Good Spring Weekend on the River

[Bullkllr]

Agreed on the importance of quick fight-quick release!. And I never said I wasn't happy for you guys. I try to maintain a high level of respect, even when discussing legality and ethics. Keep in mind this is the internet, and gray facts are bound to create suppositions that flow like water. You have a very optimistic view of what constitutes spring around here if you call the 1st week of February "Spring". 

[7mmfan]

The other thread mentioned the proper way to release fish. He also mentioned there is no hurry to release a fish floating in the net. Go ahead and let him rest. Come on. No one talked about that little tidbit. If you are going to hurry to land a fish that has to be released and not fully play it out as mentioned why would you not release it in the same speedy time frame.

So decades of successful broodstock programs where fish are placed in aerated fish holds is different than a fish in a net in water how? If you're not using a good knotless net maybe. Otherwise, it's the same thing.

Get Some, you are right. Pictures are a very poor way for people to judge a situation. We don't know the backstory, we don't know how long the fish was out of the water, we don't know what kind of hooks you were using, etc... There are to many unknowns. If you tell me that the fish were taken good care of and released in good condition, then I'm probably going to believe you.

The point trying to be made here is that an apparently illegal action was made by lifting multiple wild fish out of the water. That was clear as day in the pictures. There are people that come to these sites to browse around and try to learn a little about steelhead fishing and when they see pictures of fish after fish being held high out of the water, they think its ok. Those guys could end up killing fish accidently. or get a ticket for doing what they assumed was ok.

How many years before I was born that you were catching steelhead has absolutely nothing to do with this situation. Its about the resource, and our opportunity to continue using it, not YOU. The more it gets abused (or apparently since we honestly don't have all the facts), the more likely it is that our opportunities to use it will go away. If you fish as much as you do, and catch as many steelhead as you say you do, and apparently love the sport like the rest of us, then I'm sure you can get behind that ideal.

[Bullkllr]

Clarity is good! 

[Come Get Some]

7MMfan,

  I agree. There is a diplomatic way to ask questions and deliver information. If it would have been done that way there may not have been a problem. There are alot of viewers looking for fault and information to learn from as well as question. No different than a guy using the 2 hen mallards to fill his limit. Although the regulations allow it some do not feel it should be so. Individual preference come in to play when all the facts are not known.
 Many times you see a fish played out laying in a net belly up , although not dead I do not believe it is the proper way to handle a fish that needs to be released quickly and un efffected. The condition of my gear is far less important than the life or condition of the fish. I was making a point as to critisizm of a thread. I am sure you do not let a belly up fish set in the net for 10 minutes while you re-tie , bait up , wash your net and hands. Just making a point as to the negative comments flying around without knowing all of the facts. I see alot of threads on here from beginners and expierenced sportsman that could be commented on both in a  positive or negative way. I choose not to rain on a guys parade because he may of quoted something wrong or been misunderstood. Until you walk in someone elses shoes or live the path they are leading at that time it is not for us to judge their behavior. I agree it is sometimes necessary to point out the blatent activities to help educate those who do not know. When there is more times than not grey area involved, Be DIPLOMATIC. It will get better results and more respect for your own opinion.

[7mmfan]

Fair enough and I think we're seeing eye to eye now.

I will admit that I get pretty fired up over this subject because its so close to my heart and the memories I've made pursuing these fish with my Dad all my life. I will make a concerted effort in the future to be a little more diplomatic and less confrontational.

I also agree on your observation of my suggestion on letting a fish rest in the net. I can see how without further explanation, it could be misunderstood by some who would let a fish sit belly up and die, not knowing any different. I'll make an adjustment to that so its clearer.

[Come Get Some]

Perfect, I am not hard to get along with. But I can be picky, stubborn and out spoken.

  Thanks

  See you on the river

  Jim

[Bullkllr]

One more comment

I finally thought of a good analogy for this thread- one that I think is more accurate than your "2 hen mallards" example  Get Some (which is a purely ethical- as opposed to ethical and legally questionable):

Say I post a picture on this site. I'm holding a dead spike mule deer. Lying across the torso of the deer is a
Ruger 10/22. I post it right after opening weekend of deer season in Eastern Washington. The title of the thread is "Opening Day Success". In the thread I say we went "east of the mountains". Would it not be fair to say it would draw some ethical and/or legal concerns from the members of this site? I think it extremely naive to think otherwise.
Then it might come out later that, oh yeah- it was awhile ago when spikes were legal. Oh yeah- we didn't shoot it with the 22- it just happened to be lying there...

...Get my drift...?

Edit: And as experienced as you are, I agree  you had to have known this would get attention of one kind or another. So be careful what you wish for; as far as keeping all comments positive or via pm- I think that ship sailed with your original post.

[tmike]

Well then maybe I didn't see you on the river. If nothing else threads like these will at least make people think about how they handle fish before they release them. Hopefully!

[HuntandFish]

Come get some, if you are the experienced fisherman you claim, you obviously posted these pics to get the attention that it did. Kinda strange to act like that wasn't the intent Allot of us on here are diehard steelhead fisherman and want to support what little of a fishery we have left, and try to do what is right regardless of the "Indian" rules...

I am glad you had a good day on the water, where is the pic of the 26lb fish? That's what we would really like to see! Or is the pic of that one with your buddy holding it by the gills 

Regards,
H&F

[Come Get Some]

One more comment

I finally thought of a good analogy for this thread- one that I think is more accurate than your "2 hen mallards" example  Get Some (which is a purely ethical- as opposed to ethical and legally questionable):

Say I post a picture on this site. I'm holding a spike mule deer. Lying across the torso of the deer is a
Ruger 10/22. I post it right after opening weekend of deer season in Eastern Washington. The title of the thread is "Opening Day Success". In the thread I say we went "east of the mountains". Would it not be fair to say it would draw some ethical and/or legal concerns from the members of this site?
Then it might come out later that, oh yeah- it was awhile ago when spikes were legal. Oh yeah- we didn't shoot it with the 22- it just happened to be lying there...

Get my drift...?

  No I do not, Your analogy is in my opinion quite diffferent. These fish were not in a fish box or gutted and there is no hook and release on mule deer. I see your point but I do consider February early spring. For years it was the first nice month of the year. Always sunny and cold. Winter has definately turned in the northwest by Middle of Feb.

[Taco280AI]

Nice fish