Walleye vs. Bass concerning C&R

[Slyster]

With the bass crowd who hang out here.. we are 'mostly' catch and release.. and that not just for bass.. is this true with the walleye crowd as well?... or are they the "keep em all" crowd like everyone was the good ol' days?

I am just amazed the hubbub of the 'opener'... when bass openwe isn't for TWO weeks after that!... that's the REAL opener for me!

[Eric Wettschreck]

I don't really consider myself part of any particular species crowd. I keep a few walleyes for the dinner plate, and throw some of them back. I toss bass back but that's just cuz I really don't like the way they taste.

[Daze Off]

I mostly just toss those "trash" fish up on the bank for the racoons...

j/k

Daze Off

[Slyster]

I just wonder.. those hoards of peope who will crowd all the lakes next weekend.. do they generally keep their limits or are most out for the sport.. i.e. C&R?

[Scott M]

Food fish. That's why the state stocks fifty kajillion walleye. A few are trophy hunting, most are going out to say they did it, but most are after them for the table on opener.

Bass and walleye are too opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to how they are viewed by the public, particularly at certain lengths.

[tearin' lips]

I fish alot of walleyes, and while most people keep them for the plate there are ample amounts of anglers that are just out there for the catch. Rainy Lake is becoming one of the premier walleye destinations in the world and we are having more people than ever come through my bait shop asking what to do to C&R a few monster eyes. Though walleye will all ways be fish for the frypan, I have a feeling we are going to see more C&R of walleyes in the future.

[Slyster]

I actually prefer Northern (filleted boneless) to walleye!... Am I alone in this adventure? I feel they NEED to be thinned out a bit from lakes.. unlike Walleye and Bass.

Nothing like a 2-3Lb pike!

I don't ever eat bass.. and I let walleye go as well if I get one by accident. I do always keep one meal of crappie each spring.

My BIGGEST thing is I HATE cleaning fish!

My brother prefers smallmouth bass to ANY other MN fish!

How many of you eat bass? I don't think they are worth keeping for the table.

[RobertELee]

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I actually prefer Northern (filleted boneless) to walleye!... Am I alone in this adventure? I feel they NEED to be thinned out a bit from lakes.. unlike Walleye and Bass.

Nothing like a 2-3Lb pike!

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You are not alone at all on that Sly. I too only keep northern, because they do taste awesome, easy to catch, and do need to be thinned out of some lakes. I have talked to many people who agree with me on this.

[Ralph Wiggum]

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I actually prefer Northern (filleted boneless) to walleye!... Am I alone in this adventure? I feel they NEED to be thinned out a bit from lakes.. unlike Walleye and Bass.

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I would argue that more than a few lakes need to have the bass thinned out a bit. Lots and lots of small bass competing for food out there.

As a general practice, I let 99% of the bass I catch go. With my folks, we usually keep some for the table. They are very tasty out of the crystal clear lake we get them out of.

I don't fish for eyes much, but when I do, I eat all but the big ones.

Pike are tasty, but the bones are a PIA. I haven't eaten one in a while, but I need to keep more of them! They're great!

[Slyster]

Even though I hate cleaning fish.. I DO know how to fillet pike boneless.. I doubt I could explain it here though.. but they are great to that way.

Although.. I still I hate cleaning them.. and then hate the smelly garbage can after days in the hot sun... so I won't keep more then 3 or 4 meals per summer.

Someone suggested to bury the leftovers.. not a bad idea! I will try this.. probably would be good for our yard!

[Ralph Wiggum]

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Although.. I still I hate cleaning them.. and then hate the smelly garbage can after days in the hot sun... so I won't keep more then 3 or 4 meals per summer.

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Wrap them in a plastic bag from the grocery store and throw them in the freezer until garbage day.

[TurnUpTheFishing]

I dont think you can peg all walleye fishermen as meat hogs. Almost all hardcore bass guys release their fish. I think most hardcore walleye guys practice strict selective harvest or keep a few when they want, not limit every chance.

[Slyster]

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Wrap them in a plastic bag from the grocery store and throw them in the freezer until garbage day.

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That's a great idea!

I can imagine that on 'opener day' (the real opener is Bass opener of course) that millions of Walleyes will be harvested... I can't believe how built up the Walleye 'opener' is on the news and there is so LITTLE mention of the opener for Bass. Aren't Bass the REAL fish for freshwater angling? Just take a look on EPSN and any of the many fishing shows!

I don't think I have EVER seen a Walleye tourney with sponsors and all the big guns present. Once in a great while I will see a Lindners on Walleyes.. but very rarely.

[Deitz Dittrich]

The PWT is alive and well... walleye fishing and tournaments are not as popular as bass, but there are still plenty of them out there!

I harvest a few Walleye each year.. but for the most part Catch and release them as well... I mainly keep panfish for the table.

[Mike Steckelberg]

I agree deitz most the fish i keep for the table are panfish..but i will keep one or two meals a year of walleyes and bass and northern...I also will keep a few meals of 1-2lbs catfish for meals also

[jwhjr]

I'll generally keep 1 or 2 meals of walleye a year, a couple of meals of crappie in the winter and maybe 1 2# or so northern a year. Everything else goes back to fight another day. I can't remember ever keeping a bass.

[fishin58]

Going back to the freezing of the scraps... my dad has practiced this method.. with varied results, he has taken out some delicious perch... only to come home later to a thawed ball of goo. Gross, mark your bags and throw the correct ones!