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| I have always been an advid catch and rease fisherman for the potentially "Trophy" species. I recently moved back onto Pewaukee Lake and admire the instilled ethic of catch and release all the "Skunk Hollow" neighbors have. I lived 600yds down the shore with my College buddies in the mid 70's. That was before the movie, "Animal House." I moved back into this same Buena Vista, and after a few weeks tried my luck. I had to buy a $100.00 Fenwick "pool que" from Becky's and borrow the appropriate reel from a neighbor. About two casts into my newly found past time I caught a 36", beautifully colored Musky, took one quick pic and released it. No gullet involved, and a good clean release. First, have I harmed that fish ? About three days ago and one cast into it, I land an awesome 45" beat-up old soldier of a Musky. It had swollowd the quick-set into it's gullet. As best we could, my neighbor and I performed an emergency treble hook removal by quickly as possible, cutting the barbs. Second, and sadly, have I harmed that fish ? Will it become one of those monster headed snake bodied emeciated past trophys unable to eat, dieing a slow but sure death ? I often wonder now if it was the right thing for me . . . . . . . . . to.. put it in my freezer to be mounted. I've been fishing my whole life. I'm 57 years old and I am NOT a Musky fisherman. Remember, I didn't even own any Musky slaying equipment. When my grandfather, rest his soul, taught me the outdoors, only the poor hunted and fished and it was eaten, shared as God's bounty. I only wanted to put this trophy on my wall and not feel the guilt none of these "sportsmen" must never feel as they release one more to die this sorry death. What has Greed and Selfishness done to our Tradition my fellow sportsmen ? What ? I like Walleye, Pearch, Gills, and even White Bass and Crappie, a lot. Back in those 70's Pewaukee Lake always provided a bounty of these species. In number and size. I certainly hope as I begin the ice fishing season I so enjoyed in the 70's, that I find this resource unaffected by what this abundance of Musky's may have caused. | |
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| Agree, this is a bizarre post. What's the thesis? Are you suggesting that quick-strike rigs are detrimental to the fishery? Are you suggesting that the muskies are eating all your food fish? By the way, what is a pearch? Is that a pear-cheese hybrid? What is this "tradition" you speak of? Harvesting fish to put food on the table? This can be done with all of the fish you mention, but to many not with muskie (even you admit that you are an "advid catch and rease fisherman for the potentially 'Trophy' species").
Lots of muskie fishermen I know LOVE to ice fish for gills, crappie, perch, walleye, etc. most of which make it back home to the frying pan. Look forward to hearing your response. | |
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Posts: 8781
| Not sure what you're asking... But muskies typically eat all the "garbage fish" that prey on game fish eggs, so if there's anything hurting the perch, white bass, walleye, etc. populations, it's most likely your fellow anglers. Overharvest... If you fish for muskies long enough, you're going to kill a few. If you release them, they've got a chance, and you just never know if they will survive or not. If not? Well, they provide food for turtles, crayfish and other scavengers. I suppose you could eat a legal muskie, but I can't imagine that would be a healthy choice with all the mercury and PCB's that have likely built up in it's tissues.
Lastly? Well, if you were fishing in the 70's, you probably will be pleasantly surprised at the quality of fishing these days. Eating everything you catch, like we all did back then? Makes for some tough fishing, especially when the DNR is underfunded and under staffed, and most stocking efforts rely on private donations to private clubs.
Did you kill a muskie? Maybe. Maybe is better than dead in the freezer. | |
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| Yes, the 70's were awesome dude. Sorry you missed it. I was eating a peach when I erched out a pearch. see I guess my thesis here is that :deve is it OK to kill a Musky to mount on my wall ? | |
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| wow..... a :deve | |
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Posts: 553
Location: 15 miles east of Lake Kinkaid | "Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul. "
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| MuskyMATT7 - 12/13/2011 12:46 PM
"Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul. "
Ok, a simple wrong would have done just fine... | |
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Posts: 20218
Location: oswego, il | I hunted and fished in the 70's and we were not poor. Average middle class family. I did not know of any poor people who hunted or fished. Sportsman as you call them evolved from the practices of our fathers and grandfathers. Is that greed? Not hardly, releasing a fish for others to catch is less greedy than to keep it for oneself.
Edited by ToddM 12/13/2011 3:33 PM
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| Thanks to all who replied, even the fun ones. As members of "Our Lady of the Lakes" church may we enjoy our Sundays and everyday on the Water. | |
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Posts: 1425
Location: St. Lawrence River | muskymatt7 was simply quoting from the movie billy madison, dont take it the wrong way. good movie!! | |
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| The first one you released was probably fine. The second would probably die by spring if not sooner, unless by some miracle you managed to remove the hook cleanly. As you learned, live bait fishing can be extremely dangerous for the fish. If you are going to do it, you need to learn how. Quick strike is just that. I have never harmed a musky using lures, but I have accidently gut hooked them when I first started sucker fishing. It's not a good feeling. If it troubles you, then you must either stop doing it, or learn how. Many of the guys on here will be happy to give you tips, but it's up to you to make use of it and apply them. I am a little unclear about whether you kept the fish or not. Are you saying people are selfish and greedy for pressuring you to release a fish that will die because they want more muskies? I guess I get that....sort of. People are selfish and greedy by nature. It's a survival instinct. If that's your point, then "judgemental" is a better word. "Selfish and greedy" is confusing and not the best choice of words. Are musky fishermen judgemental? LOL! You betcha! But only because they are passionate about their hobby and the fish. The catch and release ethic is one of the best things about the sport. I agree with you that people stick their head in the sand about whether a gut hooked fish will live or not. They like to pretend that the hook will dissolve etc. Studies show that they just simply die. All species, all the time. I hope you kept the fish. To me, it is the responsible thing to do, and I applaud you for standing up to any ridicule you might have recieved for doing so. You kept it for the right reasons. Lastly, I doubt there are as many muskies as your early success would seem to imply. They aren't THAT plentiful. Also, as was mentioned earlier, the thing that wipes out a sportfishing resource is overharvest like people did in the 70's and following decades. The only people I ever see chucking fish back down a hole are on In-Fisherman. Personally, I think that's fine too, as long as people aren't "hoggish" which all sportsmen have witnessed at some point. The states will restock them in most instances. Just make sure the finger is pointed in the right direction when there aren't any crappies or perch of any size left, not at another fish species because it's easier than pointing it ourselves. | |
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Posts: 14
Location: minnesota | The very first sport fisherman was a guy who went fishing when he didn't have to! | |
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| hfbf - 1/5/2012 10:11 PM
The very first sport fisherman was a guy who went fishing when he didn't have to!
And by definition, we're ALL selfish and greedy. We fish for fun. And we risk killing the fish we release, that we have caught for no other reason than our own amusement. When we harvest fish, we're taking fish out of the system that we do not NEED to eat. We're taking them out for our enjoyment and eating pleasure. When we preach about catch and release, and jump all over this or that person over a poor release? Selfish and greedy. Sure, there is a conservation mindset, and nobody is thrilled when a fish dies. But if we all cares as much as we pretend to when we lambast someone else? Well, we'd either fish without hooks on our lures, or just stop fishing entirely.
But you know what? I happen to enjoy fishing. So fish I will. And when I make every effort to release a fish safely? I will continue to tell myself it's for the benefit of the fishery and the future of angling. That's a benefit for sure. But I'm not going to pretend that it's also not so it can get bigger and so I can hopefully catch it again some day.
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Catch and Release