Yesterday, I stopped on my way home from work at a little fishing hole I frequent. It's pretty small, but was stocked at one time with bass/bluegill/catfish, and has maintained a decent growth increase ever since. I can pretty regularly pull out 3-4lb bass with an occasional 5lb-er, but it's not common. For such a small pond it's pretty impressive that the fish can grow to that size, and maintain it. I've met and maintained a great relationship with a gentleman who maintains the pond's landscape and tends to the water quality, he's somewhat entrusted me to assisting him when I can.
Yesterday, I get there for just a few minutes of fun fishing and immediately notice a group of four boys, probably 12-13yrs old. Now these weren't the serious-fishing type boys some of you currently have as offspring, these were kids who looked like they found a couple of poles in one of their dad's garages, back in the corner, wiped the cobwebs off of them and decided to go fish at the pond, they didn't have that look of seriousness and true interest of fishing.
They had just pulled a decent size (est. 5lb-er) and had been holding it out for some time. They were laughing and taking pictures wasting precious time. They were clear around the other side of the pond, and I started that way thinking maybe they had a hook buried too deep, but as I got closer and saw the kids laughing and taking pictures, I knew they were just screwing around. By time I got there, they decided to finally put the fish back in the water, and just heaved it out as far as they could go.
Then I saw it.....the fish didn't recover. It lay motionless on the top of the water, making an almost indescernable twitch as it died from their carelessness. My heart sank knowing the outcome.
Make no mistake, I've killed fish, this year being particularly bad, but never because I intentionally kept the fish out of the water too long, especially to play with it and take 300 photos of it, subsequently chucking it 20ft into the water, all while laughing with my buddies.
So, I said something to the boys. In a not-so-friendly manner I reminded them that they had just killed a living organism, and one that was several years old, here in Indiana it takes them a while to get 5lbs. I reminded them that large bass tend to produce healthy offspring, which would've ensured our fishing hole to keep good fish for many years, but that they had just wrecked that process for that fish. I reminded them that the sole process, once the fish is landed, is to quickly remove hooks/lures, snap a quick photo, then get the fish in the water as soon as possible. I said those things, then....I might've put the fear of God in them at the end there before I left....
I was really disappointed, that might've been THE biggest fish in there, or one of the biggest, and several boys' irresponsibility cost our fishing hole a great fish - a matriarch/patriarch of the bass population. I appreciate those of you who teach your sons and daughters great conservation and catch-and-release skills, thereby ensuring a great future for our sport. I just wish someone could've taught these boys like you have.
As I read in a previous post the other day.....it's crazy the connection we all have to these "little green fish" we to aggresively pursue, yet while maintaining our utmost respect for them.
Wow. That upsets me. I would have had to say a few not-so-nice words to the boys.
Yea, gotta love em. Maybe call the land owner, and notify him of the situation. People have no respect for anything. I dont think anybody on this board would blame you for a few choice words.
This really upsets me too. The boys needed that lecture; otherwise, they might commit the same felony again. Props to you.
Perhaps your discussion with the boys could have been framed in such a way as to imply they may be in violation of your state's "wanton waste" laws and subject to the penalties of that violation.
oe
Way to stand up for the sport OP. We usually go out with my woman's aunt fishing. She will put her catches on a stringer and haul them all over the lake. And then right before we come back into the dock she almost ALWAYS decides to just let them go. Well by this time, 1 or 2 always die because she's a moron. She knows darn well she's not gonna clean and cook those bass, but every time we go out, she puts fish on a stringer. I've been on her about this for 2 years now, and have told her to get her live well fixed and even offered to help. But no. "I'll just use the stringer". Ugh.
On 6/22/2014 at 12:01 AM, Preytorien said:Yesterday, I stopped on my way home from work at a little fishing hole I frequent. It's pretty small, but was stocked at one time with bass/bluegill/catfish, and has maintained a decent growth increase ever since. I can pretty regularly pull out 3-4lb bass with an occasional 5lb-er, but it's not common. For such a small pond it's pretty impressive that the fish can grow to that size, and maintain it. I've met and maintained a great relationship with a gentleman who maintains the pond's landscape and tends to the water quality, he's somewhat entrusted me to assisting him when I can.
