I don’t think I can say I agree with Kooty and still sleep at night so I just won’t 
Ohh, a little birdy told me Kwak is going Sturgeon Excursion with us this year, so I am sure I will meet you there, just don’t call me a snob, there are so many other adjectives used to describe me, but snob really doesn’t fit.
But if there is green beer 
Now that I had a chance to read your post Koots…I’m not against taking of paddle fish where legal. I used that picture as an example. I could have found a pickup truck box full of cats or a stringer full of fat prespawn walleyes or even the 20 inch bass being cleaned..same point.
It’s all legal and guess what, I’m going to say it’s ethical. Ethical to the person that’s keeping them and that’s what counts to that person…not what you or I think they should do.
Pug to your point, I am in total agreement with you. However, a person keeping there limit of big fish, I would guess is not. To them, they aren’t doing anything wrong (otherwise they wouldn’t be keeping them-right?)
Again I ask…It’s legal. Why should it bother someone (me) that is hundreds of miles away…and might not know anything about the fish?
PS Mr Kwackhead…how ya feeling today. Been there…done that. 
cat snobs… that’s a new one.
Well, I guess once we start seeing threads about sealing cork… 
Don’t think there’s any right or wrong answers here…someone mentioned noodling. There’s a “sport” that I could really go on a rant about. But if someone wants to stick their hand into a nasty, dark crevice go right aheead! And, when they come home with a colorful nickname like “stubby”, don’t blame me! 
Shawn
Quote:
cat snobs… that’s a new one.
This thread could take a whole new 
direction!
I better get to bed before the FW comes over and unplugs the computer again.
My .02
Alot of thought goes into fishing seasons and limits each year in every state. Alot of things are considered. I’m sure that the health of the fishery is top of the list. Other things to consider is economic impact of any changes made, tourism impact, cost and probably many more variables. Including the fact that not everyone will be keeping a limit of fish and that a small percentage may keep a limit of fish every time out. This is all part of the equation.
With that said, I think that most laws in effect do a pretty good job of maintaing a fishery. Hey, nobody is perfect. Except BK of coarse 
. I have the same feeling when someone makes a decision to keep fish that the DNR is trying to discourage us from taking. Ultimately we still need to rely heavily on the DNR to make these decisions for us because not all of us are capable of making the RIGHT decision.
I think that there are some people that actually rely partially on what they catch to feed their family. This is probably rare but I don’t have any problem with that.
Quote:
I CANNOT BELEIVE THE STUPID PEOPLE OUT THERE!! OOOPS I’M SORRY, DID I HURT YOUR FEELINGS?
I think he forgot about the Bass Snobs 
I CANT STAND THOSE GUYS.(oops I hit caps lock)
With their spinner baits, and jig and pigs and Bass Boats. They are the real snobs, they even have a boat named after the fish they catch… 
Quote:
A lot of thought goes into fishing seasons and limits each year in every state. Alot of things are considered. I’m sure that the health of the fishery is top of the list.
I don’t think that’s the case so much in IL…our DNR has been reluctant to implement any statewide limits on catfish. Don’t know if it’s pressure from commercial fishing interest, setliners, or what. I had conversations with them about this a few times, and the general response was “well, the populations are naturally reproducing/self-sustaining.” The only catfish limits are where fish are stocked and this is to protect their investment.
I understand the point as far as overall numbers, but in terms of top-end size, taking big catfish can impact the fishery especially the less prolific flatheads.
The DNR guys have been willing to talk about things, and are looking to collect meaningful data on the river closest to me which receives significant pressure. I’m not against guys keeping fish, but no limits and setlining with up to 50 hooks per angler is a little much, imo.
Shawn
To add to my point, we should give walleye guys for marketing “Eaters”. Even most casual walleye anglers now think that those young 17″ are perfect for eating and the big ones should be let go.
The species that gets hurt the most by naivety are panfish, especially sunfish. The gene pool for those guys has been severely compromised and bull sunfish can be such a rarity in many lakes. They aren’t big to begin with, so it is hard to establish what is too big to keep. That and I also think people assume that they are so plentiful that no amount of discriminating harvesting will hurt them.
Yep, you got me going on my yearly selective harvest sermon. And here I am preaching to catfish guys who it mostly doesn’t apply.
