I think its fine to take the fish I just like to take a picture ether way. An Angler fishes for sport and a fisherman fishes for fish to eat.I do a little of both but 99 % of the time I throw them back.FishinClyde what you said makes sense to me.

Keep in mind crappie are one of the most prolific freshwater reproducers in the world. The can lay up 500,000 eggs. The non- legal fish spawn as well. I do agree to keep what you need and that is all, but it would really be hard to affect a population adversely.

Clyde I was mimicking the chicken or the egg question.

I figured that.

I release to the grease!!

I have fished three places were the fish were stunted really bad not much fun.

I pretty much release all the fish I personally catch. I keep a few (personally � when its just me fishing) for the whole year � really way, way less than 100 per year � most likely around 50 per year.

I want those fish in the lakes � for all of us to enjoy and reproduce (regardless what time of year it is and their size, they all have a chance to reproduce next spring).

If I catch 10, I clean them. Less than 10 and I give them away or toss them back. Not gonna dirty my hands for less than that.On a large lake, your not gonna hurt the population. Most of the fish spawn without ever seeing a jig.

Nothing wrong with releasing fish but I don't feel guilty for keeping any either. If CC still has fish after these last 4-5 years and after what I saw at the CAT Classic she is in good shape, your not going to hurt the lake by keeping your legal limit.

nice job. i think you did the right thing. there are plenty of males or smaller fish if you want to eat. i agree with mark a cheap camra is the way to go. again nice job!!!!!!!!!

Nicely said Jerry...
It's funny how many out there are overly worried and constantly trying to play God....
Don't be wasteful....Follow the rules, and we might feel good about our tax $$$ paying decent salaries to our marine biologists at the Parks & Wildlife. They didn't earn their degree for nothing...

I try and get customers to release a large Hybrid, Largemouth, Catfish & even White Bass. Most anything except a Crappie. I'm not a good example as I never met a Crappie I wouldn't eat!

There's too many anyway on RC!

Release to the Grease!

Royce
www.gonefishin.biz

Yeah, a few of the fellas watching me release her told me that they would gladly take her. What had happened was I lost one AT LEAST that big earlier in the day (SMS can vouch), and made a pact with the Crappie Gods that if they allowed me to finally catch a 2lber (which would be my first since I'm fairly new to fishing for Crappie) that I would release her. They blessed me by letting me catch (and land) another one later on in the day, and I held up my end of the bargain. I did catch one today, along with 3 others pushing 2lbs, and I kept them. The way I see it, on any given lake, a small percentage of the 2+ fish are going to be caught, and if you plan to eat it, keep it.

I wonder how many deer hunters decide not to shoot that trophy buck and just take a picture of it...

Good point T! As long as I have a camera with me and can take a picture of it, I wouldn't have any problem in releasing a big fish. I hate cleaning those big girls and seeing all of those yellow dots and thinking to myself everyone of those dots was another crappie.

You're so sentimental Anthony! Whenever I see all of those dots, I think 'wow, if one fish has this many eggs, just think how many eggs are in the fish I didn't catch'!

I know I am. I just love the little things.