C&r Rant 2024

fishguy613 reply :

00 mod reply :

I am almost 100% C&R, but if he is within the legal limits, it is his right to keep whatever he catches. If you believe he is not sticking to the legal limits, contact the appropriate legal body of your state and let them handle it!

Jeff

5fishlimit reply :

You don't. You call the DNR and report his boat #. Confrontation can lead to bad results.

Brian Needham reply :

all the above posts cover it.

Caylub reply :

It is far fetched but that may be his most reliable method of putting food on the table. Do you know if he is living off the grid? Or is without a steady job? Those probably aren't the answers but they are possibilities.

fishguy613 reply :

of course I agree with that logic, I was just thinking since there are not many homes / cottages on the lake and we are all a close community I figured approaching him wouldn't be an issue if done correctly. ive been considering making up some really nice, big and simple C&R promotion signs and putting them up on the dirt road coming into the lake. I am not sure if he lives off the land but I would have to assume no since he has a big pontoon boat, but hey what do I know haha

Caylub reply :

I like your idea about starting your own catch and release campaign at your lake. That would be cool. I don't think you would be out of line expressing your concerns for the fish population to the guy as long as you did it diligently.

Jrob78 reply :

I can almost guarantee there isn't anything you're going to do or say that will change this guy's mind. If he isn't breaking any laws, it's none of your business what he does.

tatertester reply :

In some states your limit and possession are the same. So you cannot fish daily and keep your limit unless you have eaten your previous days limit. A man in the local town would often go fishing daily , catch his limit and usually freeze them. Someone turned him in to the local warden who went to this guys house, checked his freezer, and charged him with over the limit(possession}.

Missourifishin reply :

On 10/29/2013 at 7:37 AM, 00 mod said:

I am almost 100% C&R, but if he is within the legal limits, it is his right to keep whatever he catches. If you believe he is not sticking to the legal limits, contact the appropriate legal body of your state and let them handle it!

Jeff

I have to agree completely with this. Every once in a while I'll eat a crappie or channel cat. But I fish for fun, and almost always c & r. But if the guy isn't breaking the law, I'd just leave it alone, although I would find it incredibly annoying.

fishguy613 reply :

yes it is extremely annoying to me as well, but I agree with everyone elses points and will not approach this individual. I just want to preserve my lake, maybe even get the walleye population back in order over a 5 year period or something. one can dream, right?

Loop_Dad reply :

Agree with all the above advices. I feel your pain thou. When you said he keeps regardless of size, I wonder you know that for the fact and if undersized fish is included. And tartertester has a good point regarding daily catch limit vs possession limit.

Darren. reply :

Tough situation, and I can certainly appreciate your enthusiasm for C&R (I'm that way, too). I'll agree with others that if he's w/in legal keep limits, he's legal. We may not like it, but not a whole lot we can do.

For me, this is a sport, too, not a means of putting food on my table. I've eaten some fresh water fish I've caught (crappie), and believe I ate one bass in my entire life, back when I was a wee laddie maybe 6 or 7 years of age. But it's 99.9% CnR now.

flyfisher reply :

Report it and move on. I also find it hard to believe you are able to see from a distance that he keeps everything regardless of size or species unless you are paying more attention to him than you are fishing.

Jolly Green reply :

In such a small community, I would probably want to be darn sure that he was doing something illegal before I even called the authorities, and the only thing that you yourself could possibly witness would be bagging more than the daily limit of a species or keeping fish that are obviously outside of size limits. (Assuming he's not fishing with a crossbow or something completely asinine like that.) If he were my neighbor, he could legally have 60+ assorted fish in his freezer. Maybe he's giving them away, I know guys that do that. I hope he's not single-handedly draining your local resource but I kind of doubt it? Maybe your community as a whole would be interested in funding some professional management strategies, and maybe this guy could turn out to be helpful after all. I understand your frustration and concern, but don't be too quick to crap where you fish, so to speak.

AK-Jax86 reply :

I would approach him. I am 100% catch and release

fishguy613 reply :

On 10/29/2013 at 9:37 AM, flyfisher said:
Report it and move on. I also find it hard to believe you are able to see from a distance that he keeps everything regardless of size or species unless you are paying more attention to him than you are fishing.

