something i learned today......

[jeepster]

normally, when i am out on the boat, when we get a salmon hooked up to the gear, we fight it and if it is a keeper, regardless of size, we bonk it and toss it in the hold.....

today on the river, finally getting into some fish, and seeing others catch fish ranging from 5lbs all the way to 40 lbs.... it really changed my perspective on things when i saw people release the larger fish, despite color....

kudos to those who let the big ones go on to make more salmon...

i myself relased something in the range of 35lbs... while it might be less meat in the freezer, those genes will hopefully make it up to the spawning grounds so we will have big salmon in the future.... even though they might get caught farther up river, its still nice to know that the big ones still have a chance....

[swanny]

Good for you, it's awesome that not all people have to keep everything they see.

I to released a good 8lb native silver over the weekend. First fish of they year for me, but we decided it was best to let that one go on.

[boneaddict]

Welcome to catch and release.  Its pretty much how I fish these days.  Its carrying over to hunting as well.  it feels good to let something walk.

[jeepster]

Welcome to catch and release.....Its carrying over to hunting as well.....

what do you do? shoot it with a tranq gun and go get a quick photo op?  lol...


seriously though.... ive been fishing as long as i could hold a rod... i used to shake my head at the catch and relase theory, i used to think, "catch and release is for yuppy tree huggers" "if i tossed one back, i can keep on fishing for one bigger" but now... its "if i toss this fish back, its going to carry on and make more fish...." i never gave it a seccond thought or anything, and i dont want to start sounding self righteous or soft or anything, but growing up in an area where salmon are just simply part of our culture, and growing up on the native beliefs and legends about the salmon... it has really changed my perspective... ive worked on conservation projects before releasing smolts and managing eggs in a small hatchery, i guess it just extremely rewarding seeing the entire process from start to finnish.... hard to let an amazing fish, that has survived with the entire foodchain working against it for many years, to fall victim to a 8' graphite stick some string and a curved piece of metal some jerk attatched to it... unless its the first one of the year and its all chrome

i filled my freezer with salmon for the winter already, i have 2 for the smoker, so i really dont have any reason to keep any more fish (unless i get a good coho)... i do know of some people who could use the meat for thier fridge however.... i guess this is a real-life experiance in ethics...

[swanny]

Its carrying over to hunting as well.  it feels good to let something walk.

You sound like my dad. He would rather hike to find a her of elk or whatever and watch them all day anymore. He still comes along on the hunt and has no problem helping pack one out. Completely respectable, just getting out and seeing anything in the woods is about as good as it gets. Watching a bear roam a shore line/hillside or a herd graze through a meadow, just something peaceful about it that not many people get to see.

[quadrafire]

Maybe it is a generational shift?
I have mostly been a catch and release fisherman. My dad, when I was a kid couldn't believe I would "let one go". He kept everything he would catch if it was legal.
I guess I was just too lazy to clean them all. Honestly, I think that is what started my catch and release mind frame, now its more ingrained in me.
I will occasionally keep a few

[Fishhog]

I think it is a generational thing. Back in the "Good ol days", there were plenty of fish around. Nowadays, there are less fish and we need to be concerned about the future.
I rarely take fish home, unless it's a hatchery fish. Even then I sometimes let them carry on. It's not about numbers in the box!!!

Just how I roll 

[jeepster]

a full freezer is important to me, just because these are hard times and things are expensive these days........

but i do not believe in excess.... i NEVER take beyond what I, or what i can give to others in need.... once my freezer is full, i help fill others, but nothing ever goes to waste.... my uncle is full native and even hides go to him for tribal use, whether it be drums or cermonial items....

consevration is the only way we will ever have things the way they were 50 years ago... im only 22... but i try to teach my beliefs to others.... i dont hesitate to set a hook or pull a trigger, but, there has to be ethics and morals behind it... i hate catching a fish "just cuz" or shooting a deer just because it has a big rack.... and thats not the stuff they preaches in hunters saftey....

ive developed my own beliefs on my own, im the only person im my familly who fishes/hunts.... i guess im just a voice of my generation... but to be honnest, it feels way better knowing i can make a differance than to have personal benifet....

[fishcrazy]

jeepster

Kris

[Jburke]

I also catch and release most of the time.  People think I'm crazy sometimes, but I don't eat much fish so why keep everything I catch if it's just going to waste?  About the only thing I'm going to keep is salmon or steelhead anymore.  On a side note, I'd like to point out that you are a great example of how a few bad apples can make the whole group look bad.  There's always a huge debate about the tribes taking more than they are going to use and wasting animals, etc.  Just goes to show you that you cant judge a person by the actions of their peers.  Respectful people like you have an uphill battle because of a few people.   

[PolarBear]

Good job!  I'm a C&R guy myself.  I see a lot of people these days practicing "fillet and release"!

[GEARHEAD]

i caught and released two deer this year, sleping bucks. but i think i regret it now. i also believe in letting fish go so others may catch it. so... wheres that fishing spot again?