From: fleck@col.hp.com ()
Subject: Catch and Release
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1992 21:13:40 GMT
Organization: Colorado Springs Information Technology Center


Having talked with a Dept.  of Wildlife  individual this weekend while
fishing I have been musing over  practices  and ethics of  fishing.  I
have been fishing  since I was seven (20 years now), and have been fly
fishing since I was ten.  My common  practice for many years was catch
and kill any and all legal fish.  We threw them in the freezer and ate
them  slowly.  As I grew up I started to realize that many of the fish
were  never  eaten and were throw  away.  For the last 10 years I have
practiced  catch  and  release  religiously.  At  first I was  feeling
guilty I guess, but now I understand  it more clearly.  I have had the
pleasure  of  fisheries  in  Oregon,   California,   Idaho,  Colorado,
Washington, and more.  The fishing in these states can be  incredible,
but in the last few years the fisheries  have all seen  problems.  The
McKenzie river in Oregon is a great  example.  I have fished the river
all my life, but in the last few years the  Native  Trout  population,
along  with the  Steelhead  and  Salmon  population's  have  decreased
significantly (Tom G might be able to give some better numbers).

A  few  questions  or  more  like  a  survey  to  enlighten  (Wildlife
management major in college ( don't ask why I am in computers now)) me
on how this net population perceives fishing.

Do you fish for sport or subsistence or both?
Do you feel that since you fish you have to keep the fish? (world perception)
Do you feel Catch and Release makes a difference?
Would you like to see more Catch and Release only water?
Do you think you can make a difference by using Catch and Release?
Do you fish for Trophies only? and do you keep them?
Do you feel the waters in your area are declining or rising?
What methods of control are used on these waters?
Are we ever going to have a president that gives a Damn?


I have spent a  significant  amount of time on Catch and Release  only
rivers and have had some expeperiences that I will not soon forget.  I
would like my unborn child to be able to  experience  the same things.
Will  it  happen?  I sure  hope  so.  How do all  you  feel?  I  don't
believe C&R is the total answer, but it does make a difference.

Disclaimer:  I have nothing against keeping fish for dinner as long as
they aren't the breeding stock(ie...  big boys and gals).

If anyone lived  through this long note please reply to me or the news
group.

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                   "If you expect to catch fish, Don't go."
		   "If you want to catch fish, Go golfing."
		   "If you want to relax, Go fishing!"
        "Sex is almost as good as catching a lunker and letting it go."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dave Fleck                              Hewlett-Packard Co.  Colorado Springs
Internet: fleck@col.hp.com              Information Technology Center