47 minutes ago, BrianinMD said:

Am I the only one wondering why this thread continues?

It continues simply because this a never ending debate. It seems everybody has an opinion, some quite passionate. This topic will always generate some heat.

Before anybody gets too steamed up about it, keep in mind these are only opinions; to which all are entitled. This thread has lasted this long because it has yet to become uncivilized. If it heads in that direction it will disappear.

Unless you have several years of "real" survey data, and can document a trend; and thus make a projection; all you can offer is an opinion.

I couldn't agree more. Regulations are in place but if everyone who was out there took home the limit most lakes couldn't sustain that type of take for more than a couple years. It's the responsible fisherman out there who understand these finer points of fisheries that keep many of these places in good condition. I can't imagine what our local conservation lakes would be like if the guys in our bass club that fish there took a limit every time they were there. It would be brutal on those bodies of water. I understand all the "If you have a license and are following the law".  I think the law is hoping there's plenty of ethical guys out there who understand there needs to be catch and release as well. They're counting on that without actually saying it.

On ‎8‎/‎10‎/‎2016 at 2:09 PM, Neil McCauley said:

Yea, yea, I see this posted a lot in this thread. No one is criticizing poaching or anything illegal though. Obviously "they have the right" to keep their limit. What is up for debate is the unwritten ethic about keeping fish. I could catch and keep my limit every time out but I never do. I try to be strategic about keeping fish in a way that has as little impact as possible. I know a specific spot on Lake George with tons of huge pumpkinseed sunfish. I keep a few and move on, I don't want to over-fish it. There are probably hundreds down there but I try to only take 5-6 each trip because I value the spot so much. When I'm catching tons of rock bass in the spring, likewise I try only to take a few of the bigger ones. Any time I catch something rare- like, in my lake  a Northern Pike or a Crappie- I am sure to return it carefully. There is an ethic about how you treat a fishery that goes beyond laws and regulations and everyone approaches it differently. That's what's interesting to hear people explain.

 

I think a part of it is because some bass fisherman hold bass in such high esteem as a sport fish because of the challenge/recreation it provides, they can't fathom that someone would kill it for food.  It's almost like someone is killing and eating their spirit animal.

ive skipped over this thread the past week but It keeps popping up on top so ill give my opinion. (I also have not read all the post)

I personally do not condone taking the larger than average size bass to be harvested, BUT I do wish more anglers in my area would harvest more bass than they do. we are overrun with 12 to 14 in largemouth and also a huge population of spots the same size. I believe this would make a huge contribution to the fishery and allow the big bass to get bigger. I eat bass when I feel like it. I don't stock the freezer but I say I have a bass meal once a month or so. They are all normally 12 to 15 inch fish, they also taste better in my opinion

I always catch and release bass. I may keep a few sunfish or crappie once in a while, but only what I will eat for sure. I'm ok with people keeping their catch as long as they are going to eat it I don't agree with someone taking a large fish out just to have it mounted. And I have heard of people at local ponds leaving a 4 lb bass on a stringer just dead in the water. That type of stuff makes me mad and I would call someone out for doing that because that's wasteful and makes other fisherman look bad.

On 8/9/2016 at 4:52 PM, scaleface said:

Next time just tell them its not legal to give your fish to other anglers . They probably wont know if it is or not .

Yeah, and they probably wont care either! Haha. I hear ya loud and clear though.