Yesterday, I get there for just a few minutes of fun fishing and immediately notice a group of four boys, probably 12-13yrs old. Now these weren't the serious-fishing type boys some of you currently have as offspring, these were kids who looked like they found a couple of poles in one of their dad's garages, back in the corner, wiped the cobwebs off of them and decided to go fish at the pond, they didn't have that look of seriousness and true interest of fishing.
They had just pulled a decent size (est. 5lb-er) and had been holding it out for some time. They were laughing and taking pictures wasting precious time. They were clear around the other side of the pond, and I started that way thinking maybe they had a hook buried too deep, but as I got closer and saw the kids laughing and taking pictures, I knew they were just screwing around. By time I got there, they decided to finally put the fish back in the water, and just heaved it out as far as they could go.
Then I saw it.....the fish didn't recover. It lay motionless on the top of the water, making an almost indescernable twitch as it died from their carelessness. My heart sank knowing the outcome.
Make no mistake, I've killed fish, this year being particularly bad, but never because I intentionally kept the fish out of the water too long, especially to play with it and take 300 photos of it, subsequently chucking it 20ft into the water, all while laughing with my buddies.
So, I said something to the boys. In a not-so-friendly manner I reminded them that they had just killed a living organism, and one that was several years old, here in Indiana it takes them a while to get 5lbs. I reminded them that large bass tend to produce healthy offspring, which would've ensured our fishing hole to keep good fish for many years, but that they had just wrecked that process for that fish. I reminded them that the sole process, once the fish is landed, is to quickly remove hooks/lures, snap a quick photo, then get the fish in the water as soon as possible. I said those things, then....I might've put the fear of God in them at the end there before I left....
I was really disappointed, that might've been THE biggest fish in there, or one of the biggest, and several boys' irresponsibility cost our fishing hole a great fish - a matriarch/patriarch of the bass population. I appreciate those of you who teach your sons and daughters great conservation and catch-and-release skills, thereby ensuring a great future for our sport. I just wish someone could've taught these boys like you have.
As I read in a previous post the other day.....it's crazy the connection we all have to these "little green fish" we to aggresively pursue, yet while maintaining our utmost respect for them.
While what they did was not okay in any way remember they are just kids, and every kids gonna do stupid stuff eventually. Its the adults job to make sure they never do it again when they get caught doing it haha
I recently experienced the same thing the group of youngsters across the cove had caught a big fish likely a 4+ pounder and were parading around taking pictures which is fine but left it out alil too long and it when they heved it back it laid there but finally began to move.. whether it eventually survived I dunno I hope so.. but yes it takes probably 5-7 years for a fish to grow that big and to see it potentially killed and not perhaps experience a second spawn is sad. Kids do stupid things, young people so stupid things.. adults do stupid things but have less excuse.
Also sad is that people leave trash all over the lake and I see it floating sometimes and along shorelines.. careless selfish lazy.
Well, hopefully the boy who caught it is now hooked onto bass fishing for life and can teach others from his mistake when he gets older.
On 6/22/2014 at 2:44 AM, TNBassin said:Way to stand up for the sport OP. We usually go out with my woman's aunt fishing. She will put her catches on a stringer and haul them all over the lake. And then right before we come back into the dock she almost ALWAYS decides to just let them go. Well by this time, 1 or 2 always die because she's a moron. She knows darn well she's not gonna clean and cook those bass, but every time we go out, she puts fish on a stringer. I've been on her about this for 2 years now, and have told her to get her live well fixed and even offered to help. But no. "I'll just use the stringer". Ugh.
I know what you mean. I hate stringers!! And what kills is me to go fishing where someone has a bunch of small bluegill on a stringer then "release them" when they leave.. then there they lay.. on their sides dead at the water's edge. I mean come on! Why do you need a stringer for bluegill? Use a bucket with an aerator doofus! lol And for bass a small cooler works quite well as a live well. You don't have to spend hundreds on a yeti.. just a cheapo from walmart will work. People are idiots.
