Why would anyone look down their nose at fishing for pan fish?

I belong to a fish & game club that holds about 12 tournaments a year and only one is a panfish tournament to (supposedly) prevent panfish overpopulation in our local lake. Many don't have a clue what is needed (light lures and tackle) and rarely catch even a full limit of crappie much less other panfish species.

I've caught many trophy bass and pickerel in the last 35 years but have come to enjoy catching more fish on any outing and panfish are the way to do that. Sure, a seven pound bass or five pound pickerel are trophies I'm proud of, but I feel bad about stressing those ol' timers and worry about delayed mortality, which is one of the reasons I don't tournament fish for bass or pickerel. Keeping fish in a crowded livewell and roughly handling them at weigh-in ups the odd 20% will die after release especially in warm water. (The yokels in my club don't run tournaments like the big boys such as B.A.S.S.)

NYS crappie limit is 25 - not really putting much of a dent in a prolific species population when a tournament is held in April. Sad that so many fish are killed and disposed of so someone can collect a small pay check. Note - I'm not against fishing tournaments, but do value wild life and for hundreds of fish to die for no good reason rubs me the wrong way. The glory days of being in the top five for the year was exciting in my younger days, but those days are long gone.

As far as I'm concerned, a fish is a fish regardless whether it's a 20 carp (caught one last year) or 15" crappie (which really make me happy) - the tug & pull are the instant mysteries I fish for along with trophy size; the rest is just confirmation that it is a fish on the end of the line and not a snapping turtle (caught one in the tail that weighed over eight pounds).

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Originally Posted by Spoonminnow

As far as I'm concerned, a fish is a fish regardless whether it's a 20 carp (caught one last year) or 15" crappie (which really make me happy) - the tug & pull are the instant mysteries I fish for along with trophy size; the rest is just confirmation that it is a fish on the end of the line and not a snapping turtle (caught one in the tail that weighed over eight pounds).

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Amen!

Couldnt agree more.

I agree

With ya there!! But then again I see the same thing in SOME fly fisherman with attitudes towards anyone fishing spinning gear in THEIR river. They always seem to forget that we all the same exise tax's and buy the same license, and to get shut out of any stretch of river to make it fly only is BS.

To each their own i say just wish everyone thought that way......some folks just feel the need to feel better than others regardless,sad little people.

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Originally Posted by Fatman

With ya there!! But then again I see the same thing in SOME fly fisherman with attitudes towards anyone fishing spinning gear in THEIR river. They always seem to forget that we all the same exise tax's and buy the same license, and to get shut out of any stretch of river to make it fly only is BS.

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Agreed.

Snobbery is unfortunate regardless of who's looking down on whom.

It's all just fishin'.

I agree

I agree as well. Yet that seems to be the way of the world today. Instead of self respect people have become self important.

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Originally Posted by deathb4disco

Agreed.

Snobbery is unfortunate regardless of who's looking down on whom.

It's all just fishin'.

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This kinda says it all. I could begin a rant of opinion and examples but that just gives them space they don't deserve. We're to help one another in what we enjoy,whether in a ranger or on the bank.