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With the spawn right around the corner, I have been thinking about whether to keep the fish during the spawn or releasing them. I have decided to release all the fish except what I need to last until my next fishing trip. I will have plenty of time to restock my freezer after they have spawned. This is my personal decision and I'm not condemning anyone who keeps their fish.
To each their own, personally don't care either way. When I need fish I keep fish.
If I catch males, I keep them for the freezer. I try to release as any females as possible because I don't really NEED the fish. When ya fish year round, it's easy to have plenty of fish. Let the big females spawn. I agree with "To each their own" tho.Quote:
Originally Posted by spindle
then why "toot" your horn ?
I was sitting here thinking about this thread and wondering what the difference in keeping a female crappie now or in May once you put a knife to her she will never lay anymore eggs, with that in mind we might ought to throw females back year round.:dono
I tend to agree with your assessment on that!Quote:
Originally Posted by Rees Guide
Well every female from 6" up will lay eggs in the spawn at different times . There is no way we can catch enough to make a difference . Crappie will take over a small lake . They all eat the same .
By the time I figure out if its a male or female I've done cut half of it off.
I catch them from cold water and release them in hot grease.Quote:
Originally Posted by free bird
If you need the fish ..Keep it.. I am 64, and for years, I have caught and released many fish. Last year, I released 3 bass over ten pounds, and several over 6. The State came in and drained the lake. This is the second lake that has happened. You should see the fish that were wasted. I will release all crappie over 2 lbs. if I don't need them to eat. But a dead fish is a dead fish. Don't bring up something that might cause the State to make more stupid rules..Enjoy the outdoors, and pass it on to the young ones.
I believe in the theory of take what you need so the ones left can grow.
If I'm crappie fishing I'm eating them! I catch crappie for eating.
I always heard you hurt a lake worse by keeping the males???
Maybe someone with a phd in fish could give an educated answer here??
That is all I'm trying to say. I am fortunate enough that I can fish pretty much whenever and as often as I want. I am not condemning anyone for keeping the fish they catch anytime of the year. I just think, for me, as much as I fish and as many as I catch I can afford to release some during the spawn. Please don't think I am saying everyone should release their catch during spawn.Quote:
Originally Posted by jmeador
I hook and cook 12" and over. The rest can make baby's.
The males guard the nest and young fry,the females spawn with several males .This is from stuff I have read over the years,as long as you don't try to "stock the freezers"on every trip,the fish will be fine.The corp dropping the water during the spawn and leaving the eggs up on the bank will hurt more than what you catch.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dee F
SPINDLE, I made a comment about water to grease. After I get a couple of limits in the freezer, I don't catch and release. I just catch 15 or 20 and go in. We have a few older folks who can't fish any more that we give fish to. I try to get enough to last me to the next season. I never have a fish in my freezer over 7 or 8 months old. I admire you for being conservation minded. But, I don't know if it helps on the big reservoirs. So many going through the spillways in the winter. When I was a teenager we slaughtered ducks on a daily basis. 20 years later we started killing 2 or 3 per hunt. That's when we re-thought our thinking and realized that there wasn't and endless supply out there.Quote:
Originally Posted by spindle
I'll prolly let the big girls go and keep the males. Especially on the Butla. That lake needs all the help it can get!Will catch plenty of fish pullin cranks after the spawn on a number of lakes!