In response to original poster: I have had fish to die as a result of catching them whether it be hooking them too deep, gill hooking, etc but I left knowing I did everything I could to try to prevent it from happening. A quick hookset sometimes isn't an option when a hungry bass sucks a lure down faster than you can set the hook. If for some reason I hook a fish deeply to where I need to really work to get the hook out, I give the fish breaks to breath in the water. I couldn't imagine how frightening it would be to die of suffocation due to someone's carelessness. Poor thing. You did the right thing trying to teach those boys the error in their ways.
Them boys needed a little old school belt-to-butt communication
On 6/22/2014 at 2:54 AM, Catch and Grease said:While what they did was not okay in any way remember they are just kids, and every kids gonna do stupid stuff eventually. Its the adults job to make sure they never do it again when they get caught doing it haha
That's a terrible excuse for what they did. Killing another thing and laughing while doing it shows a lack of remorse, respect, and no concern of any consequences. Expecting their parents to right the situation is asking quite a bit anymore. Trust me, I make a living disciplining folks whose parents probably never did.
I had a similar situation as the OP as well. Small public pond, mostly small fish but I had caught a few 3-4 pound fish and one beautiful 5 1/2 pounder that was very distinctly colored as she was almost completely black. It's an easy pond to fish from the bank and close to where I used to live so I was there often when I only had a short time to fish. One day when I got there I immediately noticed the smell of something rotten when I got out of my truck. I fished for awhile but curiosity got the best of me and I had to figure out where the smell was coming from. Didn't take long before I looked in the trash can by the edge of the water and there she was. Her jet black color had faded from baking in the sun, a dogwood sapling was jammed through her gills on one side and out the other. Looked like someone killed her just to get her out of the pond, probably thinking she was the reason they weren't catching any bluegills or crappie. They hadn't even filleted her, just thrown her in the trash to rot and waste. I've only been back to that pond once since and there was no sign of any bass bigger than 8". It probably didn't but in my mind the removal of the pond matriarch threw the balance off so badly that the gene for the bass to grow larger died with her and now there's nothing but small fish left.
I had a situation recently and I went ballistic on this guy. A guy about my age was fishing for moonfish with a crappie jig and gets hit by a small snook about 7#. Fishing off a jettie about 8' high using a lighter rod picking up the fish is impossible. The guy is holding the fish in the outgoing tide and said he is waiting for tide change so he can pull it around to the beach, that was in 30 minutes. I tell the guy to break it off, it's only a 20 cent lure, he didn't want to lose 20 cents. The fish did die, and the guy is still doing the same thing.
I fished my double secret pond with a guy who nailed a seven pounder and ran around the pond to get his camera to take a photo.
Lucky for us the large female did OK when he released it.
I was upset that all he wanted was a photo of the fish and he could have cared less if she lived or died.
I guess that is what happens to self centered people.
Kinda bothers me here out east where they have soooo many tourneys that they release fish at ramps for the most part. And not to gently at that...especially when it's getting hot both in air and water. Mortality has to go up. I like to use a additive in my livewell along with some frozen bottles of water if needed as like the above I like to take care if I can of our valuable resource. Thanks Preytorian for caring...planting seeds in youth is good.
I've seen this happen wat to many times myself. Yea a stern talking to most likely went in one ear and out the other. Parents that are to busy to raise their kids right or they just don't know themselves are (imo) are at fault here.
I had the C.A.S.T. for kids yesterday and instead of a parent or guardian going with the kid, I had a young man from the C.C.C. (Cal conversaion corps) with me to help. I not only got to give the "challanged" kid "the thrill of his young life" this was said by his mother, but to (just as important to me) teach a young man not only about fishing but a few lessens on life. My little guy has ADHD and the boat ride was good enough for him, "I want to go fast!", so we did, all the way to 40 mph! The older young man was awed at just looking around at the lake, mts. the few deer, eagles, and turkey buzzards. "There's nothing like this where I came from" came out of his mouth and then he started to open up about where he came from - L.A. area - and how much he loved living up here. Right now lake Oroville is a mud hole, to him it's the biggest body of water he's ever been on.
I put this on this thread instead of the C.A.S.T. thread to show there's hope for all youngsters if givin the chance. A little time, effort, and experance on our part can go a long way in a young person life.