Quote:
The species that gets hurt the most by naivety are panfish, especially sunfish. The gene pool for those guys has been severely compromised and bull sunfish can be such a rarity in many lakes. They aren’t big to begin with, so it is hard to establish what is too big to keep. That and I also think people assume that they are so plentiful that no amount of discriminating harvesting will hurt them.
Wow that is so true. The East Metro has all these beautiful lakes and the panfishing in all of them is a waste of time. My favorite Bass lake is full of 4 inch long sunfish, it’s just awful. Since you can’t scratch up a meal of “eater” panfish anymore, that increases the pressure on other species.
Rootski
Exactly the example that always comes to mind. Most metro lakes only give up potato chips now. Everytime I look in the water and see all those little ones, I wonder how many a genetic mutants who are stunted that get to spawn year after year. Not to mention they compete with other game fish fry that are lucky enough to get big enough to where they can’t eat them. The flipside of that is that those lakes may not have the numbers with other fish, but have the potential for some trophy fish, in some instances.
I see what everyone means about our current limits. The panfish fishery in the metro is terrible. I was really refering to some of the most recent changes made. Special regs on some lakes, and a new conservation licence.
Has anyone here bought a conservation licence yet? I wonder how they are selling. I don’t plan to ever buy one but if they sell I think its a good idea.
I really believe that hanging on to 40 year old limits is a little careless though. I think that the bass and walleye limits have been unchanged for 40 years.
WOW!! I haven’t had time to check in for a couple days. I had to go back and read my post.. ..and yes I was having a bad day. I worked 6am to 6pm, got invited out to supper then to the bowling alley and I had waaaaaay to many grainbelt premiums. Sorry for venting on you guys, and yes I will be at the excursion this year and will bring a lot of premiums along . The all-caps thing is a bad habit because all my computer stuf at work is done in all-caps. I don’t have anything against any type of fishing, Kooty will vouch for me, I think?! We spent alot of time in a boat over the years. I have fished for most everything around here and I even have some pics of myself with paddlefish up to 85lbs. And I am even pretty dam good with a fly rod too..again sorry for the rant.
this is from me to myself 
Too many beers is no excuse,it just bring out the real you.
Which is why Stuart drinks Capt Coke.
I dislike wanton waste of a resource. I don’t know anything about paddlefish, but what are those guys going to do with them? If they’re fine table fare, whatever, but something in me doubts that. They are like flatheads in another way – if you want a mount, you pretty much need to get a replica made, so keeping the fish for that reason isn’t necessary.
I know it’s legal, but I think most people that catch big cats and keep them do so because they’re excited about the size of their catch and just not able to put them back into the water – around here anyways – I know in the south they do tend to keep ’em big. The people that keep them out of amazement probably don’t put them to any good use.
I’m against the keeping of large predatory fish for another reason, too – they’re less healthy to eat. Methyl mercury is a nationwide problem, spread in the air from coal burning. It bioaccumulates, so any predator (or eater of filter feeders) is going to build up a high concentration. Trophy predator fish are older and have had more years to do it – especially slow growers. The mercury may not affect the fisherman him/herself, but it will affect children and especially buns in the oven, who are especially susceptible, and I don’t find it ethical to put them at risk of brain development complications.
I get along with anyone and I know it’s people’s right to do what’s legal, but I don’t have to pretend for a second that I agree with it, and I won’t. If people want food fish, keep the smaller fish – they taste better and are more numerous to begin with, and they’re less contaminated.
To me, “ethical” equates with what’s good for the long term health of the fishery and the people who use it. By that standard, what is legal and what is ethical are far from one and the same.
Those are fairly small paddlefish! Nothing really large.
I have had the joy of eating paddlefish my buddy caught. I liked it and I rarely eat fish. It is a great program in the Dakotas where the roe goes to help the community and fish out. I do not know s much about down in MO but with a 2 a day limit and there is a length min I think they keep track of those fish. It is very popular down there for the guys from the cities to hire a guide and have them put them on the fish. The guide that I talked to said the sizes and numbers have not gone since he started guiding.
Hey Kwakhead, you are related to Kooty and ya like the adult beverages—go figure
No one here—or at least most of us—don’t take ourselves too seriously!
