In response to the recent rhetoric on the muskie boards regarding CPR, Trophy muskies and conservation ethics...

I guided from 1974 to 1999 quite a bit, and mostly for muskie. The number of muskies kept in my boat in that timeframe one could count on one's fingers.

Bottom line, after working for almost 30 years promoting CPR, I have learned what works and what doesn't.

Belittling, admonishing, or flat rude behavior doesn't get it educating Muskie anglers any more than it does students. Want to alinenate them, then that's the right course to take. For every ONE you alineate, there will be another ten who listen to his story and agree. Negative is more easily reinforced than positive, unfortunately.

I do eat fish, alot of it. I don't operate under any notions that the fish I eat don't impact the fishery, they do, and the waters I fish for my table fare are managed by our DNR for that purpose. Care to take no more than one can consume from waters that easily support that selective harvest; that's is conservation.

I don't want anyone other than those who manage the fishery to tell me I can't take a few crappies or gills or a Pike home. I hunt, fish, and do a bit of gathering too. To those who live in the concrete and steel; I don't ever expect you to understand, but I also do not seek your permission. I will do my best to educate, in fact I'll even offer you a stay at the Hideout for a venison steak on the grill and a crappie fillet next to an omelet. I am a sportsman, and outdoorsman, and a conservationalist; I know what is good for the waters I fish and woods I hunt and what isn't, and practice accordingly.

My sons follow my lead, and their sons will follow theirs. We practice a tradition that has been handed down from sportsman to sportsman for centuries, and we do not need any lectures from those who have not had that incredible luxury about selective harvest; we are proud lifetime promoters of the legacy of that concept. Those who DO need the lectures, need to hear the positives, need to be offered a place in the boat or blind so they can experience the ethic we hold as trophy anglers and hunters.

I do feel there are waters across the Muskie range that should be listed 100% CPR. Some need a 50" limit or more to protect the trophy potential allowing the muskies to reach full potential so us CPR elitists can then exploit those fish for our sport (that's reality, right?). I applauded the move to 54" on many Ontario waters, and the change from 6 a day to 4 a day with slots limits for the 'other' game fish.

So don't preach to me about conservation. I suggest you don't 'preach' to anyone, you will come off as a 'preacher' of a 'religion' that many anglers do not share or understand. Instead, why not use that energy to support and organize programs to up the size limits on muskie waters where that is appropriate, encourage CPR in waters where that too is appropriate, and exhibit patient humility as we try to educate anglers who do not yet share our views; yet have as much a right to the waters and fish within them as we do.

Well said! I grew up in the country in Southern Illinois and still live in the country down here. I got a Ground Hog living under my shed and I am torn between killing and eating it, or letting it live. Not many around becouse of all the Coyotes. Roast Ground Hog sure is good. I'll be putting guts out and killing Coyotes this winter, might just eat them too. Thats the country way. I'm not here to make friends, I have four or five of them, and I'm not here to tell people what to do as long as it is within the law. Come down to Kinkaid this winter and we'll catch some Muskies and kill some Beavers and eat them. The Red Man