Cpr?

[Stump Bumper]

Though I've only caught a few Flatheads over 20 pounds, I would be inclined to turn any over 30 pounds loose. I believe Big Fish make Big Fish. I can truefully say that I only keep what will be eaten. Any fish is a precious resource that should not be wasted....Ray

[cattracker16]

Ya know it reallly depends on the body of water your fishin. not that i catch anything over 20 lbs but it does matter

[troutrageous1]

I always practice Catch & Release (freshwater), the photo part too if I remember to bring my camera. Maybe I'd change my mind if I targeted catfish like so many of you guys do. I do try not to be one that preaches Catch & Release though. Different strokes for different folks. I will admit it bothers me if I see someone with a stringer full of trout that's clearly exceeded the limit. That's just not right for anybody - fellow anglers, or the fish.

Saltwater is a different story. If it's legal to keep (& edible), it's getting eaten.

[zim-cat]

i know there are alot of fish out there but local ponds and lakes just aint as good as they use to be. do to people not folowing the rules.makes you wonder what will be let in future. Me i just keep enough to have a couple of meals.

[dipper69_2000]

i never keep fish over 15 pounds unless in a tourey of course.to me they just taste bad.but i don't care either way if oters keep cats of that size it is there right.

[CrappieKeith]

If you want a great fishery ...letting those bigger fish go will help it get better.
Eat those smaller fish as much as you can in my opinion.
They have firmer meat and taste better.

[highrider]

Anymore almost everything goes back after a picture! The only fish i bring home is bluegill, perch, walleye. The walleye get released if they are over 3# they start getting the fishy taste that the wife doesn't like,Plus a walleye that size can produce twice as many eggs as a small 18" good eatin walleye!!! The perch and bluegill, the bigger the better!!!!!!!
Rich

[TDawgNOk]

I CPR, but most of the time the release is into lake crisco after a quick fillet and then covering it up nicely with cornmeal and flour.

However, I've decided to go ahead and release any I catch over 25 lbs
How did I come to that number? I just picked it.

I've eaten catfish 60+ lbs, if it is cleaned and taken care of then prepared properly, you can't tell the differance in a 60 lber or a 5 lber

[Nightfisher]

I'm just too dam lazy to clean a fish. lol. I keep a couple striper a year. Everything else gets released.

[Rainman4u2]

I tend to keep the 2-4 lb range for eating with channel cats. My wife caught an 8 lb channel last year, and after a couple of pics, he went back in. In my opinion, for the lake we were at, he/she (didn't check) was the big one, and needed to stay alive. If we had caught 4 two lb fish, they would have been filleted.

On the other hand, the flattie in my avitar tasted great!!!!

Ray

[Illinoisgiller]

I knew there were lots of stories and rumors floating around ,but wasn't sure catfish even got over 8 lbs. :confused0024: Sure couldn't prove it by my stringers. lol

[Illinoisgiller]

Doggone capt. , That is a long dry spell for you and Mrs. Sue to get off the cats. I'm bettin you will be terrorizing them come ice out.:party0011:
The most cat fun I had this year was getting a couple in the tree tops in 25 ft. water from a float tube on a 7'2" Outlaw light rod and 1/80 oz. Grizzly jig tied on a #10 fly hook tipped with two wax worms. They were both barely hooked in the front lip skin, and was quite a fight for a bit even for 3 to 4 pound cats. Mike

[GOT_A_Fish]

Another reason I like this sight,

I been elsewhere where this question would have become a political debate of the worst proportions, mud slinging out the ying yang..... But here people give their opinion and don't judge that is a great thing, Why yes I keep fish and I have kept some big fish. one has to also remember fish do get "OLD" and die naturally and keeping some big fish can be ok. Biologically speeking when an animal reaches a certian age they as individuals reproduce less if at alll there is a range where the best reproduction happens and there are a ton of enviromental factors that contribute to that range. I think keeping fish today may be in some cases be more benificial than allways practicing CPR. I also agree that CPR is a nice and some times necessary enviromental decesion and will keep many fisheries healthy in years to come "IF MANAGED PROPERLY"! Everyone who purchases a the proper "TAGS" has a right within the confines of the regulations/laws to do what they want as well they should. But learning more about the resourse we use and enjoy so much should also be a goal to strive for. I don't want to get perachey hopefully I haven't already and if I have I appologize. I would hope this little soap box I climbed on isn't taken the wrong way, I just wanted to say a few things here hopefully not to be taken the wrong way.... Also by learning a little more about this wounderful resource we all use will not only help it to become better in the future it will also make you a better fisherman or woman......:happy0030:

[troutrageous1]

Soupy - I think he more or less said - If'n you buy the pig - aint nobodys right to tell you to keep it as a pet or make bbq outta it. (Except the Missus) If your gonna let the ol' feller in the house, recon best to put down newspaper first though.:icon_biggrin:

[goofy]

We do CPR channels five pounds and above, and all flats that we catch.