Overfishing...? Whats your view???

[209x50]

Originally Posted by J-C

I don't have any problem with people catching their limit of fish to take home for supper. What bothers me is when people come day after day keeping their limit, only to fill up a freezer. Maybe designating certain days or only weekends for fishing would help the problem but I doubt many people would agree with that. Just my opinion.

That is breaking the law. You can't stock your freezer.

Nothing beats fresh Walleye cheeks.

I agree with the previous statement. Developments on lakes, cottagers who spray pesticide right beside the lake, and industrial development have more to do with the decline (atleast thats my opinion)

What about those arseholes on quads who rip up and down the river?

Maybe commercial fishing?

Possibly to many Grizzlies eating the fish? (haha)

Farmers along river banks?

Not to long ago I remember lots of people dumping garbage into creeks and rivers which includes and not limited to, paint cans and batteries.

What about those little runt kids who p!ss in the lake? Or the fisherman who throw countless beercans and cig butts into the water.

Possible ninja samurai? Americans stealing the fish through underwater tunnels?

[luckyme]

C n R if you can,take 1 or two legal size fish home for table fare (no fish for your neighbor please)),no poaching! and keep stream and lakes clean.hopefully we will have a sustainable fisheries in Alberta.

[Arn?Narn.]

Originally Posted by 209x50

I'd be dead against any such idea. I love to eat fresh walleye and keep my limit every chance I get. For all youdevout C&R disciples take a look at the fish mortality on the study posted on the tournament thread. Seems a bloody shame that you kill and waste all those fish and don't at least utilize one or two of what you kill.

ding ding ding !

We have a winner Johnny !!!!

[ishootbambi]

Originally Posted by 209x50

I'd be dead against any such idea. I love to eat fresh walleye and keep my limit every chance I get. For all youdevout C&R disciples take a look at the fish mortality on the study posted on the tournament thread. Seems a bloody shame that you kill and waste all those fish and don't at least utilize one or two of what you kill.

what a ridiculous statement!!!!! you cant be serious?!?!?

if every angler in alberta kept every fish they ever caught how many fish do you think would be swimming around right now? i dont think anyone ever said that every fish released survived, but i will say that every fish released has a better chance than the ones getting the fish bonker.

ill restate now what i have already said cuz i know yer gonna get silly about this. i dont kill fish on purpose myself, but i do not begrudge anyone eating a few fish here and there either. the problem lies in the guys who are killing all the fish they can all the time....and usually they are the guys squawking the loudest about there being too few fish available.

[ashleyread]

In my opinion, fishing is a sport. I like to fish for the sport of it and not as much for the meat. I will keep a fish once in a while when I am hungry but it is not very common. I have no problem with people being ethical to sustain a viable fishery.

Remember when the Sheep River was literally black with rockies for miles and miles and the limit was 15, wow! talk about an overfish,,, people really do need to understand the possesion aspect of the regs.

[jeprli]

I keep one every now and then, or if I really want a good dinner i'll ride to Chain lakes and catch my limit of stocked trout.

C&R is the way to go! I fish on average 3-4 times a week(a little less now that my car is at the mechanic), and usually I end up catching enough fish to keep the limit. Annually I have about 120-150 outings, imagine if I brought fish home every time I went out, that would be a lot of fish and would leave a big empty hole in either a river or lake.

Few weeks back I noticed a bunch of dudes (my guess is East Europeans)at Glenmore(by heritage park dock). They've been coming in groups every single day for a month, whatever they catch they send of to home by their kid, and keep on fishing, well that is pretty hard to prove so I didn't bother with "ranger danger", but then one day I find these guys on the same spot, and 3 of them are fishing two baited rigs each and throwing spoons, that is 9 rods for 3 dudes, it didn't take long for me to call RAP. What do you know, ranger showed up within ten minutes and spent a good hour and a half investigating them. He laid multiple charges, for multiple rods, barbed hooks, kept fish over limit, I'm pretty sure there was alcohol involved as well.....and so on...now they have a HUGE problem on their hands.

