My 2 cents (from CL thread)

Kevin and Bryan.  You guys are awesome bass fisherman and awesome to fish/hang with.  But, I disagree a little.  I usually practice catch and release.  Every once in a while, I keep a couple to eat.  If cooked right, LMB are delicious.  I think the government is far from perfect, but I also believe that if LMB ever become endangered or even close, officials will step in with stricter regs in a hearbeat.  One of you said it previously: bass fishing is a huge industry in this country and probably accounts for the majority of the fishing economy, especially in the southern, warmer states.  Keeping fish within regs, whether it is smack dab in the middle of the spawn, or in later months, will probably have little effect on the big picture.  If a spawning female is C&R off the eggs, the eggs will probably be devoured by some blue gill.  Yes, she might make another bed, but there is plenty of bass waiting in line.  I have a feeling that the majority of NCKAers ARE ethical, whether they release or consume.  I have a problem with the fishermen (hardly want to call them that) who are probably not reading anything here.  The ones who line the banks in certain spots, keep everything (beyond limits), leave everything they don't want on the bank including fish they dont want.  Those sorry sacks of...  They need to be educated.  I do appreciate your passion for the sport and the fish.  Whether I disagree with you guys or not, it doesn't change that you two are ambassadors to bass fishing and NCKA.  Thanks

Couple more things: We don't see too many people mentioning catch and release of panfish or catfish etc.  Why?  Because there aren't producing a multi-million dollar industry with tournaments, TV shows, sponsors, etc.

Also: Walleye fishing in the western basin of lake Erie.  The walleye fishery there is unreal.  I have heard people say that the western basin of Erie is one of the healthiest fisheries around.  Don't know if that is a fact or not.  There IS catch and release tournaments there, but there is also a crap load of charter boats, private boats, etc. that go out constantly during the season for one purpose: to limit out on the delicious walleye and yellow perch.  I know that a great lake fishery is a completely different animal to the local reservoir.  Just trying to make a point that a healthy fishery includes catch and filet, within regs of course. 

Not trying to open another can of worms, just some food for thought. 

By the way, I miss fishing the delta with Bryan and Kevin, and miss fishing in NorCal all together.  Hope to make it back sometime.   

I still stand by let er rip!  My version of "I f'ed up a bit by starting something in the wrong area, lets bring it over here".  One of my reasons for my speaking up was to reinforce the fact that there are alot of fisherman who do indeed fish for sport.  Particularly bass fisherman.  It is rewarding enough for me to just catch these fish and continue to get better at it.  Not everyone is looking to put something on the table.  This view is shared by many especially at the center of the bass fishing universe (delta and CL).

Ben, it was fun to fish with you, hope everything is well over in Texas.  You are entitled to your view on C&R, it is cool with me.  My hope is that people would evaluate their catch and treat it differently than rockfish for example.  Hopefully a trophy could be seen as something more that just a sandwich and released for something more fitting to take home.

Thanks sumo for your input and thoughts, I miss fishing with you too.  Not sure where you and I disagree though.  I never said that anyone was unethical because they have a different viewpoint.  I KNOW that nearly everone on NCKA are ethical.  I am not trying to put anyone down by practicing C&R or by promoting it...

Bigfoot, the point of catch and release for me goes beyond just keeping a healthy fish population...the point is to increase the quality of the fishery, meaning the size of the average fish and to increase the chances of that fishery producing a trophy-sized fish...

I am not sure why some people try make it to seem so bad--and sadistic.

HB

  

XSquid - thanks for this discussion. I think it has been informative. Judging from what I have read on this site over the last 5 years, the majority of NCKA practice CNR for LMB and SMB. I have not seen that many on a game clip nor on a dish. Luckily LMB really aren't great table fare even if "cooked properly". As far as being a "meat hunter", which many of us are, as long as you are within the regs and being responsible, no problem with that either, IMO. I don't target bass so our paths probably won't cross but if you do want put some food on the table, feel free to PM me.

Scott (the meat hunter) 

Good story mini ducker...I am a sadistic little devil, aren't I

I get the impression you may have taken this a bit personally. You, nor anyone else shouldn't. The point was not that C&R is bad, the point was that keeping fish is generally not bad either.

I have noticed that when the issue is pressed, ultimately those that advocate C&R somehow feel that they are being cheated by those who keep their fish. In some waterways, this is completely true. In others, it does not apply at all.

Clear lake, for example, has a completely bi-polar socio-economic dynamic to it. On the one hand it is a world class fishery, but it is also located in an economically depressed area. You can easily have one guy who's rod and reel alone cost more that what the guy around the corner makes in a month. Generally speaking, locals that fish there keep what they catch (bass, catfish, crappie, bluegill, even hitch) for sustenance. Visitors for the most part release their catch. Clear Lake to date has not produced the new world record bass, despite speculation to this effect for may decades now. The question you need to answer for yourself is, deep down inside, do you believe that this is because fish are being kept, or perhaps, for reasons unknown, that lake just can't grow one that big?

I never said that anyone was unethical because they have a different viewpoint.  I KNOW that nearly everone on NCKA are ethical.  I am not trying to put anyone down by practicing C&R or by promoting it...

