How Many of you Keep Bass to Eat??

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big-o
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Post by big-o »

Sluggo Wrote:
Well RJ you will be pleased to know that out of the 54 walleye caught out of my shack on the Mississippi this year 30-40 went back. They were all legal size except maybe 5. We pride ourselves on releasing as many walleye as possible. Not that there is legally anything wrong keeping your limit but we just don't feel that it is necessary. I know of multiple shacks that on the Miss that follow this practice. (these people are the ones we share info with)
Hey Sluggo , how you been??? :D
Not that there is legally anything wrong keeping your limit but we just don't feel that it is necessary. I know of multiple shacks that on the Miss that follow this practice. (these people are the ones we share info with)
I'm glad to hear this...,but it looks like you and your fellow fishermen on the mississsippi are the exception...I think that most people , would think twice before keeping a bass for Table fare, but would not hesitate to bring home a walleye or two for a dinner, and there is nothing wrong with that...heck I bring both home :D :wink: ,but for some unknowen reason....bass do get that second thought, but Walleye very rarely get the same consideration.........it's all very confusing .....why is that :?:
RJ
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Post by RJ »

Sluggo,

Congrats on a great ice season!.....I heard the fishing had been great at the Miss this winter....

I am afraid you would be in the minority in this case.....them walleyes are too tasty for lads to be puttin them back..... :lol:

RJ
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Scumking
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Post by Scumking »

Phil,

I never keep bass.I'm not much of a fish eater and usaully just eat Walleye.


Ron
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JimW
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Post by JimW »

I eat bass!!! I eat fish several times a week, and bass is included in the mix. Since I started fishing tournaments, I eat less bass, as JP said earlier "bad karma". I prefer smallies, over largies, and I find they taste just fine. I do prefer perch, crappie, walleye, pike and bullheads over bass though.

I don't see what the big deal over bass is, it is just the same as any of the other native fish species, and nothing special (though I consider all fish special). Because of the popularity of bass tournaments, I feel the bass has gone to reputation by some anglers to be the "king" of the freshwater fish and it is wrong to eat them.

All winter long we see pictures of people catching messes of jumbo perch (many large females with developing eggs) and people are congratulated on the catch and the great meal they will be having. The response would be different I believe if someone posted a picture of a 7 pound Lake Simcoe Smallmouth, then the next picture was that same fish deep-fried in batter?

Obey the rules, limit your keep, not keep your limit and let the big ones of all species go to swim another day and more importantly reproduce. Unless it is an exotic species, then eat them all.

JimW
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ratsotail
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Post by ratsotail »

Targeting and keeping larger bass seems to tweak my hot button for many reasons. Leave the Bass, Pike and Musky alone and target and selectively harvest the panfish :lol: .

I have to admit I was very disappointed to see someone at Petrie Island this year keep a 3-4 lb. Bass and then leave it on the ice to freeze :cry: . that memory has stuck with me and has been tough to shake...

I certainly won't try to impose my will here...just stating my opinion. I'm kinda' surprised there hasn't been more of an outcry to this topic. Perhaps everyone is getting over cabin-fever finally as Spring is around the corner.
Fish-Hawk was a pretty dangerous place for in February and early March to post pictures or anything contentious!

Ratsotail
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wolfe
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Post by wolfe »

The only bass I'll keep is one I'm sure will not survive if released. Better to keep it to eat than to have it float belly up & be wasted. Other than that exception, it's strictly C&R for me and my whole family.

W.
Thanks, Dad, for taking me fishing when I was a kid.
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Post by RJ »

I have to admit I was very disappointed to see someone at Petrie Island this year keep a 3-4 lb. Bass and then leave it on the ice to freeze icon_cry.gif . that memory has stuck with me and has been tough to shake...
Why though?....a soft spot for bass I presume....

a 7 pound walleye out of Petrie to me is an even more important fish to that system....but noone would ever say a word about it laying on the ice.....or VERY few....

RJ
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Canadian Bacon
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Post by Canadian Bacon »

That is a good question Jim and I hope someone can answer it..

What makes Bass so special? They are everywhere so not endangered..why should they not be eaten but other fish should? Why do we have to be so much more careful with them? Why do they have such a short season?
Why are people so passionate about them specifically?
I really don't think there is anything special about them....can someone explain that too me...
I am gonna post this in both threads..
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jazman
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Post by jazman »

Hi Ratsotail...

It was a legal fish that was consumed.