At first I felt bad for what I did(being an immigrant myself, well not anymore but that's how I got here), but then again this is Canada, Alberta and there are rules implemented to be obeyed and followed(something you don't do in Eastern Europe) and well since I am a Canadian citizen now I had to fulfill my duty as an honorable citizen

That is one way of trying to protect fishing that we all enjoy so much.

Now there are couple of other groups of poachers that I will do my best to stop. Crawling valley has a big problem when it comes to this, and boy when they catch that group of people I wouldn't be surprised if some of them end up behind bars. This is a group of 4-8 Pollacks, Hungarians, Checz...and each time I come to that spot the shoreline is littered with filleted walleye, and I'm talking 20-30 fish, not 2-3 but 20-30. So far i saw them two times, third time is a charm

Bow river(through Calgary) is another place that needs a clean up, but those crooks are hard to find during daylight, most of them poach through the nite.

What do you guys do with the reward money??? I was thinking Alberta childrens hospital(that's where I donate through business).

[bowfin]

i know what your saying about crawling valley was fishing down the lake one day went to shore to let the dog have a **** found about a pile of walleye skins and heads called f&w they come out to see i hung around till they got there if was a older officer from brooks nice guy but was he mad when he see the mess he thought he knew who it was and i said who he pointed over to the hut colony a mile away he told me he has charged afew of them aready this was last fall. if they shut down the ramdom camping around the lake that would help alot jmo

[Arn?Narn.]

for me,...catch and release is equivalenet to putting out decoys and calling in game and then shooting them with a paint gun. (well I guess survival rate with a paint gun would be higher the C&R)

[Albertafisher]

Originally Posted by jeprli

What do you guys do with the reward money??? I was thinking Alberta childrens hospital(that's where I donate through business).

I'd say donate it to Trout Unlimited

[209x50]

Originally Posted by jeprli

I keep one every now and then, or if I really want a good dinner i'll ride to Chain lakes and catch my limit of stocked trout.

C&R is the way to go! I fish on average 3-4 times a week(a little less now that my car is at the mechanic), and usually I end up catching enough fish to keep the limit. Annually I have about 120-150 outings, imagine if I brought fish home every time I went out, that would be a lot of fish and would leave a big empty hole in either a river or lake.

Few weeks back I noticed a bunch of dudes (my guess is East Europeans)at Glenmore(by heritage park dock). They've been coming in groups every single day for a month, whatever they catch they send of to home by their kid, and keep on fishing, well that is pretty hard to prove so I didn't bother with "ranger danger", but then one day I find these guys on the same spot, and 3 of them are fishing two baited rigs each and throwing spoons, that is 9 rods for 3 dudes, it didn't take long for me to call RAP. What do you know, ranger showed up within ten minutes and spent a good hour and a half investigating them. He laid multiple charges, for multiple rods, barbed hooks, kept fish over limit, I'm pretty sure there was alcohol involved as well.....and so on...now they have a HUGE problem on their hands.

At first I felt bad for what I did(being an immigrant myself, well not anymore but that's how I got here), but then again this is Canada, Alberta and there are rules implemented to be obeyed and followed(something you don't do in Eastern Europe) and well since I am a Canadian citizen now I had to fulfill my duty as an honorable citizen

That is one way of trying to protect fishing that we all enjoy so much.

Now there are couple of other groups of poachers that I will do my best to stop. Crawling valley has a big problem when it comes to this, and boy when they catch that group of people I wouldn't be surprised if some of them end up behind bars. This is a group of 4-8 Pollacks, Hungarians, Checz...and each time I come to that spot the shoreline is littered with filleted walleye, and I'm talking 20-30 fish, not 2-3 but 20-30. So far i saw them two times, third time is a charm

Bow river(through Calgary) is another place that needs a clean up, but those crooks are hard to find during daylight, most of them poach through the nite.

What do you guys do with the reward money??? I was thinking Alberta childrens hospital(that's where I donate through business).

Poaching is breaking the law and should punished to the fullest extent of the law. I and the law don't see nothing wrong with keeping and eating your limit when you go fishing.