I go fishing probably 3-4 times a week on this lake, and over the past year I can honestly say ive seen him every single time ive been fishing except once that I recall. It seems like i pay a lot of attention to him but my dad calls him bonehead because apparently he has built quite a reputation on the lake for being, well a bonehead. so its kind of became a minor topic of conversation for us, every single time we were fishing we just hear his boat coming and one of us says theres bonehead. since we basically see this fellow 3-4 times a week, we've trolled past him, casted near him, etc. and also the lake is not that big. my neighbour also said he has noticed that he never releases anything, so i guess im not alone in noticing this

Helluva_Engineer reply :

Exactly how small is this lake? I really doubt ONE guy is wrecking the population especially if he's only hitting one spot. Though, by all means, if you're positive he's breaking the law then report him.

bigbill reply :

I have a local shore fisherman who takes everything too even 2" sunfish to eat. Thank God he doesn't have a boat. Another guy says he boils the fish to make fish cakes. Did eyes ever hear of food stamps? In bad, hard times the pets and fish suffer.

flyfisher reply :

On 10/29/2013 at 10:22 AM, bigbill said:
I have a local shore fisherman who takes everything too even 2" sunfish to eat. Thank God he doesn't have a boat. Another guy says he boils the fish to make fish cakes. Did eyes ever hear of food stamps? In bad, hard times the pets and fish suffer.

You are seriously going to fault a guy for not taking food stamps? wow that is the first i have heard of that one....

I would also venture a guess that if he is out there that often in the same spot then the he might be doing the lake a little bit of a favor by taking out some smaller fish so the lake can remain healthy. Not saying he should over harvest or take anything undersized but many lakes could benefit from a few fish being harvested, well at leaf that is what i have read and seen in a few lakes here in VA where they have encouraged people to take fish.

DocBar reply :

I'd get into a running gun battle with the dude, shoot him, confiscate his rods and make his children fish with a Zebco 33 to dissuade any fishing from them.

On the other hand, I grew up in east Texas where some people needed to poach to make ends meet and I understand the situation. Naw. Shoot him and confiscate his equipment...Obamacare will take care of the rest.

Bluebasser86 reply :

If he's not breaking any laws there's nothing you can really do about it. If one guy is seriously hurting the fish population in a lake though I'd be really surprised. You may just address the lack of walleye to the powers that be of your community about possibly restocking the lake with walleye. Some lakes they don't reproduce naturally very well and need supplemental stocking to maintain a fishable population or they'll disappear even if everyone is turning every one they catch loose.

CoBass reply :

On 10/29/2013 at 1:28 PM, Bluebasser86 said:
If he's not breaking any laws there's nothing you can really do about it. If one guy is seriously hurting the fish population in a lake though I'd be really surprised. You may just address the lake of walleye to the powers that be of your community about possibly restocking the lake with walleye. Some lakes they don't reproduce naturally very well and need supplemental stocking to maintain a fishable population or they'll disappear even if everyone is turning every one they catch loose.

Bluebasser makes a good point about walleye reproduction. Not all lakes are suited to walleye spawning. Where I live, there are only a few lakes in the entire state that have self sustaining walleye populations. Every other walleye fishery in the state gets a yearly stocking to maintain populations.

SirSnookalot reply :

I c&r and no where do I see the system abused more than in saltwater, it does annoy me but nothing I can do about as the people are lawful. I've got a good hunch on many need the fish to survive so, if you're fishing with tip broken off be my guess, I just mind my own business. We have one guy that comes out, must have 15 different outfits, nothing less than a stella and st croix or loomis, he doesn't need the fish to survive, yet takes everything and "begs" others, I don't give him crap.

Sam reply :

Take a different approach to this guy.

When he is fishing you motor over to him, introduce yourself, and talk about fishing the lake. Get his input and philosophy of fishing while being nice.

Do not aggravate or challenge the guy in any manner. Wave to him as you motor by or he goes by you.