It's a kids job as a child to do stupid things from time to time. It's an adult's job to correct the stupid things when they occur. Thanks P for educating them. It can be something that's difficult for non-sportsman to understand. We catch fish and sometimes keep and eat them but if that isn't our intention, we should quickly let them go.
There is a similar lesson in hunting. Either harvest the animal and minimize the suffering or leave the animal alone. It's an interesting relationship between a sportsman and their prey. We respect the animals we pursue yet our goal (most of the time) is to harvest them for supper.
This is because too many people are in this sport for a trophy and forget how fun AND relaxing being outdoors can be. Everyone wants to have others admire them for their accomplishments no matter the cost to achieve them. Fishing is one sport where ego should be left at home, and respect for the fish should be brought with. Social media has ruined a lot of things, and fishing is definitely feeling the affects of it judging by this post, and how many dry looking bass I see in some peoples selfies they take with their catch. A shame.On 6/22/2014 at 8:30 PM, Sam said:I fished my double secret pond with a guy who nailed a seven pounder and ran around the pond to get his camera to take a photo.
Lucky for us the large female did OK when he released it.
I was upset that all he wanted was a photo of the fish and he could have cared less if she lived or died.
I guess that is what happens to self centered people.
You guys sure do assume the worst. I can't think of any kid I know who wouldn't feel horrible about the situation after a stern talking to from a stranger. Most likely the kids felt bad, and won't do it again. I think you did the right thing by talking to them, but I don't like how everybody here assumes it went in one ear and out the other. When I was their age (which was only a few years ago!) you can bet that one stern talking to would have assured I never kept a fish out of the water longer than necessary.
Good job talking to them!
Brian
Once when I was probably...thirteen (a LONG time ago, it seems) I caught a stringer of bullheads from where a creek widened and deepened under a bridge. Not the most glorified fish, I realize, but I planned on cleaning, cooking, and eating them. I had placed them in a large bucket when my cousins suddenly appeared. They had come from Texas and their annual arrival was akin to the circus coming to town. It was a highly anticipated and celebrated event and I promptly forgot about/neglected those fish. Much later on that day I had a bunch of dead bullheads floating belly up in a "stew" of 90 degree water. I was stupid. My priorities were wrong. I wanted to go goof off and wasted some good fish. To make a long story short, I still regret that. But not every kid understands and/or appreciates the error of their ways-which is why every kid should have attentive parents for guidance. Short of that, however, I'm glad you corrected them. What they did was a shame and hopefully they won't repeat it.
Sad...but it happens...a lot! I always see people mishandling fish. I even watched a group of pleasure boaters stop skiing, catch a largemouth about 5 lbs and then put it on a stringer. Only to boat down the lake with it...
I literally had to block my mind from witnessing that one..
Good job P. I had a similar situation with my 3yr old son when we went to the lake in upstate NY. He was fishing with his mom and her cousin out of a canoe, and he caught like an 8" bass. He put it in his little cooler with ice, and when he got to shore he showed me, and I told him I was proud of him. As a dad and a loving the bass fisherman I had to tell him that we don't keep bass that we catch them take a picture and let them go. He wasn't too happy when I told him we had to release it. Now that little bass was on ice for like 10 ore 15 minutes and figured it was done for, but we took it out held it in the water, forced water over the gills, and wouldn't you know it, it started breathing and swam off. Later that day my son ran up to me and said he caught a big bass (2lbr), and that they took a picture, and he let it go. I told him that I was proud of him and that he did good.
And I've told my wife and her cousins that if I saw them catching bass and not throwing them back there would be repercussions. Like me rowing up to them and throwing them in the water.
On 6/24/2014 at 6:06 AM, boostr said:And I've told my wife and her cousins that if I saw them catching bass and not throwing them back there would be repercussions. Like me rowing up to them and throwing them in the water.