[Okotokian]

Originally Posted by Arn?Narn.

for me,...catch and release is equivalenet to putting out decoys and calling in game and then shooting them with a paint gun. (well I guess survival rate with a paint gun would be higher the C&R)

God it must be a slow afternoon, 'cause that actually sounds sort of fun! Illegal, but fun. Forget about muzzleloader season. What say we push for a paintball season? Could be in late spring when we are all in the doldrums and suffering hunting withdrawl

Originally Posted by jeprli

I keep one every now and then, or if I really want a good dinner i'll ride to Chain lakes and catch my limit of stocked trout.

C&R is the way to go! I fish on average 3-4 times a week(a little less now that my car is at the mechanic), and usually I end up catching enough fish to keep the limit. Annually I have about 120-150 outings, imagine if I brought fish home every time I went out, that would be a lot of fish and would leave a big empty hole in either a river or lake.

Few weeks back I noticed a bunch of dudes (my guess is East Europeans)at Glenmore(by heritage park dock). They've been coming in groups every single day for a month, whatever they catch they send of to home by their kid, and keep on fishing, well that is pretty hard to prove so I didn't bother with "ranger danger", but then one day I find these guys on the same spot, and 3 of them are fishing two baited rigs each and throwing spoons, that is 9 rods for 3 dudes, it didn't take long for me to call RAP. What do you know, ranger showed up within ten minutes and spent a good hour and a half investigating them. He laid multiple charges, for multiple rods, barbed hooks, kept fish over limit, I'm pretty sure there was alcohol involved as well.....and so on...now they have a HUGE problem on their hands.

At first I felt bad for what I did(being an immigrant myself, well not anymore but that's how I got here), but then again this is Canada, Alberta and there are rules implemented to be obeyed and followed(something you don't do in Eastern Europe) and well since I am a Canadian citizen now I had to fulfill my duty as an honorable citizen

That is one way of trying to protect fishing that we all enjoy so much.

Now there are couple of other groups of poachers that I will do my best to stop. Crawling valley has a big problem when it comes to this, and boy when they catch that group of people I wouldn't be surprised if some of them end up behind bars. This is a group of 4-8 Pollacks, Hungarians, Checz...and each time I come to that spot the shoreline is littered with filleted walleye, and I'm talking 20-30 fish, not 2-3 but 20-30. So far i saw them two times, third time is a charm

Bow river(through Calgary) is another place that needs a clean up, but those crooks are hard to find during daylight, most of them poach through the nite.

What do you guys do with the reward money??? I was thinking Alberta childrens hospital(that's where I donate through business).

But you're a balkan, close enough to eastern european,,, are you sure they were "polacks" maybe they were krauts or drunken irishmen who sounded like eastern europeans,,, pick your words differently.

Originally Posted by Albertafisher

I'd say donate it to Trout Unlimited

Good call on the donation. I worked for T.U many years ago and as another person posted here about pesticides and the like from golf courses and farms, is very valid.

We were doing a full sweep of the Elbow from the Dam to the Bow (7 of us over two months) and one of the worst types of pollution wasn't shopping carts or glass or tires but lawnmower bags emptied on the banks from all the houses with lawns that touch the water. Yes the river takes it away, depleting oxygen as it goes, seeding and constricting the willows (that we replanted) and those immaculate weedless lawns have the usual fertilisers and herbicides too.

Does anybody remember when the Elbow was a phenomenal trout stream and I'm talking big ones too?

[jeprli]

Fishingnutter don't worry I know the difference very well between the countries and people that live in them. Pollacks were very easy to figure out as they seem to be very patriotic with their clothing of choice

Hungarian language is unmistakable, once you hear it you cannot mistake it.

I don't mean to offend anyone, just because a few are doing something they're not supposed to doesn't automatically mean that all people from that country are the same.

Why did you get so excited about my post??? I'm just writing what i've seen and heard, that's all.