If you have a GPS unit on your boat you need to mark all of the places he fishes, be it his one favorite or a number of alternatives. Then start a list of the times he is on the lake at these places so you will know that he does not fish on Mondays, but Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays he starts at point A, moves to point B and finishes at point C.

Now you know him by name; probably where he lives on the lake; where the fishes; when the starts; when he finishes; and you have a nice profile of his fishing culture.

Here is when you strike! You get on the lake a half hour or a full hour before him and hit his places before he gets the opportunity. This will limit the number of fish he catches as you would have hooked the majority before he arrives.

Once again, don't confront him. Any confrontations are to come from law enforcement authorities.

Good luck.

Hattrick7 reply :

On 10/29/2013 at 3:22 PM, Sam said:

Take a different approach to this guy.

When he is fishing you motor over to him, introduce yourself, and talk about fishing the lake. Get his input and philosophy of fishing while being nice.

Do not aggravate or challenge the guy in any manner. Wave to him as you motor by or he goes by you.

If you have a GPS unit on your boat you need to mark all of the places he fishes, be it his one favorite or a number of alternatives. Then start a list of the times he is on the lake at these places so you will know that he does not fish on Mondays, but Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays he starts at point A, moves to point B and finishes at point C.

Now you know him by name; probably where he lives on the lake; where the fishes; when the starts; when he finishes; and you have a nice profile of his fishing culture.

Here is when you strike! You get on the lake a half hour or a full hour before him and hit his places before he gets the opportunity. This will limit the number of fish he catches as you would have hooked the majority before he arrives.

Once again, don't confront him. Any confrontations are to come from law enforcement authorities.

Good luck.

I'm with Sam if he's a regular I'd get to know him. Once you get to know him a little better it'll be easier to voice your concern without sounding like the game warden. Plus you'll be able to see if he's taking in fish that aren't legal.

Catt reply :

My biggest C&R Rant!

People who think they have a right to shove C&R down everyones throat?

That's the responce you would likely get!

Since the 70s this topic has been hotly contested, some with fights breaking out.

Ever been to a town hall or county meeting where C&R is debated?

I agree with Sam on this one

Me personal opinion is selective harvesting is more effective than 100% CR.

I agree with Sam on this one

flyfisher reply :

On 10/29/2013 at 3:22 PM, Sam said:

Take a different approach to this guy.

When he is fishing you motor over to him, introduce yourself, and talk about fishing the lake. Get his input and philosophy of fishing while being nice.

Do not aggravate or challenge the guy in any manner. Wave to him as you motor by or he goes by you.

If you have a GPS unit on your boat you need to mark all of the places he fishes, be it his one favorite or a number of alternatives. Then start a list of the times he is on the lake at these places so you will know that he does not fish on Mondays, but Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays he starts at point A, moves to point B and finishes at point C.

Now you know him by name; probably where he lives on the lake; where the fishes; when the starts; when he finishes; and you have a nice profile of his fishing culture.

Here is when you strike! You get on the lake a half hour or a full hour before him and hit his places before he gets the opportunity. This will limit the number of fish he catches as you would have hooked the majority before he arrives.

Once again, don't confront him. Any confrontations are to come from law enforcement authorities.

Good luck.

Wow that seems really crappy to me. Act like you are his friend to get some info then take his spots on the days you know he is out there because you stalked him?

Sorry but that is just bad regardless of your thoughts on C&R. If he is breaking the law tell the authorities and let them handle the situation.

TRYTOFISH reply :

I don't have a problem with anyone keeping what they catch as long that they are legal. I think there is a reason why they set limits on size and quanity. I keep alot of what i catch because i like to eat fish. I have fish in my freezer that i keep for fish fry's and me and moma. When I get to the point when I have enough I release. If you dont have any limits on your lake, I would contact your fish & game to ask why or if they can do anything to establish some. There will always be some Clown breaking the rules wherever you go or some Treehugger thinking your destroying mother nature. Best thing you could do is do what you can legally and in good taste. Good luck with it!

J Francho reply :

If he's breaking the law, report him. If not, it's really none of your business what he does with his catch.

SPEEDBEAD. reply :

LOL, C&R threads.....

Food stamps, spot burning? This is entertaining.