I respect you and the way you approach fishing.

The fish was on the ice like any of the pannies we catch.

The fish met the same fate.

Please pm me if ya want to chat, cause I do.

Jaz
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Spence Scout
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Post by Spence Scout »

LOL,

Wrong RJ lol, heres wut i think is a possibiliy. I see any large fish on the ice any species I'm bitter lol... Big fish should be released lol. That's my opinion. Alot of people disagree. But its proven that younger fish are better for you then older ones (eaten that is).. So why keep older ones. To impress, brag?... lol etc.

I thin kthat if eyes were fished in tournys like Bass are theyd be released alot more. I know theres the PWT (professional walleye trail), however its not as popular as the bass circuits. Why is that, I feel because bass are a more exciting fish to target in tourny atmospheres. I think this is the reason why people release more bass then eyes, atleast from the people I've heard so far. Think of this 5 eyes weighing 25lbs.... thats your limit to the tourny I bet youd watch it wouldnt you, i'd almost bet after watching years of this tourny style of fishing and getting attached to the way the species is fished u might let more go! thats just what i think is a possible good explanation to part of the topic were discussing.

Also once youve experienced a tourny, walking up to the weigh in, hearing them say your name, carrying your bag of fish, cathcing 5 nice keepers on a hard days fish, and wathicng others weigh in. I think you gain a greater respect for the fish. Even just wathicng a tourny in person or on tv (bassmasters) I think people realize that theres more to bass then just food. Thats why I feel theyre more respected. If only walleyes were fished in this sense I think it would be different. Also the style of bass fishing is alike no other. I feel its the most versatile exciitng yet sometimes frustrating fishing there is. Eyes u cast, cast, n cast open water, more open water, trolling, trolling, lol hehehehe. when bass fishing is pithc under dock, flip under brush, pull bass over dock, pull bass out of tree and timber. Im kinda rambling but its a posiible reason!

Regards

SS
Last edited by Spence Scout on Mon Mar 28, 2005 10:51 pm, edited 4 times in total.
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Wall-I-Guy
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Post by Wall-I-Guy »

Hey Ratsotail,

Please inform me if I'm interpreting your post wrong but, you say
ratsotail wrote:Fish-Hawk was a pretty dangerous place for in February and early March to post pictures or anything contentious!
and previous to that you say
ratsotail wrote:I have to admit I was very disappointed to see someone at Petrie Island this year keep a 3-4 lb. Bass and then leave it on the ice to freeze :cry: . that memory has stuck with me and has been tough to shake...
So why would you seem puzzled when people are leary to post??? Do you see the irony :?: Not trying to stir the pot, just curious :!:
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saskie
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Post by saskie »

The only fish I'll eat is walleye, perch and speckles. Pike caught from clean, cold water tastes good, if you can get the bones out. In general, I only eat about 2 or 3 feeds of fish each year - and usually that's when I'm at a lake where lets just say there's no shortage of pan sized walleye. And the only time I bring fish home is on request from people who can't fish but like eating it (ie: my Grandma). For me frying up your catch in camp at night is part of the experience. From a taste-only standpoint; outside of camp there's always something I'd rather eat than fish...I don't think I'd ever intentionlly keep a bass for the pan.
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Canadian Bacon
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Post by Canadian Bacon »

Also once youve experienced a tourny, walking up to the weigh in, hearing them say your name, carrying your bag of fish, cathcing 5 nice keepers on a hard days fish, and wathicng others weigh in. I think you gain a greater respect for the fish. Even just wathicng a tourny in person or on tv (bassmasters) I think people realize that theres more to bass then just food. Thats why I feel theyre more respected.
I have done this..and it still makes no difference to me...

I think there are so many bass out there...more than other fish I target..at least there sure seems to be. I sure catcha lot more of them than anything else...even when they are not being targeted.

I don't think bass are special...and I am predominantly a bass fisherman..
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roughrider
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food

Post by roughrider »

I will and have eaten bass,depends where they are caught from.I prefer smaller fish because the ribs are tough too cut through on bigger fish. I think they taste just fine.I think people should eat more bass and throw back the walleys. :wink: roughrider
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Hoover
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Post by Hoover »

i dont know about you guys but if you catch bass and you cut the fillets into stips and beer batter them they taste almost as good as walleye and perch, if they are strong soak them in milk! i love to bring bass home to eat them with the family so many ways to cook them and they all taste deliscous, better in my belly then in the water i say!
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