I know a bunch of people from my country who are downright disgusting when they talk about their ways of catching fish. Then again I've seen Canadians(whatever you consider to be native) who poach as well. There will always be bad cookies no matter where you are.


209x50 - Do what you will, I never stated that you have to follow my practice!

[209x50]

Originally Posted by jeprli

Fishingnutter don't worry I know the difference very well between the countries and people that live in them. Pollacks were very easy to figure out as they seem to be very patriotic with their clothing of choice

Hungarian language is unmistakable, once you hear it you cannot mistake it.

I don't mean to offend anyone, just because a few are doing something they're not supposed to doesn't automatically mean that all people from that country are the same.

Why did you get so excited about my post??? I'm just writing what i've seen and heard, that's all.

I know a bunch of people from my country who are downright disgusting when they talk about their ways of catching fish. Then again I've seen Canadians(whatever you consider to be native) who poach as well. There will always be bad cookies no matter where you are.


209x50 - Do what you will, I never stated that you have to follow my practice!

Well of course I do what I want with in the law, it is a free country!

[Arn?Narn.]

I got lectured once for fishing down stream from a guy who was C&R with a flyrod and I was catching and keeping with bait and spin...

He was so ****ed,...asked me to leave lol

[209x50]

Originally Posted by Arn?Narn.

I got lectured once for fishing down stream from a guy who was C&R with a flyrod and I was catching and keeping with bait and spin...

He was so ****ed,...asked me to leave lol

First off enforced C&R would decimate the number of people who buy fishing licenses, that is a proven point and in studies done for years being able to keep a fish is the most important reason to fish, every time. Who would buy a hunting license to take pictures of game?

Originally Posted by jeprli

Fishingnutter don't worry I know the difference very well between the countries and people that live in them. Pollacks were very easy to figure out as they seem to be very patriotic with their clothing of choice

Hungarian language is unmistakable, once you hear it you cannot mistake it.

I don't mean to offend anyone, just because a few are doing something they're not supposed to doesn't automatically mean that all people from that country are the same.

Why did you get so excited about my post??? I'm just writing what i've seen and heard, that's all.

I know a bunch of people from my country who are downright disgusting when they talk about their ways of catching fish. Then again I've seen Canadians(whatever you consider to be native) who poach as well. There will always be bad cookies no matter where you are.


209x50 - Do what you will, I never stated that you have to follow my practice!

I always get a knee jerk reaction to Polack,, being Polish doesn't help.

Poachers aren't a specific nationality, it's an everybody title.

A large number of Buzz Bomb users on the Coast this year were slammed for foul hooking by flyfishers, there was chatter about banning them. Snagging is a nasty form of poaching. Strangely enough I caught a pink with a streamer and 12 feet of leader line.

AFGA used to have a great Outdoorsmen Program when I was a kid, one teacher brought it into my junior high as standard Curriculum. Some people on here would probably know him, great guy, should look him up one day.

[casual observer]

Originally Posted by 209x50

First off enforced C&R would decimate the number of people who buy fishing licenses, that is a proven point and in studies done for years being able to keep a fish is the most important reason to fish, every time. Who would buy a hunting license to take pictures of game?

Weren't you the same fellow berating pottymouth a few weeks back because he "couldn't see beyond his own backyard" with reards to the crossbow discussion? There are a lot of fishermen who enjoy the pleasure of fishing without killing them. I am not saying that I support forced C&R, but some days I am quite satisfied to watch a fish I have landed swim off to provide enjoyment to the next angler. Some days I thouroughly enjoy a barbecued trout or a fried walleye. Everyone is entitled to make their own choices and I for one am happy to see that a large number of anglers are able to see that C&R is a necessary part of ensuring that all Albertans have a chance to go out and catch a fish. Some days 209 I get concerned for your health. It must be hard for you to breathe with your head wedged so firmly in such a foul smelling orifice.

jeprli, i think what got some a little excited about your post was the fact that you felt the need to point out the ethnic background of those in your story. It just struck as having a wee bit of racism to it. A poacher is a poacher and an outdoorsman is an outdoorsman regardless of where he came from or what language he speaks.

