Not to bad. Going back later today. To bad we can't eat these yet.

can't figure out how to post more than 1 pic, so I put the biggest one up.

Why can't you eat them yet? And why would you want to eat them? That's what crappie and gills are for

Nice fish, but ya gotta get over touching them.

Stick your thumb in the mouth and hold the fish

tightly between the thumb and forefinger. I won't

hurt you and you won't drop the fish.

8-)

Its their spawning season. Catch and release until June 13th.

And why eat them?  Because I eat almost every fish I catch.  Not alot of money and this way I can cut down on my food cost.

Why eat them at all ?

Its their spawning season. Catch and release until June 13th.

In Tennessee, it's C&R January 1st thru December 31st.

:

Nice fish, but ya gotta get over touching them.

Stick your thumb in the mouth and hold the fish

tightly between the thumb and forefinger. I won't

hurt you and you won't drop the fish.

8-)

Usually im ok with touching them but that one bit me while I was taking the hook out.

Its their spawning season. Catch and release until June 13th.

And why eat them? Because I eat almost every fish I catch. Not alot of money and this way I can cut down on my food cost.

That's the only reason you need. I strictly CPR but if somebody keeps fish to help put food on the table I see no problem with it. As supportive as I am of CPR, somebody's need to put food on the table outweighs bass conservation IMO and I think gung-ho CPR people sometimes forget that.

Its their spawning season. Catch and release until June 13th.

And why eat them? Because I eat almost every fish I catch. Not alot of money and this way I can cut down on my food cost.

That's the only reason you need. I strictly CPR but if somebody keeps fish to help put food on the table I see no problem with it. As supportive as I am of CPR, somebody's need to put food on the table outweighs bass conservation IMO and I think gung-ho CPR people sometimes forget that.

Yea I agree with you. But it doesn't make sense to me if you are fishing to put food on the table - let's think about this:

He can catch 5 bass in 3 days of fishing.

How many Bluegill or Crappie can you catch in 3 days of fishing?

We are trying so hard to build up the smallie population in my creek here...daily bag limit is one and it has to be 20"+ to take that one  

Its their spawning season. Catch and release until June 13th.

In Tennessee, it's C&R January 1st thru December 31st.

:

I like that idea.  I release everything with the exception of a few crappies a year.

Its their spawning season. Catch and release until June 13th.

And why eat them? Because I eat almost every fish I catch. Not alot of money and this way I can cut down on my food cost.

That's the only reason you need. I strictly CPR but if somebody keeps fish to help put food on the table I see no problem with it. As supportive as I am of CPR, somebody's need to put food on the table outweighs bass conservation IMO and I think gung-ho CPR people sometimes forget that.

Yea I agree with you. But it doesn't make sense to me if you are fishing to put food on the table - let's think about this:

He can catch 5 bass in 3 days of fishing.

How many Bluegill or Crappie can you catch in 3 days of fishing?

We are trying so hard to build up the smallie population in my creek here...daily bag limit is one and it has to be 20"+ to take that one

True, it would be much more efficient to fish for bluegill or crappie your right and I see your point. All I'm saying is that it shouldn't be a big deal if somebody who needs to keeps a bass does.

Please don't eat the big bass that are 20 " and over.

We throw everything back.

Wife cannot understand the need for a nice boat, good equipment and getting up at 3 AM to go fishing if we throw everything back.

But it is good for the soul.  

Its their spawning season. Catch and release until June 13th.

And why eat them? Because I eat almost every fish I catch. Not alot of money and this way I can cut down on my food cost.

That's the only reason you need. I strictly CPR but if somebody keeps fish to help put food on the table I see no problem with it. As supportive as I am of CPR, somebody's need to put food on the table outweighs bass conservation IMO and I think gung-ho CPR people sometimes forget that.

Yea I agree with you. But it doesn't make sense to me if you are fishing to put food on the table - let's think about this:

He can catch 5 bass in 3 days of fishing.

How many Bluegill or Crappie can you catch in 3 days of fishing?

We are trying so hard to build up the smallie population in my creek here...daily bag limit is one and it has to be 20"+ to take that one

True, it would be much more efficient to fish for bluegill or crappie your right and I see your point. All I'm saying is that it shouldn't be a big deal if somebody who needs to keeps a bass does.

I don't fish here for the bass.  I do for the trout and landlocked salmon, but I'm not about to pass up a meal if all I catch is bass.

Why can't you eat them yet? And why would you want to eat them? That's what crappie and gills are for

exactly!

Nice fish, but ya gotta get over touching them.

Stick your thumb in the mouth and hold the fish

tightly between the thumb and forefinger. I won't

hurt you and you won't drop the fish.

8-)

Usually im ok with touching them but that one bit me while I was taking the hook out.

wow, that must of hurt with those massive teeth they have.

If she's keeping the smallies to eat because it's a significant help with her finances, and she's not even targeting them, then in this situation, having food on the table is more important than a few decent-sized smallies.

I agree, I don't see anything wrong with keeping a couple of bass when times are getting tough. If it keeps a couple of dollars in her pocket then more power to her.

Nice fish, but ya gotta get over touching them.

Stick your thumb in the mouth and hold the fish

tightly between the thumb and forefinger. I won't

hurt you and you won't drop the fish.

8-)

Usually im ok with touching them but that one bit me while I was taking the hook out.

wow, that must of hurt with those massive teeth they have.

XD lol

She is legally allowed to keep 5 bass a day in the state of VT.  While I strongly encourage catch and release she is following the rules.  It was out of season so she put it back.  We all know that despite our best efforts a small % of fish that are released may die, so why is it bad she keeps some for the dinner table.  All though if I added up the money I spent on fishing, I could probably have quite a few prime rib dinners instead of a SMB  

She is legally allowed to keep 5 bass a day in the state of VT. While I strongly encourage catch and release she is following the rules. It was out of season so she put it back. We all know that despite our best efforts a small % of fish that are released may die, so why is it bad she keeps some for the dinner table. All though if I added up the money I spent on fishing, I could probably have quite a few prime rib dinners instead of a SMB

Or some lobsters  

Most catch and keep fishermen(women) I have seen have always been fishing live bait. I believe live bait leads to more gut hooked fish. A gut hooked fish stands a better chance of dying. If the fish has an increased chance of dying, then I feel it should feed someone rather than be wasted. I C&R 100% of the time, with the exception of a few trout a year, which I pay to have stocked by the state. I have a problem with people coming down the path with a 5 gallon bucket and filling it with every fish they catch. If she is within her states regulations, then she has done nothing wrong. She was honest enough and knowledgeable enough to know she could not keep bass at this time of year. Give her credit.