23.5 Inch Bass...

[Swimmer]

What would you have done? Fishing with the wife this past weekend using 1" Rapalas and slaying the Craps and Blue-gills. We could see some large Carp swimming around, so when her ultra-light started screaming, I figured she had snagged one of these beasts. After a prolonged struggle, my jaw dropped when I saw the creature was the largest bass I have ever seen. With an out of season fish, I always figured the ethical thing to do would be a quick boat-side release. Long story short, we couldn't resist a very quick photo and loving release. It was a State record fish and you know where I will be fishin this Fall! Ok, maybe you don't know where...sorry.

[Ralph Wiggum]

I would have taken a picture. As long as you make it quick, I don't see any harm in a snapshot or two. They're pretty resiliant. We caught a few smallies this weekend while sucker fishing, and I got pictures. They all swam off just fine.

[SomethingFishy*]

Can we see a pic?

[Worst Kid]

yeah lets see the pic!

[musky hunter]

Technically and under the strictes interpretations of the law, it might not be legal to take the snap and measure the fish, as it does say that any out of season fish caught must be immediatly released, and taking the time to possess it while taking the picture is verboten. I've heard rumor of CO's issuing warnings when out of season sturgeon were caught and photo'd. But.......I'd have done the same thing. As long as you were indeed getting some crappies, I see no problem at all. You'll never know just how big that bass was. Congrats on a lifetime catch.

[NEANGLER]

Now your wife can get a reproduction of the big ol girl and you can sneak out without her next time to try and catch her again. Congrats, let see a Pic.

[gunflint]

I would have taken the photo but I would not post it on the internet. Unless you want an in depth discussion with a CO.

[Ralph Wiggum]

Quote:

---

I would have taken the photo but I would not post it on the internet. Unless you want an in depth discussion with a CO.

---

I totally agree.

[Redline]

Some of you guys act as if he committed a huge felony. Nothing wrong with snapping a fast photo and sharing it. Lets see it!

[nofishfisherman]

If you read the regs on the issue you are supposed to return the fish immediately. Which would mean no pictures. BUT... I think we would all take a picture and then let it go. I don't think anyone here is critcising them for there actions in fact I think most said they would do the same thing.

I also doubt there is much of a problem with showing the picture here. I don't think a CO is going to track you down based off your picture to scold you for taking a picture of a fish out of season.

[Zaraspooks]

nofishfisherman -

Don't know if that is exactly true. I think I remember seeing something about a woman with her picture in the Pioneer Press sports page. She was holding a nice 20" smallie while standing on shore in front of a boat on a trailer. Problem is, it stated that the fish was caught in Mille Lacs. According to the regs, "all less than 21" must be immediately released." Not sure how much trouble she got in but I think the DNR did track her down.

[rundrave]

a year or 2 ago, wasnt there a guy that posted a pic on this site, of what he thought was a nice northern, but it was really a muskie and it was just under 40", and there was some controversy with that as well

[nofishfisherman]

Well, maybe I would be wrong then. Seems pretty innocent to be but then again I'm not the one enforcing the rules.

Better be safe then sorry I suppose.

[Redline]

Quote:

---

nofishfisherman -

Don't know if that is exactly true. I think I remember seeing something about a woman with her picture in the Pioneer Press sports page. She was holding a nice 20" smallie while standing on shore in front of a boat on a trailer. Problem is, it stated that the fish was caught in Mille Lacs. According to the regs, "all less than 21" must be immediately released." Not sure how much trouble she got in but I think the DNR did track her down.

---

Bringing the fish to shore might be a problem, but he didn't do that. Bringing the fish to shore would mean you put it in your boat, if wasn't caught shore fishing. Also, this is no the Press.

[Desperado]

Jeesh how tough can it be

post it in the photo sharing forum

just don't give any gory details

The lady on Mille (20" smallie) and the guy on White Bear (39" northern "ahem, musky") shot themselves in the foot by listing the size.

You don't want to list the date, so don't mention the date.

How 'bout this for a caption?