[ishootbambi]

Originally Posted by 209x50

First off enforced C&R would decimate the number of people who buy fishing licenses, that is a proven point and in studies done for years being able to keep a fish is the most important reason to fish, every time. Who would buy a hunting license to take pictures of game?

good lord man....ive thought more than once that your way of thinking is bass ackwards, but this topic proves it better than any. i havent seen anyone saying anything bad about guys who keep the odd fish. poachers have never been and never will be welcome, but noone has denounced eating a few fish. so now here you are telling us how catch and release is a bad thing???
thats amazing that you could somehow give less consumptive users the holier than thou treatment and a sneer down your nose.

as for your question....the long lineup of guys wanting to get in on a "green" hunt for rhino in africa, and the price tag attached to it suggest there are a great many hunters willing to buy a license to take pictures of game. in fact the biggest name i know of who has done that is our own canadian outdoor personality JIM SHOCKEY. maybe you have heard of him? he seems to be fairly well known.

Keep your hunting crap out of the fishing forum!

Take it easy on 209, he is totally right.
I give full support to C&R as thats how I view the future of the fishery.
He's giving 2 sides to the arguement which is whats needed to have a healthy discussion on the topic.

However, there are studies out there that promote the axe of the C&R way of sport fishing. I have read them a few times and it makes a lot of sense, if not more than C&R. I believe a few countries have switched over to outlawing C&R due to these studies.

If your a bright C&R angler that knows how to catch fish wherever and whenever then you are doing a lot more harm than those who keep their limit and stick to the regulations.

It will never come to Canada as there are to many famous conservationists that have given the thumbs up to C&R for way to long to go back on their word.

[ishootbambi]

to start with kyle, i didnt bring hunting into this...209 asked a question and i answered it. as for bringing 2 sides to an argument,....what argument?? a few have stated they like to eat a few fish...a few have stated they dont, and poachers have been discussed. there really has been no diagreement thus far. even C&R proponents are agreeing that not all released fish survive. so no arguing yet...well except maybe your last post. you seem to be contradicting yourself...you give full support to C&R, but 2 sentences later say it makes more sense to axe it??
and no, 209 is not totally right about C&R. yes studies show that a percentage of released fish do not survive. many factors affect the actual number of fish that die after release such as handling time, depth caught, yada yada. but i will go ahead and once again state the obvious. a good many more fish survive after being caught and released than those that are caught and bashed on the head. heck, you can try to argue with me if you like, but i think we agree?? unless you want to change your mind just to argue?

Iam saying I agree with both sides of the arguement however I choose to support C&R.
By "arguement" I meant debate.

You dont know that a good number of fish survive when you practice C&R.

A fisherman bags his limit of say 3 trout and heads for home.

A fisherman following the path of C&R can catch 50 fish per day.

Are you telling me the mortality rate is that low as to keep it within 3 fish per 50? I highly doubt it, especially when our regs dont ban treble hooks and our seasons are extremely out of whack. They need to be seriously gone over and adjusted within the different blocks....open season on Sturgeon and Snipe? Are you kidding me? Anyways thats a whole nother can of worms that I dont care to get into.

Either way, I support C&R because I know how to properly release a fish. I sometimes regret that decision when I see people trying to unhook a fish while it flops around on the shore. Theres a ton of disrespect in that regard and it quite honestly makes a guy ashamed to call himself a catch and release fisherman at times.

I apologize if I come across as an angry *****, Im not angry....a ***** maybe.
Its a fantastic issue to discuss as both sides of the coin have bright sides.

