TLHSS Posted August 1 Share Posted August 1 I've gotten to the point where I net every fish, regardless of size. Take a quick photo of the bigger ones in the net. Return them to the water in the net, and let them decide when to take off again. Some rest before going. Some take off immediately. I don't lip them any longer. I don't give them a toss like a piece of trash. Late in life, I've realized it's a gift / blessing to be able to fish, and I try to act accordingly. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sllymz Posted August 1 Share Posted August 1 I've always personally been under the idea that every fish caught is a blessing. Whether it's for sport or for eating. I take a picture of every single fish I catch and kind of take a moment to admire them before swimming them off. (of course I go back later and cull through the pictures) Now of course I take less time on smaller fish, but nonetheless they are all get a hook to the face so I think small or giant they should get some respect seeing as they didn't HAVE to bite your lure. Only times I waste no time getting a fish back in the water is when they are injured or badly hooked. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fin Posted August 1 Share Posted August 1 12 hours ago, WRB said: Look at a few to determine health, hook damage and what the bass is eating looking down its throat and odor. What does the odor tell you? I've caught some real stinkers and I always wondered why some smell so much worse. I've never noticed any pattern to it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woody B Posted August 1 Share Posted August 1 Most of the time I take a picture of the first, last and any that are decent size, or unique in any way. I give them all a quick look over....but I'm not sure what I'm looking for. I've got 14" 18" and 22" marks on my boat so I can get a quick reasonably accurate length. If I think one might be 5 pounds I'll weigh it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazoo Posted August 1 Author Share Posted August 1 I've never noticed a bass having a smell. I'm interested to know too @WRB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluegillsTightlines Posted August 1 Share Posted August 1 I tend to look at and measure and photo every bass that I think is 1.25 lbs or bigger. They put up a good fight so I figure it's worth having a permanent record of them. I didn't get to go one single time last year due to health issues, so I like to photo every decent(definition varies angler to angler). Plus when I take a photo ,it contains useful information in the future when I go into photo details by looking at the date and time when it was caught, and the image itself contains useful information outside the obvious such as whether it was sunny, in the shade, open water, cloudy, or rainy. Also it helps me to note the surroundings for future reference. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User WRB Posted August 1 Super User Share Posted August 1 Yes you can smell the odor difference between crawdads eaten and fish eaten. Tom 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Bankc Posted August 1 Super User Share Posted August 1 I try to get a quick pic of every bass. I don't take pictures of other species, unless it's particularly noteworthy. However, if I struggle to get the hook free or have them out of the water for too long for some other reason, I'll forgo the picture to return them as quickly as possible. It's less about the fish and more about keeping a record of the fish. In the metadata of the picture, I have the time of year, time of day, and location of where the bass was caught. I also often have the lure in the pic, and can get a general sense of the weather by the background and what I'm wearing. So it's good information I can pull years later if need be. Kind of like a fishing journal that's easier to maintain and sort through, even if it is a little less thorough. But yeah, I do give them a quick look over. If nothing else, just to check their health and see how the lake is doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padlin Posted August 1 Share Posted August 1 For the most part I do not look them over. If I think they are over 3 lbs I’ll quickly weigh them and release. The only time I take a pic is if it’s a personal best, so it’s been a few years. I do take them of the grandkids if they get something decent. I don’t even keep track of how many I catch. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishingmickey Posted August 1 Share Posted August 1 I do love admiring a fine specimen of the species and it doesn't even have to be a Bass. Seeing the coloration and unique markings, fins and health. It just is moving for me. I handle my fish carefully and release them gently. Some of the smaller fish have some of the best markings and patterns. I've kept aquariums on and off for years and the admiration and fascination with fish and fish watching has not grown less in the 60+ years I have been fishing. Fishingmickey 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazoo Posted August 1 Author Share Posted August 1 1 hour ago, padlin said: For the most part I do not look them over. If I think they are over 3 lbs I’ll quickly weigh them and release. The only time I take a pic is if it’s a personal best, so it’s been a few years. I do take them of the grandkids if they get something decent. I don’t even keep track of how many I catch. I kinda like that. Just