I was in Lynnes over the weekend while I was in Pierre. You guys have the perfect store—liquor,food,guns,live bait and a heck of a selection of fishing and hunting gear. Kind of like Evert’s West!
We need a little Kwakhead in here once in a while.
Pulled this post back up for dtro and myself. 
well call me a snob I guess. For some reason though those paddlefish don’t get me as riled up as a 53 lb flathead laid out on the pavement. 
and for BrianK a Pool 4 Flathead nonetheless
52 1/2 Don’t stretch it!
It’s everyones right to take there fish home. Just because the photos would lead one to believe that it’s going to end up in the garbage can (grounds too frozen to bury)…doesn’t mean that it will. He might eat it. Or spend a min of $600 to have it mounted.
Sigh…can’t we all just get along?
Quote:
52 1/2 Don’t stretch it!
It’s everyones right to take there fish home. Just because the photos would lead one to believe that it’s going to end up in the garbage can (grounds too frozen to bury)…doesn’t mean that it will. He might eat it. Or spend a min of $600 to have it mounted.
Sigh…can’t we all just get along?
It certainly is their right, just as it is mine to think of them as idiots. Having the right to do something doesn’t give you the right to unanimous approval.
Quote:
It certainly is their right, just as it is mine to think of them as idiots. Having the right to do something doesn’t give you the right to unanimous approval.
Amen. Well said, Matt.
Like I stated earlier, I’m all for selective harvest. However, I think it’s a bit rude & arrogant to call someone an idiot for keeping a fish, no matter the species.
Idiots are the people you see smoking in their cars with kids strapped in the back seat. Idiots are the people who race up behind you on the freeway and get all crazy just to move one car length ahead. Seems we have plenty of idiots in our world without turning on fellow fisherman after viewing one picture.
I forgot about this thread.
I didn’t say seeing a big old flat laying in the driveway made me happy personally.
I have found that talking with these people..(email, posts or in person)that most haven’t a clue what it takes to grow a fish of this size or the amount of toxins in it’s flesh/fat. Normally when a person is filled in with these facts they are more likely to release them.
Exceptions to that rule seem to be the southern states and to the few that really don’t care about anything…or because we care, they don’t.
Scaring people off, does nothing but tee off the person that made the not so conservative decision. Keeping them around and befriending them…might change there mind on why we release large fish…flats and others, legal or not.
On a side note…there are some that don’t like squirrels in their yards and others that would love them. 
I love my squirrels. I call them Minnesota’s monkeys. I even like the opossum who came through my yard the other morning. I have to put suet out and see if I can get the guy yo stay around.
Wait. What are we discussing here again? Carry on.
Quote:
I forgot about this thread.
I have found that talking with these people..(email, posts or in person)that most haven’t a clue what it takes to grow a fish of this size or the amount of toxins in it’s flesh/fat. Normally when a person is filled in with these facts they are more likely to release them.
Exceptions to that rule seem to be the southern states and to the few that really don’t care about anything…or because we care, they don’t.
Scaring people off, does nothing but tee off the person that made the not so conservative decision. Keeping them around and befriending them…might change there mind on why we release large fish…flats and others, legal or not.
Kinda the same thing as leading the masses to a hot spot. In the end it’s the resources that suffer.
THis post has morphed so many times……Are we talking about paddlefish or flatheads now?
SOOOOOO CONFUSED!!!!!!!!
Aaron
And yes I know I left this open for you smart a$$es!
I’m talking all fish….but in the last few posts, flatheads.
…and see? No shots taken. It’s Friday!
I appreciate the spirit of the post Brian – the “trying to get along” and even befriend people in hopes of changing their minds (not going to get into the lack of genuineness involved there…).
But I make my decisions based upon my beliefs and after careful consideration. I choose to do what I do because I believe it is the right thing to do. Quite naturally and inevitably, that means that when someone does the opposite, I think of it as the wrong thing to do. You can namby pamby around that all you want – but that’s where it sits, and if it didn’t, why bother? Why do what I do if I don’t think of it as a better way?
And as arrogant as it is, I will still always think of some people as idiots, and yes – some idiots fish.
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
