have made it more clear. Sorry.

Seriously, I do enjoy just standing in a river or sitting in a boat waving a stick. The morning fog, the sounds of birds, the smell of a cedar, the red spots on a brown trout, the incredible colors of a pumpkinseed, all those things create memories and give me peace in an all too busy world. I also enjoy a good meal of fish once in a while and see no problem with that as long as I'm within the law. I bring home a catch to eat once or twice a year and I fish a lot. 99.5% of my fishing is C&R. I have no sympathy for poachers or people who otherwise abuse their privileges, but I don't see eating a fish and the sport of catching it as being mutually exclusive. Please forgive me if I misunderstood you. I don't want an argument like we see all too often on other message boards. I just want to understand other's points of view. That's why I like this forum. Everyone has an opinion and people still get along pretty well here.

As far as the sport of it goes, we all draw the line somewhere. I have lines that I won't cross for personal reasons because to me it wouldn't be "sporting", but I have no problem with someone else crossing them as long as they are within the law. OK, I'm rambling now. I gotta be be at the landing at 8. G'night.

[Slyster]

Good post! Sorry if I sounded negative there I didn't mean too. Just thinking about the various philosophies and the WHY's of the subject... it's all very interesting. I don't have any problems with people keeping fish.. don't get me wrong.. that's everyones right.

[DEADhead]

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Also, isn't it a little hypocritical to totally support the DNR regs when every year, our " harvest right" IS being chipped away little by little?

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That comment is just inappropriate and displays an utter disregard for responsible management of our fisheries.

[HutchBucks]

Are you off your rocker asking a question like that?

You've been indoors WAAAAAAAAY too much...get back out on the water!

[gunflint]

Slyster,

I don't think anyone here that is not taking the deal is talking about keeping every fish that they catch. It's a matter of keeping your options open. If fishing were all C&R then all gut hooked fish would have to be tossed back. In my opinion, releasing a fish that you know will not survive is not very responsible sportsmanship.

It seems to me the impression is that if you aren't a C&R only fisherman you must be keeping every fish you catch. This is not true. Although I will concede that there are a few cultures where limits and sportsmanship are not a concern I believe that those "fisherman/criminals" are the exception and not the rule.

[LoonASea]

I think EDUCATION would be a better option then putting more restrictions on our ability to keep some of our renewable recources ...all to often I have read about anglers getting caught with several fish over their limits (some are imigrants..some are ignorant) ...Those of us who fish on a regular basis have a respect for this recourse as the time we spend on the water has educated us as to how precious this renewable recourse is....I believe that we as avid fisherpersons are not the problem ...but those who want the most bang for their buck,,, who fish a few times a year create more of a problem ...Just My observation

Randoid

[The Grebe]

No deal...I like having the option of catching fish for the table....for me it's more in the hunt and the challenge of the actual fishing and the different auras that surround it. And sometimes even catching!

I can find enjoyment on a nice summer day, catching hand sized crappies, on a calm Minnesota lake, or bouncing around on a wind swept Mille Lacs, trying to catch a walleye. There are very few times that I don't thouroughly enjoyed myself, in one sense, or another, when I've gone fishing. I like to fish....I like to catch and occassionally, I like to eat em!

I really don't enjoy catching fish back to back, one right after another, I like to work for em, use my equipment, my knowledge, my physical self, be out there for awhile and enjoy myself. The challenge, the hunt.

I believe that if there was no harvest, it would be pretty much boring, because there would be no challenge, just go out there and do it, the fish would be there....you wouldn't even have to hunt around for em, every niche would be filled.

If a person is in it just for the fight, they could always go down to the river with corn, or a chunk of inexpensive chicken liver and catch Carp and Catfish that will give all the fight a guy could want sometimes!

Just think of all the savings in gas, travel time, bait, equipment...you wouldn't need all the gadgets, or even a boat.

Nah, it would be no deal....I like doing it the way I do it!

[porterhouse]

No deal!! I release about 95% of my catch. I keep a few crappies in the spring.

Every angler should be able to keep their catch. As long that angler follows the law!!

Some anglers like to eat everything they catch and don't release anything.

I love my Dad but he drives me nuts. He likes to keep anything that he has caught. He is old school and in his day everybody keep everything.

As for World Class Fishery?

I think I'm pretty lucky!!!!!!!!!! I live in the metro and we have outstanding fishing. You can catch trophy Walleye, Bass,Pike,Tiger muskie,and Pure Muskie in the metro. So many options to fish in the cities.

Good luck

Brian

[Desperado]

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Pickled northern mmmmmm.

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Yep !!!

And you haven't even mentioned Musky, yummy yummy