From: jsemrad@ems.cdc.com (Joe Semrad)
Newsgroups: alt.fishing
Subject: re: C&R Questions
Date: 14 Apr 92 23:23:30 GMT
Reply-To: jsemrad@ems.cdc.com
Distribution: usa
Organization: Empros Systems International, a division of CDC

|> >Do you fish for sport or subsistence or both? 

I fish recreationally, for the challenge, relaxation, and outdoor experience.
Plus all the equipment is so darn cool you can't help but want to use it :-)

|> >Do you feel that since you fish you have to keep the fish? (world perception)
No.  Typically I keep a limit of walleyes taken on an annual early summer
trip and release the rest of the fish I catch during the summer.  Certain
fish, like steelhead, I always release.  Largemouth bass as well, as I don't
like the taste of them.  I would have no qualms about keeping rough fish
if I had a use for them (I don't).  Trophy size fish of any species should
be released except maybe for a once in a life time fish destined for the
wall.  Even as a child my father and I didn't keep every fish we caught,
though we usually only released them if they "weren't big enough!"

|> >Do you feel Catch and Release makes a difference?

Yes in many situations but not all.  Stocked fish that are sterile and
lakes suffering from winterkill are exceptions that spring to mind.  It
really needs to be considered on a lake by lake basis.

|> >Would you like to see more Catch and Release only water?                   

Yes.  There are certain places that should be C&R only that are not now.
Certain populations of fish are rather delicate, such as smallmouth bass
in small rivers.  C&R and other special regs have also been shown to 
increase average size of fish in lakes managed for size rather than
quantity of fish.

|> 
|> >Do you think you can make a difference by using Catch and Release? 

Yes, on a local level.

|> 
|> >Do you fish for Trophies only? and do you keep them?

If I fished for trophies only I'd constantly be disappointed.  I kept the
last big walleye I caught because it was bleeding in the gills but I
would have released it if would have survived.  Taking a trophy for the
wall a couple of times in you life is ok, but constantly taking stringers
of big fish is no longer ok in my book.  Besides, in a lot of species the
small to medium fish taste better and have less pollutant contamination.

|> 
|> >Do you feel the waters in your area are declining or rising?

Both, depending on the lake and the species.  For example the lake trout
fishing in Lake Superior is supposed to be getting better while for
unknown reasons the steelhead fishing in Lake Superior tributaries
is declining.  In many cases water quality and introduction of exotics
play a large part in the decline of a fishery.

|> 
|> >What methods of control are used on these waters?

Mn is going more and more to special regs that apply to certain bodies of
water and/or certain species.  Min and max size limits, slot limits,
C&R, artificials only, later season openings, bans on night fishing,
are all used as well as some stuff I've missed.  It makes it all more
confusing for the fishermen but overall I think its good and I support
it.  Our regs are still nowhere as confusing as Ontario's! :-)
   
|> >Are we ever going to have a president that gives a Damn?

I have been very disappointed in George Bush after he called himself the
environmental president.  At least Reagan admitted he had no regard for
the environment.  Environmentalism is a major factor I consider when voting
for any office.  I'm 30 years old and have yet to vote for a winning
presidential candidate, if that says anything.

Joe
-- 
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= C. Joseph Semrad                  =   Phone: 612-553-4758    =
= EMPOWER Development               =   FAX:   612-553-4018    =
= Empros Systems International      =   jsemrad@ems.cdc.com    =
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=      1991 Minnesota Twins, Baseball's World Champions!       =
=           So, Jack it was the money, wasn't it?              =
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