Flatheads on P4

  • buschman
    Pool 2
    Posts: 1762
    April 6, 2012 at 4:56 pm #1316084

    Hi Guys, just a note. I dont want to point a finger towards anyone but made an observation that has me concerned at bit.
    Pulling of the river last night I seen a nice flat laying on the boat ramp. I asked the gentelman that caught it what they were going to do with it. He said “put it back in the water”. I politely asked if they were going to let it lay there to at least take care of it. Skin was getting pretty tacky and no body seemed to care???? I actually asked twice and got the deer in headlights look. Its not my place to tell these people what they have to do with a legal fish but guess I hoped they would listen and do more to care for the fish if in fact there true intentions were to put it back in the water.
    Legally its hard to say anything because this would be considered a cull in the DNR eye IMO. He might tell these guys that they have to keep it after driving in and miss handling. Also it is in there right to keep the fish even if they did not want to eat it so I dont want to bring this into the post!!!

    My olny intentions here is to try and make people aware that this happens and to ask that we all do our part to care for these great fish. Everyone gets all balled up when they see guys harvest limits on limits of walleyes or keep a trophy eye for the pan or the wall….. There are alot more big walleyes in there than trophy size cats. To me this was no different than having a 12 lb eye flopping around in the sand for 10 minutes with the intention of putting it back in the water In a perfect world there would be a closed season for Flats to keep this from happening but there is not. So the olny thing we can do is remind each other that these are a very unique fish and important to care for. Its never good to get angry about it with people that violate them but to talk and educate others. I believe here it is up to fishermen and women to try to police the situation when it happens. A good start would be a sign at the lauch that explains this to people and the other is doing what I am doing right here. Communication not accusation. For all I know these guys had no idea how much others care about these great fish!!!!

    Brian Klawitter
    Keymaster
    Minnesota/Wisconsin Mississippi River
    Posts: 59992
    April 6, 2012 at 5:22 pm #1056250

    Quote:

    Legally its hard to say anything because this would be considered a cull in the DNR eye IMO

    They changed that law a year or so after it came out (in MN) so if we only caught one sunfish lets say, we can return them to the water if we didn’t catch a meal.

    I’m guessing this was in WI and I’m not certain of their laws regarding this. If it’s not allowed, that law needs to be changed.

    Big 30+ year olds are hard to come by. I hope it didn’t go to waste.

    Thanks for the reminder post Joe. Many forget that catfish are fish too.

    katmando
    Ramsey,MN pool 2, St.croix river
    Posts: 691
    April 6, 2012 at 5:48 pm #1056255

    john23
    St. Paul, MN
    Posts: 2578
    April 6, 2012 at 6:41 pm #1056278

    It was sad to see an old girl abused like that.

    buschman
    Pool 2
    Posts: 1762
    April 6, 2012 at 6:49 pm #1056285

    Quote:

    They changed that law a year or so after it came out (in MN) so if we only caught one sunfish lets say, we can return them to the water if we didn’t catch a meal. Big 30+ year olds are hard to come by. I hope it didn’t go to waste.

    Thanks for the reminder post Joe. Many forget that catfish are fish too.

    I was just assuming that was still around. To be honest I am still looking for my jaw after it dropped off my face when that rule came into affect.

    Jack Naylor
    Apple Valley, MN
    Posts: 5668
    April 6, 2012 at 9:59 pm #1056327

    Busch
    Nicely written,

    Jack

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