I just wanted to ask if I am the only person that keeps what they catch anymore? It seems as though a person has commited a crime and is bashed for keeping fish anymore these days. I am fully aware of how the catch and release theory works I just do not understand the concept of ridicule to those that are willing to eat fish.

I don't either. I guess it's a sin against God if you eat a LMB or a Rough Fish. Having said that, I can understand when someone eats a trophy how some people could get upset, but as long as it's a legal fish, it's yours to eat or release according to the TP&W.

i like to eat small bass 10 -15", they are as good as crappie[cannot tell the diff]. the lakes i fish all have a slot limit, and i am doing the lake a favor. especially want to kill and eat the spotted bass, too many of them. some fishing show types call it 'selective harvest'

I don't but would encourage others to. It's a balancing act with the fish populations which requires some harvesting. I tourny fish and when I'm prefishing I throw back everything and in the tourny I give them to the weigh-in. I have caught some nice catfish and crappie in tournys and prefishing but chunk them back also...I hate to clean fish.

Rarely do we ever throw back legal crappie or sandies, but rarely do we ever eat LMB as well.

i eat some, no big bass, and it depends on the condition of my freezer

I fish a couple of lakes that are over-poplulated with bass. I keep a few on a regular basis, and let me tell ya somethin'--they are goooood! When folks say that bass don't taste good, it is because they have been brainwashed via the gospel of catch-and-release. I'd rather eat a bass than a catfish, truth be told. Now, I never keep a big fish (5 pounds or greater), unless the fish took the hook too deep and is dying. Big fish are too precious of a resource and too uncommon (at least for me! ) to send to the grease. I think that is actually the point of view of 99% of the bass anglers in here. Check the posts--folks don't get as upset as you're making out. Same for the trophy catfish guides and the carp fishermen. Big fish help the gene-pool and become GIANT fish--let 'em swim and fillet up some barely overs.

Hey, When my freezer gets low, its restock time, and a bunch of catfish lovers get some too....

I keep enough fish for a meal or two, since I live so close to several great fishing lakes there is no need for me to fill the freezer. Besides Gishing is one of the few sports when you can have all the fun and not have to clean anything other than your equipment.

IMO sport fisherman should yield to any fisherman that is fishing for dinner. I don't keep a lot of fish for myself but will give it to people who I work with and other fisherman who aren't as lucky. I can't remember the last time I ate a LM bass. I like crappie the most of any fish with perch a close second and then gaspergoo third. I love to fish with one of my fishing buddys because he keeps and eats what he catches so our fishing has purpose as well as being a great guy to fish with.

So much of what we (Americans) do now is not necessary and is purely done for entertainment when there is so much need in the world that goes unfulfilled.

Well this post has been better received than I thought. I feel like I see ALOT more "nay sayers" when someone sees a stringer on a fish. Im not against those that catch and release a fish, I know it helps. I just hate to see people scrutinized when they use the resources that are presented to them in a safe and responsible manner. Thanks for everyones feedback, I love this forum!

if i catch a keeper, he goes in the ice chest - no stringers or livewells in my boat. i once posted a pic of a 19" lmb i caught @ canyon and you thought i was gonna get lynched or something. fish are for eating plain and simple, why anyone would want to go through all the time and expense just to catch them and throw them back is beyond me, but more power to 'em i guess.

Nothing wrong with cooking up some bass! I wish everyone would keep the darn unders on slot lakes like Grapevine and Joe Pool. The lakes are usualy overrun by dinks spring - fall. I dont keep em everytime, but on ocasion I will eat a few.

In general, I go fishing with no intent on bringing fish home.
I would'nt scrutinize someones stringer of fish, its great to see somebody have a good day on a lake..... (A persons face changes when they've been catching a mess of fish...)

Unless ther all 10.5 inches... I would be embarressed for them ... I've seen folks on Grapevine loading ther livewell with 10" fish, some prolly smaller ... that does chap me in the wrong spot...

If I'm gonna keep fish, ther gonna be slabs...

I like Haddock fillets and Cod... since their not too prevailant in my home waters... I'll keep a few nice slab crappies, on occasion for a fish fry. I too HATE cleaing fish...
My father in law has a place on Lake O the Pines, he got it from his father .. they fish to eat... I've never liked LM bass much (too fishy tasting) but he rubs the fillets in mix of Frenches yellow mustard and water before battering...
It SHURE does make those fillets taste a lot better (c:

tight lines

tha BassRustler

I keep a catfish from time to time. I frown on eating a trophy fish but everyones gotta eat. If you get into a mess of crappie and your freezer can't hold em all let me know. My luck has been real bad with crappie this yesr.