Hey Tin, I'm sure they do.... and each one they release "helps" their future chances of landing a world class fish. While each giant they kill "reduces" their chances. The C/R of big fish has always seemed like such an "obvious" thing to me.

Then when I read, or hear somebody say > It would be very hard to put a fish like that back in the water. <

..........I have to think to myself, "Then obviously we are on a very different page". Because personally speaking, it would be VERY hard for me to 'kill' a fish like that. And it's directly because, I want to catch that exact fish again, when it has grown to be even bigger. And if you don't think I will, I'll show you a picture, when I make it happen ;-)

Peace,

Fish

  Good luck Fish, I'm rooting for ya.....We have alot in common that's for sure.........Tom

They just stalked South Holston with something like 50,000 or 500,000 trout too. Can't remember exactly :-?. Might be able to get in on the swimbait fun with these smallies. Had one come up on one last week but didn't get the whole thing.

They just stalked South Holston with something like 50,000 or 500,000 trout too. Can't remember exactly :-?. Might be able to get in on the swimbait fun with these smallies. Had one come up on one last week but didn't get the whole thing.

If you can find the fish, South Holston and Boone are prime locations for swimbaits. Boone has become quite the swimbait hotspot over the last couple of years.

While the change in smallmouth regulations last year have ticked off more than a few tournament boys, we should be catching 20"+ smallies over the next couple of years. I know we had a ton of 17 3/4" smallies caught last year.

Every time a large fish is kept there is the inevitable discussion on it should have been released, I agree.  However, we never stop to think about why it wasn't released.  I would lay 50 to one odds that the young man in the picture didn't even know that an accurate fiberglass replica could be made.  I am continually amazed how many sportsmen are unaware that quality replicas are available.  I was talking with my doctor the other day and she was relating how her son is now consumed with fishing, and that he was distraught because their freezer broke and he lost a fish that was waiting to get mounted.  I told her to just get a replica made, she had no idea, that wasn't too suprising as nobody outside the child fished, but when I tell my uncle that he should have released his 10lber (LM) and got a replica he had no idea they were even available.  I have had other people think that the replica wouldn't look like their fish or that it would look "fake".  After a quick web search and pictures they quickly change their minds.  I honestly believe the reason fishermen keep trophies to mount do so because they are unaware of the alternative available with a quality replica, even to the point of custom painting the fish to match pictures that you provide.  I think we as sportsmen can and should do a better job at educating the part time recreational fisherman about replica mounts.  Tight lines

That is one heck of a pig. I am with most of you guys, I feel ALL trophy fish should be released, not just bass. Replica mounts are better than skin mounts these days, and if you want fish to eat, smaller ones almost ALWAYS taste better.

They just stalked South Holston with something like 50,000 or 500,000 trout too. Can't remember exactly :-?. Might be able to get in on the swimbait fun with these smallies. Had one come up on one last week but didn't get the whole thing.

If you can find the fish, South Holston and Boone are prime locations for swimbaits. Boone has become quite the swimbait hotspot over the last couple of years. Although I have only caught dinks, I know of others who are catching big ones on swimbaits.

While the change in smallmouth regulations last year have ticked off more than a few tournament boys, we they should be catching 20"+ smallies over the next couple of years. I know we everyone but me had a ton of 17 3/4" smallies caught last year.

Fixed your post for you Burley....one sentence and a couple minor edits, no big deal.  

And was it you that said South Holston was crap??

SoHo is crap for me.  We've got a tournament there next month, so I guess I'll get a lesson in teh suxxor.

If you're so high on SoHo, you can mark a map for me next weekend.

Many years ago, I caught what was a trophy to me.  I had a Bullet Bass Boat that had a huge livewell, and I took the fish home with me with the intention of mounting it.  I actually kept the fish in the livewell for two days.  I truly think it was stronger and in better shape than the day that I caught it.  I couldn't bring myself to kill such a magnificent animal, so I took a ton of pics and measurements and returned the fish to the same area where I caught it.  I will always remember that fish just as well as if I had mounted it!