In the latest issue of “American Angler” the magazine of Fly Fishing and Fly Tying, their January/February Web Poll caught my eye.
“Is it ever okay to keep a trout to eat?” For someone as old as me that seems to be a stupid question. I’ve been eating trout since the beginning of time (my time, that is).
In fragile fisheries or where the law doesn’t allow keeping trout, of course I release them. And I release a lot more besides. But I don’t take the “carved in stone” stance that all trout should be released because in this day and age it is the politicaly correct thing to do. I mean, god forbid we don’t want to go against the majority of fly fishers, one way or the other.
Well guess what?! It appears that the majority of fly fishers (an overwhelming majority) say it’s okay to keep a few trout to eat.
I set my own personal limits, which are well below what the law allows. I generally keep about a dozen brookies a year, and a couple of salmon for special meals. For a full fledged fish-fry I’m generally targeting panfish…perch, gills, crappies, etc.
Now, for the poll results: Over 400 readers reponded to the January/February poll and ninety-two percent said that it is okay to keep some trout to eat. The final tally totaled 354 votes for keeping a trout on occasion and 29 for never catching/keeping a trout to eat.
How bout we take a poll on what FAOL’ers say…keep occasionally or 100 percent catch and release? And please, no sharp tounged rants, holier than thou thoughts or moral judgements on the subject. Just a simple answer or brief thought will suffice.
I’d like to see if our percentages here on FAOL match up in similarity to the magazine’s poll.
Later, RW
“We fish for pleasure; I for mine, you for yours.” -James Leisenring on fishing the wet fly-
[This message has been edited by Royal Wulff (edited 05 February 2005).]
I’ll often keep stockers. In some cases a species of trout doesn’t belong, and keeping them can help the fishery. A case in point is the Golden Trout Wilderness region in California. Brown trout were planted long ago and killing off the native Goldens in some areas. A recent research project is being conducted to determine what can be done to help the Goldens.
Keep a few. There is a small stream near me that has no resident trout bigger than 8" due to no angling preasure whatsoever. too many fish, not enough feeding.
Work is a means for people to afford their fishing.
I have no problem keeping a trout if it is legal. In many wild trout fisheries I will release them anyway, but I will keep a wild fish under certain circumstances…like a brookie from a trout stream that is packed full of brookies. If it is a stream with a small population, they go back to the water.
I don’t mind keeping a stocker at all in most areas. I like Landlocked Salmon the best (I catch them in the finger lakes, it’s put and take in most of the lakes).
But, like I said, I don’t keep fish often…just don’t have problems doing it.
“If firearms cause crimes and kill people, all of the ones I have must be defective.”
IMHO, if you are within the law, you may keep. Personally, I haven’t kept any trout in over 35 years. Well, except for the 2 I kept 3 years ago and I doubt I’ll ever keep any more.
Growing up in PA, I was taught by my Dad to hunt and fish. I was taught to kill and we always ate what we killed. You can call me an elitist but I refuse to kill a fish. I have seen enough death in my life. Ever see the movie, The Deer Hunter? My policy is strict C&R which is also the regulation on most of the rivers I fish. I caught a 20" bow on a cop car last week while fishing for steelhead. It felt great to release it in front of a gear chucker who was shocked I didn’t keep it. I treated my Dad to a float on the Yak last September. It felt good to C&R trout with him. Live and let live.
Five years fishing, kept one stocked rainbow (it was delicious). I have nothing against people who keep a fish here and there, providing is is legal.
Saltamontes
I don’t keep trout very often (I do love Gills and Cats), but I do rarely
How do you say, “I refuse to kill a fish,” when you try to entice them to bite metal hooks (see JC’s comment at the beginning of the thread)? I know that fish usually survive C&R, but you do kill fish–you just don’t see it when it happens.
I do not fish, to fill the freezer, full of fish. I sometimes keep fish, if I intend to have them for dinner the same day, or next.
Nothing taste better, than a fish, caught on a homemade fly rod and fly.
I respect the fishery, and the rules that apply to that fishery. Probably do more to help the fishery, than detract from it.
I do not keep troph fish, and I release the fish that are large enough for spawning. Every year a certain number of fish die, from natural causes, and with C&R it is estimated there is a 15% mortality rate.
Limit you catch, enjoy the sport, and protect the fishery for future generation of anglers.
~ Parnelli
“As anglers, we have a duty to protect the fisheries, for future generations!”
[This message has been edited by Steven H. McGarthwaite (edited 05 February 2005).]
I very very rarely keep a trout but am not a zealot about it.
I Always remember a time I caught a 24" rainbow on the Madison…later in the day my friend went into Ennis and got a haircut…he told the barber about the fish and that I released it…my friend related to me that the barber really got indignant that someone would RELEASE such a fish…Now that’s a mentality I don’t understand.
