I tell them I release so someone else can catch it and to help build the bass population in the lake. They pretty much get that.

I get this all the time.  Its always kinda hard to explain to someone the catch and release concept.  I fish for the sport, pure adrenaline of feeling that bass on my line.  I do not care to eat fish, especailly a bass haha.

I try and avoid the question if at all possible.  Anytime I've tried to explain catch and release to a non-fishermen or sportsmen, I get the deer in the headlights look.

I generally tell people that if a lake gets a lot of pressure, keeping numerous bass (especially if everyone does so) is like playing billiards, darts, or what have you, and throwing the balls away afterward.

Ask him why there arent any big deer running around virginia.

He wouldn't get it.  We have lots of big deer.

seems like everytime i see a picture of a va deer it is some little forker rat.  maybe that is because most of the va deer pics i see are burley's  ;D

I don't care for hunting but I don't feel any hunter needs to justify why they choose to do it.  Conversely I don't I feel I have to justify my actions as a an angler, if confronted a simple smile and light conversation generally buffers any situation.   

Thankfully everyone that I fish with practices catch and release, but I do have some friends that are vegetarians for the soul purpose of stopping cruelty to animals. These are the folks that give me the hardest time. They think that fishing is cruel and double cruel if I am just doing it for fun. To each their own.

seems like everytime i see a picture of a va deer it is some little forker rat. maybe that is because most of the va deer pics i see are burley's ;D

from the VDGIF "Outdoor Report" this month.

LOL. I have a bud who will keep and eat nearly anything he can legally keep. He thinks I am nuts to throw some of the ones I throw back.

I may keep one or 2 some trips (usually in the 3 lb range and they are good for filleting and eating) but the lunkers almost always go back. I had one 8 lber I deep hooked horribly. Thing was not surviving and I am not throwing a fish back to die.

Either way, no real need to explain it to them. They do what they do, you do what you do, you are both within the law, your are both good to go.

As a general rule I will not keep bass.  I have no problem with someone that does provided that they stay withing the legal limits.  And I hate to see someone keep a real monster bass. 

My brother in law honestly believes that by taking the big bass out he is helping the smaller ones grow up to be big.  He still keeps almost anything he catches.  He drives me crazy.  He just hears something that justifies what he likes and runs with it.

Don't get me wrong, I do love the taste of a fresh fish but I will mostly stick to a nice sized yellow perch or legal Walleye.

There is just no need to keep a LM when he'll be bigger next time he bites my hook.  I want a record d**n it!

I always tell them bass arent good eating. Which as far as i know is true. I tried to eat bass one time and it tasted like butt....If the other reasons arent good enough for them this one usually convinces them

After reading this, I really have a taste for fish now. 

Now I will have to go meat fishing.  Usually only keep two smaller 15" bass if I have to.  Luckily our lakes have plenty of crappie and white bass, and I would rather take a couple of those than LM's. 

I guess instead of trailering my boat to the lake I could pick up some talapia from the store....

Nevermind, I am out of here and heading to the lake.