Posts: 723
| I dont think slime removal is that serious of a deal, that is my opinion, but, I know guys see fish with marks on them, the net is a huge culprit of that also, but, I think they can reproduce slime just as fast as it can come off. When I used to kill a lot of northerns in my younger days for eating, mainly icefishing, I would bring them home, and throw them in the basement sink, as I would grab each one, they would be secreting slime like you wouldn't believe. I could take paper towel, and whipe them off to the point of them almost being dry, and they would slime right back up, the slime is their protection yes, but, think about spawning, rubbing on rocks, wood, sand, all those surfaces take slime off just the same, some fish lay tight to bottom, you can see little red dots on them from the sand and gravel, belly scraping the whole way. tell me that doesnt take slime off. slime is made to come off, and be replaced by new slime. You would have fish floating all over the place if they died from slime loss.
Im not saying to go out and love your fish to death with a bear hug.
IM not telling everyone it is ok to lay them down on your carpet and let'em flop. I dont lay fish down for measuring, they all stay in the water until they are ready for a picture, I myself don't hug fish, but don't see a problem with someone who can't hold a large fish straight out in front, huggin them to keep them from doing the crappie flop in the bottom of the boat. that is the big problem, having a fish bonk itself in the bottom of the boat, seen it many a times. and the angler sits with that fish for 10-15 minutes before they finally figure out they should wiggle away.
I really think anglers should stress more concern for when they pull the fish out of the net, trying to support its weight the whole way without stretching their necks out, about 8 years ago, I vertically held a very fat 37" pike by the back of the head , and just the weight of the fish against my fingers on the sides of the gill plate caused them to tear a good inch or so. that fish ended up table fare instead of released like I had wanted,
lots of people say we put muskies up on a pedastal, in most cases we do. but its because they are a resource that isn't as renewable as say sunnies and perch, yes, keeping your fights short, keeping the fish in the water for best releases, unhooking without damaging the fish too bad, not taking 13 pictures with different poses like you just shot and gutted a big buck, all that time out of the water is like me holding your head under water, no different. Keeping the fish healthy for release is our responsibility to our natural resource, we all should practice good cpr techniques. But time and time again, I see more mishandling by who I thought were well educated anglers, guys vertically holding fish while dancing around the boat trying to find their camera, when did this become a forget everything we practiced as soon as the fish hits the net?
Im not pointing any fingers at anyone in particular, so if this gets deleted, well, someone musta felt guilty, but, we all need to do our part to educate individuals we fish with or just talk to about fishing. Keep the ego aside, and help another angler keep our resources around for the next generation to enjoy.
The reason why we are all seeing more fish, bigger fish, is because catch and release has become a thing of the norm, replicas are easy to get, and that fish can continue on spawning. Who don't anglers want to see it get even better? does it feel good to thump a 33 lb fish knowing she could have seen what Tom Gelbs fish aspired to?
Let em go, Let em grow. I hope I don't poorly represent my musky club or anyone takes offense to my post, but Im in C@R musky club, and thats what we do. we help eachother out in sharing proper release techiniques, better ways to hold fish, and best of all, many many release pitures. Not to mention, our club will donate $200 to any angler who catches a 50 or better towards a replica of their choice, hows that for incentive?
Its winter time now, maybe a good time to reflect back on your season, and see if there was something you could have done better to ensure a fishes safety, many of you can't do any better than you already are for releasing fish, Im sure you bark up the same tree to all of your friends and Uncle Steve who grills one every labor day weekend. good job, keep at it.
Its been another long season, and once again, I needed to rant. sorry. |