Brian Needham reply :

On 10/29/2013 at 11:25 PM, SPEEDBEAD. said:

LOL, C&R threads.....

Food stamps, spot burning? This is entertaining.

nail on head, speedbead, nail on head.

I wont say much until they start acting like "animals" ........

ww2farmer reply :

I am 100% catch and release for bass, but I am going to start keeping everything I catch....... Within legal limits of course, and post videos of me filleting 5lbers on here just to cause an uproar, just because I like to be a d bag..... Actually I probably won't, that's too much work. For years people equate there lack of fishing success with other people keeping to many fish, when the truth of the matter is people like to blame there sucky ability to catch on someone else, rather than looking in the mirror.

Ratherbfishing reply :

We live in different times. Way back when, people fished almost excusively to eat-sometimes to the detriment of the fishery. It became (or was) as much a cultural thing as a necessity to keep and eat the fish you caught. Having said this, it STILL bothers me when I witness someone going back again and again and again, keeping nearly everything-even if it's within legal size and daily/possession limits. Nevertheless, if he is legal, there's not much you can (or should) do about it. If, on the other hand, you believe he is violating the law, it should be addressed. While I like to believe communities ought to police themselves as much as possible, let the police handle it.

Raul reply :

On 10/29/2013 at 7:51 AM, Caylub said:
It is far fetched but that may be his most reliable method of putting food on the table. Do you know if he is living off the grid? Or is without a steady job? Those probably aren't the answers but they are possibilities.

Being poor is not an excuse to break the law.

I have nothing against people keeping fish to eat as long as they do it legally ( with a license ), respecting sizes and catch limits, any other way than that it´s called poaching.

WRB reply :

During the late 60's and early 70's I was a staunch advocate of catch and releasing largemouth bass, specifically trophy size bass. To say that I ran into a brick wall is putting things lightly. I got letters back from Ray Scott, the president of B.A.S.S. stating fishing pressure alone had no affect on bass populations, the bass are prolific spawner's, good renewable resource. Times have changed and I now find myself on opposite side of the C&R issue.

C & R has become a cult with some anglers that believe every single bass caught must be released.

It was wrong when Scott took his stand, he later reversed his position, not from his original belief that fishing pressure was harmful, it looked bad to have hundreds of dead bass at the end of his tournaments that became food for fish fries. Livewells were developed and better fish handling skills are still evolving.

In-Fisherman had it right with their "Selective Harvest" in the 80's that continues today. Properly handle the special trophy fish and keep fish that will not survive or a size that are overly populated.

What the 100% C & R angler doesn't acknowledge is it's impossible to release 100% of the bass, some don't survive after catching it. There is a post catch mortality rate, the bigger the fish, the higher that rate becomes. It's doesn't harm a fishery to keep a few fish to eat, there is always a combination of factors that deplete a fish species from a body of water as large as a lake.

Should you harass another angler for fishing within regulations...no! Should you turn in another angler for fishing illegally... Yes!

Tom

J Francho reply :

But Tom, you had no financial interest in your beliefs, then and now....

AK-Jax86 reply :

On 10/29/2013 at 7:47 PM, flyfisher said:

Wow that seems really crappy to me. Act like you are his friend to get some info then take his spots on the days you know he is out there because you stalked him?

Sorry but that is just bad regardless of your thoughts on C&R. If he is breaking the law tell the authorities and let them handle the situation.

I have to agree with everything you said. Acting like you are someone's friend to steal their spots... That's some teenage little girl middle school type s*** lol

PABASS reply :

First don't approach him, did anyone not read about the angler whom was killed recently, shot over approaching a young person whom was stealing something from his boat. You simply leave it to your DNR, call them let them deal with this person who may well be in there legal right. Second concerning bass I am 100% C&R, I agree with Selective Harvest its proven by biologist to be healthy for a lake, around here there is just to much pollution to eat the trout and walleye.

WRB reply :

On 10/30/2013 at 2:19 AM, J Francho said:
But Tom, you had no financial interest in your beliefs, then and now....

None then, none now. Although being retired, almost retired, I may rethink fishing for food! It cost me an average of $50 to fish a day.

