Hypothetical

[spinner]

A worm angler goes out targeting trout to eat.
The limit in Wisconsin is 3 trout.
A good worm guy can catch 3 keepers in 20 minutes.
He keeps his 3 and maybe another one is gut hooked and dies after release.
The worm guy is feeding his family with those 3 trout.

A fly angler that is a strict Catch and Release guy.
He fishes for 8 hours and catches maybe 70 trout.
The mortality rate for trout caught on flies is a standard 3-5 percent.
So lets say the strict c/r guy kills 3.5 trout during his outing.

Those rates are almost the same.

Who eats the strict c/r guy's trout?
coons and turtles and insects.

[Timotha7]

That has always been something I have taken issue with as well--

Also, that 3 to 5% mortality rate is probably for fish that have been properly
handled and released correctly, or I would imagine the rate can go even higher

Another thing to consider, bag limits are set by Fisheries Biologists based on
what they believe the population of fish will support, (which IMO is very frequently
overkill, because "sport fishing=money" and they tend to overpopulate waters
based on that theory)

Throwing back every fish you catch as opposed to harvesting them is not necessarily
a "Good thing"

Tim

[Rainman4u2]

But, if the insects don't eat, what will the trout eat later???

I understand the theory, and I'm guilty of releasing an injured fish. But if that injured fish can help support a habitat I'm ok with it.

What I hate is seeing people catch a fish, and just throw it on the shore because "It's to small" or "We don't want them in here".

Ray

[spinner]

i see it every day.

Those dang worm have such a high mortality rate for their trout.

those spinners with trebled hooks are awful.

AT least those demons are eating their trout....

[spinner]

Originally Posted by Rainman4u2

But, if the insects don't eat, what will the trout eat later???

I understand the theory, and I'm guilty of releasing an injured fish. But if that injured fish can help support a habitat I'm ok with it.

What I hate is seeing people catch a fish, and just throw it on the shore because "It's to small" or "We don't want them in here".

Ray

would take ONLY ONE time that person would throw a trout up on shore with me.

Our outing would be DONE and i would ream the IDIOT verbally the rest of the way back to the car and i would advertise to ALL friends to NOT take the FOOL.

[troutrageous1]

I like the hypothetical, but I don't think either is more "just."

I would argue that even the folks that that are catching to eat are not fishing because they can't put food on the table otherwise.

In both scenarios, fishing serves as recreation, and fish die. As long as you are being respectful of the resource to minimize your "footprint" so someone else can use it in the future you're fine by me.

Unfortunately worm dunkers get a bad reputation because of those folks that do abuse creel limits and/or litter the banks with empty plastic bait tubs, etc...

Personally, I fish barbless hooks no matter what I'm using - spinner, fly, doesn't matter. I'd like to think it helps for the fish I release...but I have no proof.

[spinner]

i agree 100 percent.

[Rainman4u2]

Originally Posted by spinner

would take ONLY ONE time that person would throw a trout up on shore with me.

Our outing would be DONE and i would ream the IDIOT verbally the rest of the way back to the car and i would advertise to ALL friends to NOT take the FOOL.

Agreed! We were out one day and watching guys catch ring perch in a lake known for crappie. They were tossing the fish on the shore, must have been about 6 of them in 5 min. I asked why, and they said they were "junk" fish. I couldn't believe it! I asked them to give the "Junk" fish to me, and I ended with a great meal.

I understand your delima. Especially with a resource like the one you have in your area. I could not fathom a trout being thrown on the shore.

I wonder what is the irresponsibiity of the angler using a bobber?

Failed reaction time?

Or just not paying attention to what they are doing that causes this to happen? I know from pan fishing that if you let them "play with it" you run the risk of a swallowed hook.

Are they just not caring enough to realize what they are doing to a great and wonderful resource?

Ray

[Mickey and Jim]

Since it's Hypothetical and no chance of getting arrested I would stock my freezer.

[ho_shi]

i'd stock mine too, no wasting here, if its ediable its eadible, BUT if the freezers full they go back, i dont keep everything but i do keep a fair share. and whats in the freezer does NOT get wasted