Thank you for those words.  Unfortunately, many CnR fishermen are not as open-minded as yourself.
XSquid's first post displays this pre-conceived notion of mutual exclusivity: "my stance on the love of bass fishing for sport and ethics (not food)"

Personally, I really don't want to get into this.  Arguing about CnR is paramount to arguing about politics/religion - those with set stances rarely change their position and people get worked up for no good reason.  I have no problem with CnR & think it's admirable that some take the health of our natural resources to heart.  Caring about our fisheries... is a great thing.  Talking down to someone who wishes to eat a fish or two... is not.

I never said that anyone was unethical because they have a different viewpoint.  I KNOW that nearly everone on NCKA are ethical.  I am not trying to put anyone down by practicing C&R or by promoting it...

  Arguing about CnR is paramount to arguing about politics/religion - those with set stances rarely change their position and people get worked up for no good reason.  I have no problem with CnR & think it's admirable that some take the health of our natural resources to heart.  Caring about our fisheries... is a great thing.  Talking down to someone who wishes to eat a fish or two... is not.

a lesson i learned and now just enjoy going out, fishing, kayaking and being a part of a family that I LOVE&NEED......theBasscar nation puts WAYYYYYYYY more hurt on THIER fishery than a couple of people do eating muddy fish.....i think EVERYONE learned and will do what is right in the future.

I DO NOW, KEEP A FEW FISH TO ENJOY, after many years of preaching C&R. 
whichREMINDSme,,,,IneedTOpullSOMEoutOFtheFREEZERforTHEweekend!

Thanks sumo for your input and thoughts, I miss fishing with you too.  Not sure where you and I disagree though.  I never said that anyone was unethical because they have a different viewpoint.  I KNOW that nearly everone on NCKA are ethical.  I am not trying to put anyone down by practicing C&R or by promoting it...

Bigfoot, the point of catch and release for me goes beyond just keeping a healthy fish population...the point is to increase the quality of the fishery, meaning the size of the average fish and to increase the chances of that fishery producing a trophy-sized fish...

No, Bryan, you didn't say unethical.  I think it was something Kevin said about keeping a spawning fish.  Sorry Kevin.   My point is this: you catch a double digit bass, and what do you see?  You see a trophy.  Another person catches the same fish and might see another thing: dinner.  I don't think either (again, within reason and following regulations) really hurt the population of fish.  I am not an expert, but I think that the latter might even be helping the population more.  If someone removes a fish from the ecosystem, there are two questions that you can ask: Did the genes of that fish disappear from the fishery, keeping the 'trophy' genes around?  Or, did the removal of that fish allow another fish to thrive?

Why must we judge?  And why must we take sides?

-Allen

I like this thread.  For the most part, everyone has been respectful.  The topic might not ever be agreed upon, but a lot of good opinions are being shared.  like fuzz mentioned, this might equal politics and religion.  We might just have to agree to disagree.  I just wish that more people outside of this community would have the same interest: a healthy population of fish that we can enjoy and share with kids, grandkids, so on.  

In the end, I think we are all on the same page.  We want fish!! Some want trophies, others want edible trophies.  I skunk so many times, anything on the yak is a trophy... good times either way.  

Predators (including fisherman) actually provide an ecological service in maintaining healthy populations.  

Have you ever caught panfish out of a mostly unfished lake or pond that wasn't stocked well with largemouth bass?  The panfish tend to be pretty small there.  Why?  Because of a process known as "density dependent control".  Without the predators (bass or many fishermen) the panfish population explodes and they end up competing with each other for food.  With so much competetion all around, the growth of the panfish is stunted.  However, in a healthy population of panfish, where predators are present, the extra smaller panfish are picked off by the bass and the remaining sunfish are left with less competition for resources (food, nesting grounds, etc..) and they grow to reach much larger size.

So what's my point here?  Well, there is some argument to be made for the role of catch and eat bass fishing.  In many lakes where catch and release is heavily practiced they sometimes suffer from stunted bass populations (similar to my panfish example above).  I know everyone loves a wikipedia link so here you go...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bass_fishing#Population_management

So.. to the occasional bass consumers out there.  Thank you for helping to maintain our healthy populations of large bass*.

Brian

*I still think bass are a noxious invasive species in California, but I do realize their economic importance.

Kind of what I was trying to say, without having the biologist's education.  There was a pond I used to fish as a kid that, before a friend and I found it, was rarely fished.  Every single bass in that pond was exactly the same size.  Of course it was stocked.  No joke, those fish would attack anything and everything we would cast.  spinnerbait, plastics, crankbaits, nightcrawlers, BARE HOOK.  Every cast.  If a predator doesn't step in, there would never ever be a 'trophy' in that pond.  Same with hunting, but that is another can of worms, so to speak, so I won't say anymore.

Why must we judge?  And why must we take sides?

There is a line in the sand that I think this thread brought up.  I find it interesting because in the bass community most people (myself included) are polarized one direction.  This surprises some here and is a reason that I started making comments.  If anything, maybe some folks now know another side of the story.

Caring about our fisheries... is a great thing.  Talking down to someone who wishes to eat a fish or two... is not.  

This is well said.  I guess for me it ultimately depends on the specific actions of the angler.

 I don't wish to split hairs on theory of catch vs keep and impact, etc.  It can go on forever, and I really don't think the water we are talking about needs intervention to help out the population.  

As hard as it may be to understand, not all fishing communities look at a stringer of fish the same way.  My point is evaluate, decide and know.  

Interesting stories here... You guys are hardcore!  i don't really fish for bass, but... One thing we all have in common and what makes me most proud about being a kayak angler is our low carbon emisions and less long term damage on the water/environment...  Something we can all be proud of Something we should all be concerned about.