Whats wrong with a little catch and grease??? I keep a couple bass almost everytime I go fishing. I doubt that hurts the bass population
Sad situation but they are typical of today's kid's. The real villain in this are their fathers who lack the interest or refuse the responsibility to do their job and teach them. But as some posters are calling them law breakers? Felons one said? Wanton waste it is, though I never recalled learning that law in the academy. Its actually much more worrisome that some folks have these over done opinions. Its that kind of thinking that forces me to drive my car wearing a seat belt while motorcyclists don't have to wear a helmet! Why Germany has a law that you must keep and eat the first fish you catch and then you cant fish anymore that day. Point being they are only kids and we have already taken away many of the things that generations of us had, like riding a bicycle without wearing a helmet. Or playing lawn darts! No wonder these kids do what they do. Dad is non existent and they never get to experience learning through the school of hard knocks.
as a kid i did things 100 x's worse than them and still turned out to be one upstanding adult that respects people and animals from all walks of life. so I go easy on kids but when i see an adult doing something like that....
On 6/24/2014 at 6:11 AM, Catch and Grease said:Whats wrong with a little catch and grease??? I keep a couple bass almost everytime I go fishing. I doubt that hurts the bass population
That's fine, but not when they are undersize, and it's catch and release only because it wasn't bass season yet.
Plus,I ain't eating LMB or SMB I rather enjoy catching them and then releasing. Now if it was gut hooked our bleeding and no chance of surviving that's a different story or if it it's a Sea Bass...yum.
I applaud the OP in his decision to inform the youngsters . Now I am not one for confrontation , however it makes my blood boil when someone abuses another living creature . Be respectful , it's a living creature that took years to get that size and for everyone else to enjoy .
I often see people take illegal(undersized) fish from the water. People fishing with too many poles. Taking way too many fish. How much meat is on a 12 inch bass. Or the worst bow fishing for gar and carp just for the sake of killing something. If any conservation agents are reading this it happens in North saint Louis county, Mo everyday.
Yeah there isn't any point in taking bass out of legal limits...On 6/24/2014 at 8:56 PM, boostr said:That's fine, but not when they are undersize, and it's catch and release only because it wasn't bass season yet.
I've seen people come out of the lake I fish on an easy bite with like 15 2-4lb bass... Like why do you need that much fish haha I'll keep at the most 5 and thats too many honestly for one person.
I think part of life is having some regrets, its usually a hard lesson but changes who you are. A couple quick ones I remember from my youth...
1: Almost a week strait I was hunting this hollow between farms chasing this black squirrel and he elduded me every day. On about the third day I started seeing this gray fox come up the hollow in the morning and into his den. I formulated a plan that the fox was to be mine and I would hang him on my wall. He was so neat seeing him come up the hollow every morning. One morning as he came up I was waiting, I knew his route and I rolled him with a 3" mag. THE VERY MOMENT I pulled that trigger I felt like a fool. Here I killed this beautiful fox that gave me entertainment every morning. I never again shot another fox but I still hunt.
2: The first fall PA introduced the inline muzzleloader into the fall season was the year I had shoulder surgery, I couldnt draw a bow and being that it was fall here was my chance. I got everything ready, up in a stand opening day and here comes this doe. I slammed her with a 50cal. I get down and walk over to the deer and here comes two fawns lookn for mom. I had to chase them off so I wouldnt have to field dress her in front of them, I had a problem with that. I never forget about those fawns. I dont shoot doe's with fawns anymore, Ill shoot a mature one if theyre traveling as a big group and another doe can take over but a single doe with fawns, never again.
Lessons come the hard way a lot of times, heck maybe half of them didnt like the situation but went along to save face with the friends.
On 6/25/2014 at 7:25 AM, jhoffman said:I think part of life is having some regrets, its usually a hard lesson but changes who you are. A couple quick ones I remember from my youth...
1: Almost a week strait I was hunting this hollow between farms chasing this black squirrel and he elduded me every day. On about the third day I started seeing this gray fox come up the hollow in the morning and into his den. I formulated a plan that the fox was to be mine and I would hang him on my wall. He was so neat seeing him come up the hollow every morning. One morning as he came up I was waiting, I knew his route and I rolled him with a 3" mag. THE VERY MOMENT I pulled that trigger I felt like a fool. Here I killed this beautiful fox that gave me entertainment every morning. I never again shot another fox but I still hunt.