"Caught during bass season on a body of water where it is legal to photgraph a fish of this size"

[Swimmer]

As for the picture...kind of a story there too. Forgot the digital camera again...probly the only reason we caught the fish! . We did have an old disposable sitting in the "cutty" covered with sun tan oil. SO a quick snap and cross the fingers we did. Walgreens refused to develop the camera/film, but Proex did. So we have "proof" of the fish. Length measurement, but no girth. I estimate the girth to just more than the State record of 18" due to her pregnant status. I would love to post the picture, but Gunflint may have a valid point. The picture is of poor quality also with lines and bubbles accross the pic...but the fish size is evident and one can barely determine her coloring. We are not so "proud" of this catch since it came out of season and in a spawning (pre-spawn) situation. That being said, we are strongly inclined to have a reproduction made.? Any advice on a real artist? I like Fittante out of Wisconsin but you have to wait about a year due to his popularity.

[DTro]

If you look hard enough here, you can find a nice pic of a walleye that was caught crappie fishing

[Worst Kid]

just post the pic. I dont think a CO is going to go through all the trouble to track you down on the internet. Plus if its not dated its not proof you caught it out of season.

[TurnUpTheFishing]

Awsome fish, especailly catching it on ultra light gear! You shouldnt feel guilty for taking a pic or two. Also, whats not to be proud about? Thats an awsome catch.

Forget about fall if you want a better picture go back on the bass opener and fish the area, Im guessing thats the general area she'll be spawning in if she has already started hanging out there.

[bigb56303]

very nice fish, now unless it says no taking of pics in black and white then i see no problems you have to land the fish anyway so a couple of extra seconds isnt gonna make a difference, you didnt keep it or put it in a live well ect.. people need to ralax about this it was a great fish and i bet there isnt one person that uses this site that wouldnt take a pic of this fish. very good post a pic it would be great just dont have to go in to detail about the wheres and when

[hanson]

Swimmer-

You can't win can ya? I would have photographed that fish too. I guess if they wanted to cite me, go ahead. Small price to pay to have a photo of the fish of a lifetime.

[Deitz Dittrich]

In an earlier post it was brough up about a fish caught on Mille Lacs and a fish on WBL... I dont remember the story of the WBL muskie but I do remember the Mille Lacs smallie.. her problem was that she kept it to be mounted and it was undersized..

[Swimmer]

Quote:

---

Awsome fish, especailly catching it on ultra light gear! You shouldnt feel guilty for taking a pic or two. Also, whats not to be proud about? Thats an awsome catch.

Forget about fall if you want a better picture go back on the bass opener and fish the area, Im guessing thats the general area she'll be spawning in if she has already started hanging out there.

---

Thanks for the cudos. But the old lady did catch it...with a bit of "advice" from the old man. We used a lip grabber and kept her out of the water until the camera was ready...so she was out of her element for only about 20 seconds. Oh yea, my thought about waiting till Fall to catch her again, is that it is great to let her get her genetics on this Spring at least for one more season . There is something about taking a spawning fish off her bed that grates on me. By fishing for her in the Fall, she would be fattening up for the Winter and also putting on eggs. Then she would be a legit State record and I wouldn't have taken her off her bed. It is unfortunate that the State doesn't support a catch and release record system. Then a guy (person) could hold her in the live-well and have a DNR guy weigh her on a certified scale and presto, she lives to fight again. We release basically all fish, but a record fish must? be kept.

[Quickstrike]

If you are looking to get a replica made I would suggest considering artistic anglers out of superior, WI. I am in no way affiliated with them, I have just seen some of their work and they are the best replicas I've seen hands down. It would be tough not to take a picture of that fish, who knows if you'll ever catch a Bass that big again. I know that I surely won't.

[NEANGLER]

I am suprised that MN does not have a Master Angler Catch and Release program - it is a great asset. I believe many a fish has been let go here in NE since you can turn your catch in with the length of the fish as long as you have a witness or a pic with measurements and you go on the books/HSOforum and get a certificate of your catch. Nice thing is their is no limit on C&R master angler fish but there is for kept fish. Might be something that MN DNR takes a look at - could promote a better fishery in the future - who knows! I just caught a MA Crappie over the weekend that went 15.25" and got a pic and a witness and now she swims free to spawn and be caught another day. Will get my certificate in a couple of weeks. Dont feel bad, from what you have said you handled that fish better than a lot of other fish that have been weighed, measured, numerous pics taken then finally released being out of the water for a couple of minutes IN SEASON. Don't feel bad and good luck with the replica.