Tom

Caylub reply :

On 10/30/2013 at 1:06 AM, Raul said:

Being poor is not an excuse to break the law.

I have nothing against people keeping fish to eat as long as they do it legally ( with a license ), respecting sizes and catch limits, any other way than that it´s called poaching.

I agree with you. I wasn't justifying any illegal activity just saying we don't know the guys situation.

Bob C reply :

I see an older guy in my local lake usually in the same spot every time. He takes his limit of gills and perch of all sizes. If your guy stays in the same spot he's probably found a good gill area. I'm not c&r. I'll take a couple LM home for dinner. I only keep legal ones and I've brought home plenty that were 18" plus. I don't understand the c&r only thinking. Deer, turkey, small game, it's all sports. I like to fish for the fun, sport and a good meal. It doesn't get any better than that.

retiredbosn reply :

In regards to the OP, if it's a private lake: depending on the state you live the creel limit/size laws governing state owned/managed waters do not apply. I know it sounds weird but in some states the state agencies have no authority over private water. Many states do not require licensing to fish privately owned water nor do they set creel/possession/size limits. A local brickyard has several private ponds that anyone can fish, just have to pay a trespass fee, the ponds are not stocked except after construction/reclamation. I've seen one person take nearly 75 crappie home after fishing one day! A housing development I lived in once had a fishing pond, I called DNR once on a guy that had a bucket full of fish, he got a ticket for trespass but nothing for not having a license or creel limit violations.

It's this a private or public lake?

fishguy613 reply :

its a public lake, in Canada not the us

EvanT123 reply :

On 10/29/2013 at 11:34 PM, ww2farmer said:
. For years people equate there lack of fishing success with other people keeping to many fish, when the truth of the matter is people like to blame there sucky ability to catch on someone else, rather than looking in the mirror.

That was me for quite awhile lol.

Brian Needham reply :

On 10/30/2013 at 9:28 AM, fishguy613 said:
its a public lake, in Canada not the us

friend the ole chap to find out his story, eh?

SirSnookalot reply :

On 10/30/2013 at 2:28 AM, WRB said:

None then, none now. Although being retired, almost retired, I may rethink fishing for food! It cost me an average of $50 to fish a day.

Tom

$50 is probably very conservative once tackle and line replacement, new combos, boat maintenance, insurance and number of other things are factored in.

KyakR reply :

My dad had a saying when I was a kid and got hot-headed: "You never know who you're dealing with when you approach a stranger." He may have a history of privation and desperation......he may be eating them, he may just be doing what he always did from his boyhood when putting dead fish on a stringer was just what you did. Or he may have a Glock in his pocket. Not to be alarmist, but a hefty respect for the complexity and possibilities of other people is a good thing. Avoid him if he vexes you. If he's breaking the law I agree with the others here who say report him. But good for you for caring what happens ecologically speaking

ww2farmer reply :

On 10/30/2013 at 10:23 AM, et525i said:
That was me for quite awhile lol.

We all do it. I don't know how many times I have had a bad day and blamed this, that, or another thing for it, when it was really just my own fault for not figuring it out for the day

Phil_M reply :

On my home lake, poachers can be identified by their trips to the bank to swap out identical coolers and down here in the time of budget cuts, the Fish and Game guys love to be called even if it turns out to be nothing.

My kids grew up watching me throw everything back. One outing my daughter caught a flounder and was about to throw it back. She looked at me like I had 6 heads when I said, "No no no, this one's coming home with us." After dinner, she understood.

DogmanRich reply :

Atleast he caught them with a rod and reel, not a cast net... Ive seen people do that.. 30 fish in 20minutes hauled out. No sport in that

Mike2841 reply :

As long as it is within the law I don't see a problem. Another thing to consider is it could be a cultural thing. I'm half Chinese and every time I tell someone in my family (Chinese side) that I release the fish after I catch it they get mad at me. We by no means need the fish to survive, but they still think it's odd to let it go.