[ishootbambi]

okay, i see what yer gettin at here. and i agree wholeheartedly. i have seen waaaaaay too many guys that drag a fish onto the mud and rocks and let it flop around until it calms down. then get out the jaw spreaders and jam them in while holding the fish by the eyes or the gills followed by turning the thing inside out with an extra long hook removal tool and then see how far they can toss the fish back into the water!!! that is usually followed by the astonished and dumbfounded look on their face wondering why the fish is floating upside down. i think the solution is to better educate the masses on the proper way to release a fish. id like to see a section in the regulations dedicated to educating people on ways to reduce stress to a fish. to have zero mortality on released fish is pretty unrealistic....but im absolutely certain there is room for improvement. going barbless is a start, replacing treble hooks with singles is great, if you can, dont even touch the fish....just leave it in the water and reach out with a plier or forcep to pop the hook. there are other good tips as well. anyone else feel free to add.

[Don Andersen]

I've pondered my effect on fish due to the numbers of trout I catch. A typical year [from personal angling records for 40 years] shows I landed approx. 1000 fish in the 110>130 days I spend angling. Using a 3% C&R mortality, I killed 30 trout.

From the DFO Recreational Angling survey site below, I found the following quote:


http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/stats/rec/c...ction4-eng.htm


In 2005, anglers caught 215 million fish of all species and retained nearly 72 million (Annex A.7). Resident anglers in all provinces and territories caught 157 million of this total harvest. Foreign anglers caught 54 million (25%) while Canadian non-resident anglers caught a relatively small proportion of the total fish harvest (4 million) during the year (Figure 4.5 and Annex A.8).

Resident anglers kept 39% of the fish they caught compared with 22% and 18% share of fish kept by Canadian non-resident and foreign anglers. On average, each resident angler kept 24 fish in 2005. Every Canadian non-resident angler kept an average of 7 fish, while foreign anglers retained an average of 16 fish of various species.

Residents caught 157,000,000
Kept 39% = 61.230,000
C&R - 95,770,000
C&R mortailty = 3% * 95,770,000 = 2,873,100
Total killed by residents = 61,230,000 + 2,873,100 = 64,103,100
Total Residents = 2,456,876
Residents killed 26.09 fish


I must therefore conclude that although I fish a lot, my effect on the fish population is nearly the same as the Average Kill & Keep angler. It must be admitted though that through my C&R practices, the Average Kill & Keep Angler will not catch/kill nearly as many fish.

You be the judge whether or not this is a good thing.


catch ya'


Don

[surhuntsalot]

I think alot of the "Overfishing " hype is fabricated. Right down to the commercials that state "Alberta has only 800 fishbearing lakes, and is under tremendous angling pressure". The pressure has always been there, and even more so in the past. It wasn't that long ago that the limmits were ...
10 Pike
5 Walleye
30 Perch

I used to see alot more anglers back then as well, before gas was $1/ litre, and the limmit was 1 whatever...

The word used to get out that Big Perch were biting on lake X, and that was it. For the next few weeks it was like a village out on the ice, same people coming back day after day. After a while it would turn too " There not bitin that great" to " Not worth the trip for a few small ones"... Lakes never got fished out...

Now under the New Biology thinking, I see more problems. Pike limmits reduced to 1 in an effort to increase populations even further, now perch populations are declining (guess what all the extra pike eat). Fish populations (Wolf lake walleye for example) that once had all be it fewer, but healthier looking walleye, now full of overabundant, skinny, sickly looking fish. What do you think happens when you meet , or exceed the carrying capacity of a body of water ? It's simple, fish are more prone to disease, depleation of forage species resulting in overabundant stunted fish.

The proof that this thinkin "Might " be out of whack is finally stated in the 2010 fishing regulations on page 4 under "pike"...

and I quote...

"Nine lakes in the norhteast (Amisk,Big Johnson,Fork,Garner,Hope,Island(2),North Buck,Skelton) exhibit high catch rates and good pike densities, but few large fish. Harvest options have been implemented to test and assess whether population dynamics or angling pressure determine lake populations."

That said I know there are some exeptions such as lakes in close proximity to large metropolitian areas, that may need special regulatory consideration, But the rule of thumb as of late is to consider ALL provincial water bodies as collapsed, or on the verge of. I don't believe that.

I don't think you have to keep every fish you catch (but there are some countries where C&R is illegal), but those who do practice total C&R shouldn't rag on those of us who practice Catch & Eat...