2: The first fall PA introduced the inline muzzleloader into the fall season was the year I had shoulder surgery, I couldnt draw a bow and being that it was fall here was my chance. I got everything ready, up in a stand opening day and here comes this doe. I slammed her with a 50cal. I get down and walk over to the deer and here comes two fawns lookn for mom. I had to chase them off so I wouldnt have to field dress her in front of them, I had a problem with that. I never forget about those fawns. I dont shoot doe's with fawns anymore, Ill shoot a mature one if theyre traveling as a big group and another doe can take over but a single doe with fawns, never again.
Lessons come the hard way a lot of times, heck maybe half of them didnt like the situation but went along to save face with the friends.
You sir, have a good heart. Be proud
15 years ago, I would have approached that situation in a similar manner, I raised my kids, and worked I disagree off to teach them at every oppertunity, still , a few things don't seem to have stuck... Maybe later it will come back to them, however now, No WAY... Am I approaching someone else's kids over a fish.... There are things I most certainly would... Just not a fish, things have changed drastically, Road rage, liability, discrimination , terroristic threatening ,etc, basic social values are similar for many, but not all....I support you're move OP, personally Iam going to side step the fish issue.
I eat 12 inch bass all the time plenty of good tasting meet on those spotted bass.On 6/25/2014 at 4:51 AM, jigabooyah said:I often see people take illegal(undersized) fish from the water. People fishing with too many poles. Taking way too many fish. How much meat is on a 12 inch bass. Or the worst bow fishing for gar and carp just for the sake of killing something. If any conservation agents are reading this it happens in North saint Louis county, Mo everyday.
also, bow hunting do carp is legal and does help a bit. Just cant be within the stated limits to specific areas where people or infrastructure can be found.
in this day and age in the nation we live in, I wouldn't approach anyone's kids and "instruct" them in anything. I would stay away from them entirely. You are putting yourself too much at risk of false accusations, retaliation, etc if you go putting the fear of God in other people's kids.
Remember, they aren't your kids. They belong to and are the responsibility of someone else to discipline. Sure, you may think you are on the side of right, doing the correct thing and teaching them something, but as soon as Dad or worse still, Mom gets ahold of you, you could very well regret ever crossing those kids path.
Quite frankly, regardless of what my kid is doing, if I catch ANYONE shooting their mouth off or talking anything less than completely politely to my kid, regardless of the situation, that person best be leaving the area. Quickly. It's my prerogative to harshly reprimand my kid, no one else's. And that is my decision, not yours.
Obviously I would want to know what happened and would sit Jr. down and talk it over, point out that you just don't do that kind of thing to living creatures, it's cruel, etc. And it wouldn't happen again, because my kid and I have a great, respectful relationship and I don't have to worry about them doing stuff like that in the first place.
But if I ever caught someone else "speaking sternly" or "disciplining" my kid with harsh words, etc. they best be moving on. Quickly. Or they would be getting a lesson in meddling with other people's kids real fast. And maybe another lesson in how you don't talk to kids like that because they immediately think you're just an overbearing jerk and all they do is make fun of you later and you don't accomplish anything positive from doing it.
just my .02.
On 6/25/2014 at 8:00 PM, Nice_Bass said:I eat 12 inch bass all the time plenty of good tasting meet on those spotted bass.
also, bow hunting do carp is legal and does help a bit. Just cant be within the stated limits to specific areas where people or infrastructure can be found.1
12'' bass are not legal to harvest in my area. The min is 18''. And the bow fishers usually toss the carp on the shore and leave.
Sorry to offend anyone.
On 6/25/2014 at 10:17 PM, jigabooyah said:12'' bass are not legal to harvest in my area. The min is 18''. And the bow fishers usually toss the carp on the shore and leave.
Sorry to offend anyone.
no offence taken at all- 12'' spots are legal to harvest in MO unless your lake has specific restrictions. I do agree though- bow fishers that toss them to rot is nasty as it just stinks up the entire place. In your area, and mine as well really in IL, Asian carp obviously a huge problem but a handful of guys throwing them up on bank will not solve it at all (obviously).