Also that being said LMB is pretty tasty, I catch and release 95% of the time but every now and then it's nice to eat something that you catch

Ratherbfishing reply :

On 11/2/2013 at 3:14 AM, Mike2841 said:

As long as it is within the law I don't see a problem. Another thing to consider is it could be a cultural thing. I'm half Chinese and every time I tell someone in my family (Chinese side) that I release the fish after I catch it they get mad at me. We by no means need the fish to survive, but they still think it's odd to let it go.

Also that being said LMB is pretty tasty, I catch and release 95% of the time but every now and then it's nice to eat something that you catch

I grew up on a farm (which is a culture in and of itself) and my mom thinks I'm crazy that I release most of my fish too. I will keep a stringer of sunnies every once in a while so that elevates my "status" a little. But mostly she just thinks I'm nuts.

Basswhippa reply :

On 10/29/2013 at 11:25 PM, SPEEDBEAD. said:

LOL, C&R threads.....

Food stamps, spot burning? This is entertaining.

Call in sick(if you are really dedicated just quit your job) and sit in your boat and follow him around all day long. Get a drone(you can get a cheap one for a few hundred dollars) and put it over his head and shoot pictures of him. If you get a good enough drone you can tell the difference between a keeper and one that is a half inch short.. After you have collected a bunch of photos send it to the law game warden and have his butt hauled to jail.

Caylub reply :

On 11/2/2013 at 3:14 AM, Mike2841 said:

As long as it is within the law I don't see a problem. Another thing to consider is it could be a cultural thing. I'm half Chinese and every time I tell someone in my family (Chinese side) that I release the fish after I catch it they get mad at me. We by no means need the fish to survive, but they still think it's odd to let it go.

Also that being said LMB is pretty tasty, I catch and release 95% of the time but every now and then it's nice to eat something that you catch

I'm kind of in the same boat as you. My family is big on catfishing. They go out catch a mess of fish and have a fish fry. They know I prefer bass fishing but when I come back without a stringer they all talk major smack. Why spend the money? Why waste the time? They don't understand. I C & R because I'm fishing for sport not food and because I'm lazy. I just tried LMB for the first time this year and it was delicious. I still haven't kept any and prepared them myself but the next time I want some fish I won't hesitate to keep a few bass. Tight Lines.

KyakR reply :

Read an article about the Spring River in LA......many people have fished it for food since the late 1700's and their descendants do it today despite the pollution. No amount of pressure from DFW about the danger stops them....the river is so clear and beautiful they don't believe it could hurt them.

aceman387 reply :

On 11/2/2013 at 9:14 AM, Basswhippa said:
Call in sick(if you are really dedicated just quit your job) and sit in your boat and follow him around all day long. Get a drone(you can get a cheap one for a few hundred dollars) and put it over his head and shoot pictures of him. If you get a good enough drone you can tell the difference between a keeper and one that is a half inch short.. After you have collected a bunch of photos send it to the law game warden and have his butt hauled to jail.

And don't forget to post the pictures or video of him on here so we can see if he is a member on here ,if he is ,when can then ridicule him mercilessly and egg his house for halloween (oops posted too late)

KyakR reply :

On 11/3/2013 at 10:00 PM, KyakR said:
Read an article about the Spring River in LA......many people have fished it for food since the late 1700's and their descendants do it today despite the pollution. No amount of pressure from DFW about the danger stops them....the river is so clear and beautiful they don't believe it could hurt them.

Oops. Arkansas.

Brian Needham reply :

On 11/4/2013 at 8:46 PM, KyakR said:
Oops. Arkansas.

I think you might have your rivers mixed up, or at least I need to see the link to the article.

never once have I heard this.

00 mod reply :

On 11/3/2013 at 10:00 PM, KyakR said:
Read an article about the Spring River in LA......many people have fished it for food since the late 1700's and their descendants do it today despite the pollution. No amount of pressure from DFW about the danger stops them....the river is so clear and beautiful they don't believe it could hurt them.

On 11/4/2013 at 8:46 PM, KyakR said:
Oops. Arkansas.

I have literally eaten HUNDREDS of trout out of that river my entire life...... And never once have I heard of pollution.

Jeff

camovan reply :

On 11/4/2013 at 8:46 PM, KyakR said:
Oops. Arkansas.

Kansas maybe?

10400

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