[Penner]

Originally Posted by Don Andersen

I've pondered my effect on fish due to the numbers of trout I catch. A typical year [from personal angling records for 40 years] shows I landed approx. 1000 fish in the 110>130 days I spend angling. Using a 3% C&R mortality, I killed 30 trout.

From the DFO Recreational Angling survey site below, I found the following quote:


http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/stats/rec/c...ction4-eng.htm


In 2005, anglers caught 215 million fish of all species and retained nearly 72 million (Annex A.7). Resident anglers in all provinces and territories caught 157 million of this total harvest. Foreign anglers caught 54 million (25%) while Canadian non-resident anglers caught a relatively small proportion of the total fish harvest (4 million) during the year (Figure 4.5 and Annex A.8).

Resident anglers kept 39% of the fish they caught compared with 22% and 18% share of fish kept by Canadian non-resident and foreign anglers. On average, each resident angler kept 24 fish in 2005. Every Canadian non-resident angler kept an average of 7 fish, while foreign anglers retained an average of 16 fish of various species.

Residents caught 157,000,000
Kept 39% = 61.230,000
C&R - 95,770,000
C&R mortailty = 3% * 95,770,000 = 2,873,100
Total killed by residents = 61,230,000 + 2,873,100 = 64,103,100
Total Residents = 2,456,876
Residents killed 26.09 fish


I must therefore conclude that although I fish a lot, my effect on the fish population is nearly the same as the Average Kill & Keep angler. It must be admitted though that through my C&R practices, the Average Kill & Keep Angler will not catch/kill nearly as many fish.

You be the judge whether or not this is a good thing.


catch ya'


Don

One thing I know for certain is that we as a society are unable to limit our own greed so the government continually imposes new rules and regulations for us to follow as we are incapable of self-limiting as the proof is clearly demonstrated within this very thread. So get use to the ever-changing rules and regulations, draws, etc. as they will continue to arise unless we begin to change our ways.

As for C&R, the ASSUMED percentages for C&R mortality wither it be 1%, 2%, 3%, 5% or whatever is debatable and may never really be actually known. Again one thing I now for certain is that a fish that has been caught, handled properly and quickly, and then released has a 100% better chance of surviving then a fish on a stringer or in a live well. A kept fish has a 100% mortality.

The mortality argument I’m not buying. There are some great examples of predominately C&R fisheries, the Bow & Crowsnest Rivers, Muir Lake, Lake Wabamun, etc and thousands of folks fish those water bodies.

So I’m all for it. C&R system with occasional limited and measured harvest to allow for some table fair and to keep populations in check but we must imply the rule across the board for all species in that body of water not just one.

At the very least limit your own catch not based on what a regulation says but what your conscience would says is enough.

[209x50]

Originally Posted by casual observer

Weren't you the same fellow berating pottymouth a few weeks back because he "couldn't see beyond his own backyard" with reards to the crossbow discussion? There are a lot of fishermen who enjoy the pleasure of fishing without killing them. I am not saying that I support forced C&R, but some days I am quite satisfied to watch a fish I have landed swim off to provide enjoyment to the next angler. Some days I thouroughly enjoy a barbecued trout or a fried walleye. Everyone is entitled to make their own choices and I for one am happy to see that a large number of anglers are able to see that C&R is a necessary part of ensuring that all Albertans have a chance to go out and catch a fish. Some days 209 I get concerned for your health. It must be hard for you to breathe with your head wedged so firmly in such a foul smelling orifice.

jeprli, i think what got some a little excited about your post was the fact that you felt the need to point out the ethnic background of those in your story. It just struck as having a wee bit of racism to it. A poacher is a poacher and an outdoorsman is an outdoorsman regardless of where he came from or what language he speaks.

Hey welcome back! Just couldn't let a little banning keep you down now could you?
If you weren't so quick just to want to pick a fight you would see I wasn't against anything other than forced C&R. Why? Well you might want to take a look beyond YOUR backyard to, oh, maybe Europe and see what happened there.
How long you going to be around this time?