fish and be happy, not keeping track. I have done that in the past. I might just do it again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluegillsTightlines Posted August 2 Share Posted August 2 3 hours ago, Fishingmickey said: I do love admiring a fine specimen of the species and it doesn't even have to be a Bass. Seeing the coloration and unique markings, fins and health. It just is moving for me. I handle my fish carefully and release them gently. Some of the smaller fish have some of the best markings and patterns. I've kept aquariums on and off for years and the admiration and fascination with fish and fish watching has not grown less in the 60+ years I have been fishing. Fishingmickey Same here, doesn't even have to be a big one if it's got some cool colors going. I LOVE spawning male black crappie when they get that black and gold going like this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazoo Posted August 2 Author Share Posted August 2 I admired this nice crappie before putting him back. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skunkmaster-k Posted August 2 Share Posted August 2 I look in all their mouths, pictures are just for PB fish. After reading WRB’s post I’m going to start smelling them too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Bankc Posted August 2 Super User Share Posted August 2 19 hours ago, WRB said: Yes you can smell the odor difference between crawdads eaten and fish eaten. Tom You can, I bet. But I have anosmia. So I can't smell fish in general, at least not until after it's gone bad and gotten really pungent. I can't even imagine what a crawdad smells like. Now I want to buy a can of crawdad scented Bang to find out! I bet that's strong enough for me to pick up, as I can actually smell the garlic scented ones sometimes. Yeah, the wife's not gonna happy about what you guys made me do today. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
volzfan59 Posted August 2 Share Posted August 2 I pretty much always look at any fish that I catch. It's usually just a brief look as I don't like to keep them out of the water very long Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazoo Posted August 2 Author Share Posted August 2 On 7/31/2024 at 5:06 AM, GreenPig said: I've taken a pic of every fish I've caught for the last 9 years, no matter the size or species. I'm fishing on borrowed time with my back and everyone will be more special when I'm not able to fish. It also helps me figure out on what, when, and where I caught them last year. That is a pretty shad. I love catching some of the local bait to really inspect it. Thanks. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishing_Rod Posted August 2 Share Posted August 2 Greetings All, Yes, all are admired with my gratitude for being "on-line". Most are simply quickly returned. Some get photographed. Depending on the location, there is the occasional harvest. There is consideration for the regional consumption advisories so harvesting is only from lower risk locations. As @WRB and others have pointed out the admiration is also an examination to improve understanding through observation. Be well and cheers! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishhugger Posted August 2 Share Posted August 2 i don't really.... i guess i look at them before i take them out of the water. then, i kind of just want to get them back where they belong.... poor guys....... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HawkeyeSmallie Posted August 5 Share Posted August 5 On 7/30/2024 at 7:13 PM, Bazoo said: Sometimes I thank them for participating. I often tell the little ones to go back and get big. I do the same. I say “thanks for playing” “see you next year” etc. The other night I went out to do some super fun bluegill fishing. I named them all based on their sizes: Biggies Fun size Fun size junior Catfish bait LOLOLOLOL 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woody B Posted August 5 Share Posted August 5 43 minutes ago, HawkeyeSmallie said: I say “thanks for playing” “see you next year” etc. I didn't mention in my earlier post, I always talk to them. So far none have talked back though. I don't just talk to fish. I also talk to birds, Deer, dogs on any other animals I see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazoo Posted August 5 Author Share Posted August 5 1 hour ago, HawkeyeSmallie said: I do the same. I say “thanks for playing” “see you next year” etc. The other night I went out to do some super fun bluegill fishing. I named them all based on their sizes: Biggies Fun size Fun size junior Catfish bait LOLOLOLOL The small ones are Skeeter Eater for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User F14A-B Posted August 6 Super User Share Posted August 6 On 7/30/2024 at 9:08 PM, Catt said: I've never taken a selfie with a bass. If it ain't 6#+ it doesn't get a second look. Man I’m the exact same way Catt, 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Catt Posted August 6 Super User Share Posted August 6 18 minutes ago, alonerankin2 said: Man I’m the exact same way Catt, Until last year I didn't even know how to take a selfie. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User F14A-B Posted August 6 Super User Share Posted August 6 Not my picture but a guy on a local forum posted this picture.. What y’all think? He caught it Sunday. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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