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MN Bass Harvesting


MurkyWaters

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If you haven't noticed, there has been some heated discussion going on (in ice fishing forum) about gifting fish, excess harvesting, and harvesting ethics. My question for you is do you frown upon ANY AMOUNT of Bass harvesting? Would you support zero tolerance of bass harvesting? Do you feel bass harvesting in Minnesota is at a problematic level? Any comments?

Personally, I don't keep ANY bass because I feel there are better tasting fish to catch and I have immense respect for the species as a sport fish. Many bass fishermen view bass harvesting as sacreligious and they get really worked up about it. Others view it as any other fish and keep as many as they can.

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I have no problem at all with someone harvesting bass if it is done with "selective harvest" in mind. Actually, in some bodies of water I feel it may be beneficial to the size and health of the bass population if people kept more bass under 15 inches or so.

I am a multi-species agler, but I do consider myself to be most into bass fishing. Throughout the year I don't keep many of any species, but I do on occasion cause I really like fish. However, I don't feel that I treat bass with anything more special than I would walleyes, northerns, panfish and others.

Also I haven't eaten largemouth in a little while, but when I did I don't remember it tasting a whole lot different than the crappies I had with it.

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If we somehow passed a rule right now making it illegal to keep bass, our bass fishery would be hurt. Over population would cause stunted growth. I've seen it happen on farm ponds many times.

I like to see selective harvest, but know that is not what happens with the meat hunters. Just like the tournament guys, a lot of the meat hunters want the biggest fish. With almost any fish, the bigger is not better in taste. I'd sure like to see folks take those 12 - 14 inchers home for suppoer rather than a 4 lber. But it's their right.

For those taking too many fish, whole different story and we all have the same feeling I'm sure.

Personally, I'm not a fish eater. Maybe 3 or 4 times a year. Just dont' care for it that much. And when I do eat it, I want Walleye, Crappie or something along those lines. So I never keep a bass just cuz I don't like to eat them.

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I'm with Fluke on this one... Selective harvest is healthy for a fishes population.

I can think of a few lakes that dont have a very good bass population, but I dont think it has much to do with over harvest...

Catch and release lakes do work well..But at the same time, I think its important that some fish are taken each year to keep the poulation at bay.

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Selective harvest, and education are the key on this. I know of lakes where some anglers have taken home stringers of 3lb+ bass........ouch. Now if those guys would just take some sub 14" fish, that is good for the population.

But on another note, at least in our MN lakes I am completely AGAINST keeping Smallies.

But I know some of those canadian lakes, that's the majority of the fish and I understand keeping them for the shorelunch if that's all you can really catch and the like.

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Agreed. Some harvest of bass is not a bad thing. I think if you are going to eat them, the 10"-14" are probably the best to eat.

I am not much on keeping any fish for eating once the water temperature breaks 65 degrees. However, little bass through the ice are pretty good eats.

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I'll only keep a bass if it is "gut hooked". It's unfortunate but I'd guess I take home 5-10 bass a year. You know the ones that inhale your bait and either get it in the gills or down in the gullet.

IMO if the fish is going to die anyway you are doing no harm in frying it up.

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BigGrassBass,

You are correct on that one. I wasn't taking that into account. But on that side usually there are enough Eagles/Ospreys around that they will be having a fresh bass meal if the Bucket/quart mouth dies..

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I would agree with you guys. Taking some of those 12 inches out doesn't hurt anything. I don't like it when I see big bass coming out of the lake though. I fish a couple lakes that are catch and release for bass and they are great, but they are catch and release for northerns too so I think some of the big gators are eating some of the 12" and smaller bass to keep them under control.

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I don't keep any bass anymore (or very few), but used to as my mother loved to eat them. Believe it or not, they were her favorite fish to eat.

But, when we did keep them they were between 1 - 2 pounds tops. Nothing huge.

If a bass is hooked deep, I will keep it. They are not as hardy as other fish and normally will not live.

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I will occasionally keep a few. My grandma prefers bass over anything else, so I will keep a few and call her up for a special treat fish fry. 99% of my bass are released though, and usually keep only 5-10 a year. Like others have said, right after opener for about 2 weeks, or through the ice would be the best time to keep a few if you want to, as they don't taste as good from hot water IMO.

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I personally dont keep bass, but the experts are good at there jobs now if they feel a fisheries is in trouble or needs help they will change the regulations but the current regulations are designed for a heathly fishery and that is the number one concern in the biologists minds

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SO REFRESHING to read your guys' comments!

I was submerged in bass fishing and tournaments some years ago and the mentality of zero harvest was that there was no other option.

I've kept a few since those days in the sub-2 1/2 pound category. I still can't imagine why I would want 6 in a day though. They taste alright.

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There used to be a time when lots of people kept bass. Back then you know what you called a bass under 17 inches? Breakfast. Today that catch and release mantra has really caught on. I think guys like Ray Scott and the culture of bass fishing has completely changed how bass are viewed. Pretty sweeping changes for species like bass and muskellunge in the last 30-40 years. Now if only you could get walleye, panfish, and pike anglers to do the same....I'm not saying there is anything wrong with eating fish every now and then, we all do it, but those species clearly don't have the release rates that bass do, and the size structure doesn't follow suit for a reason.

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