You have lost me

I have to respectfully disagree with the idea that as long as we're following the law we're not hurting anything. Some states have more progressive, up-to-date fishing regulations than others; even the state we live in, has more progressive regulations for some species than others. For instance, the regulations in place on Laurel Hill Lake for largemouth, are completely in line with the latest fisheries science for increasing the average size of the bass in the lake.

The regulations for bluegill and redear, however, anywhere in the state, are woefully out of date, and completely disregard all of the research that has been done by multiple DNRs over the past ten years; said regulations directly contributed to the demise of an outstanding bluegill fishery in middle Tennessee just in the past four years.

Maybe you should check it out! It's the had fun at pickwick thread. You of all people should be appalled.

I've got nothing else to say on the matter! I'm done.

Hushpuppies without onion and corn? That's something to actually get mad over! :p


Sent from my Droid Bionic complete with typos and sarcasm.

That is exactly why I fish instead of hunt. It is an awesome feeling for me to watch a trophy fish swim away. That being said I have no problem with hunters or people keeping legal fish. It is their right. But I do believe some good fisherman could do damage to a fishery by keeping every big fish they catch. Selective harvest is the key and it sounds like what these guys were doing. A couple of big fish a year is not going to hurt anything. Besides, did you see the arms on that dude, I doubt anybody would say anything to him if they weren't behind a computer. Nice Catch!

I would tell him what I thought-----------as I was burning rubber and driving away. http://www.fishingtn.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Thanks for pointing me at the thread in question... I truly do respect anyone's opinion on the issue at hand (excluding personal attacks). But I'm not appalled and my opinion doesn't change.

They followed the law.

As great as it was, their catch that day was absolutely miniscule when compared to the daily catches of commercial fishermen up and down the Tennessee River system.

This is a good discussion and everyone should take the time and effort expended hear to share their opinions with TWRA biologists each year when they seek public comment on fishing regulations.

So on your guided trips would you let your clients keep those fish? Captain Jason Bridges on wheeler lake in Alabama won't let his clients keep anything over I believe 15lbs. He regularly catches 50lb cats and cats up to and over 100lbs.

Out of all of the threads/posts on catch and release of trophy fish this is the first time I've gotten involved just to let anyone reading know. If these had been 50lb stripers there would have been he'll to pay from the members until tk or bd locked the thread.


http://m.youtube.com/index?&desktop_...?v=80BUfQgBap4

HMMMM, I think I'll test the reactions of members when I catch and eat a 21 inch smallmouth, along with a video of it being fileted...while still alive....and flopping...and gasping...

Hmmmmm ! <'TK><
 

LOL, I know. I just had to throw one more little twig on the fire. Now we'll just the embers die down and wait for the next one.

Actually, yes I would. The law allows individuals to keep one catfish per day more than 34-inches. If they wanted to keep one, I would allow it.

However I've been guiding since 2006. I have had clients who hit the water with me saying, "I wouldn't mind keeping one big one."

But when they actually do catch a trophy blue and see it in the bottom of the boat, in EVERY case they have chosen to release it. But it was their choice, not mine.

Guiding ?? <'tk><