How Many of you Keep Bass to Eat??

[Canadian Bacon]

there's more 10+ walleye in Quinte than 3-4 pound bass (anywhere in canada).

Not being an butt here but I find that hard to believe....

so BigO, its equally ok to keep and eat a 12 pound Quinte pickerel, because the regs say its ok to keep 1, right?

Yes it is ok..because the regs say it is!!!

mean, in my mind, muskie, walleye and trout are all favoured over bass, in Ontario.

I really don't think that is anywhere near correct Steve...Only my personal opinion but I think bass are far favored over maybe even all fish combined in Ontario.

[steve-hamilton]

well, i guess this thread shows everyones opinions are different.

there is no wrong opinion, unless it consists of keeping an out of season fish, or slot fish.

i'll always try and release the prime spawning fish. thats my morals.

but no one, including myself, should get upset when someone does something that differs from their morals.

(markus, definately some fish depletion in hammy bay caused by pollution, but luckily that is turning aroud. CB, your right its ok to keep a trophy fish from a depleted and rebounding source, but its also my right to call the person jackass if they do )

[Spence Scout]

Steve H,

The comparison youve made is pretty accurate from what I've looked into.. Walleye in BoQ to The bass...

First off it didnt take a cheque for me to gain respect for the fish I have come to love. I've been releasing fish since I was 18. Before that I kept many due to inexperience and lack of knowledge of our resources and conservation. I gained a respect for them from tourny fishing and learning their charateristics. Therye feeding times, their moods etc. I gained a respect for them by fishing with others, learning from others and watching others smile when they caught the biggest one theyve ever seen. (Like my little buddy Phillip I took fishing, he's now 13). Seeng him catch a fish after me teaching him how to cast and set the hook then seeing him catch one amazed me. It made me realize bass are important, not only bass but all fish are.. I am just more attached to the style of fishing of bass. But like I said I let all fish go no matter waht species.. I keep few a year. And make sure its legal and not in the large size..

Secondly to me fishing means more to me. I'm not in it to gain anything more then to enjoy a time with friends, family, and meet new anglers. And some knowledge of the sport. I dont keep fish of any kind very rarely.. I never kept one keeper fish through the ice this year and caught many not even panfish.. Out of all the people I went with this year we kept one eye. One it was 20" . To me I' m not looking to gain a meal or gain somthing to brag about. I think of all fish fun to catch and worth the excitement, worth the trip to share with many. To see fish as just fish as a creature swimming aorund in water to me is wrong. I mean sure they are creatures swimming aorund. But without them would you have met the people you've met? Experienced the times you've cherished with family? I'ts an experience and sport we should cherish not just label it as a given hobby. Remember if you think of it as a hobby then remember this hobby can easily deplenish in time for you, your kids, family, and friends..

And to finalize I dont keep bass never will, wont even cross my mind ever! If the fish is healty to realease then I'll release if he's dying because of the way he swallowed it etc. whatever the situation may be. I'll give it to someone who eats them. But even then have a hard time doing it. This goes for all the fish I catch however I do admire bass more. I will also keep a few panfish and maybe the odd eye. But it's rare. My freezers full of food.

Well I keep to my morals, and my beliefs, and like Steve said theres no right or wrong opinions on this subject. So everyone to their own!

SS

[banjo]

I only keep bass when I'm hungry.

[duber]

Let me state first that this is not my opinon . I practice catch and release 95 % of the time no matter what the fish is (except catfish) but there has been a movement by some animal protection groups to lobby goverment to ban catch and release fishing . They have been succesfull in Europe of getting some allies . Thier argument is that if someone is practiceing catch and release they can potentionaly kill more fish than their daily limit would be . Again I don't agree with this but if the public that don't fish and the politictions found it believable we could all be in trouble .

[Canadian Bacon]

Sorry Spence this is following yor post but in now way am I tryin to pick on you here!

I have done my best not to say what I do or not do through this whole thread and the reason for this was to try and give an objective opinion based on the regulations we have today..not yesterday and not tomorrow but today!

One thing I see being said alot by different people is their morals don't let them keep bass to eat etc etc...

If the regulations say it is ok...then how is it moraly wrong? Steve why can you call the guy a Jackass if the regs say it is ok? I know if I was there and caught my one trophy for the year..it would go on my wall! I wouldn't give it a second thought....am I moraly wrong?

Why do people think they have superior morals because they return fish to the water and not keep them to eat or mount, how does that make you have better morals than the person who keeps them? That is what is being said here in a round about way!

Everyone has morals...but because we all have different morals does not mean people are better or worse than others...

[orrsey]

I will keep bass occasionally. I actaully like the taste. As for fish being favoured over others, it is my own opinion that that would depend on what kind of fisheries are around. For me being from north of kingston, I know that in my area and surrounding area all I know and see are bass fishermen. I go to Ottawa all the time and its the same with also a lot of muskie guys. I would imagine places like Toronto may be different due to different fishing opportunities that most can easily take part in. Just my thought......but overall I would say a lot of Ontario are bass guys. As for people and morals I dont think putting peoples morals on the hot seat is a great idea. I respect Spense for sure, its good to have people passionate about keeping our fishery in good shape. Others who keep bass they are also not wrong. They are entitled to do so within the limits, it doesnt mean they care any less about the fishery, they just like bass. I dont think it has anything to do with morals, just some people like to eat fish and others dont. Personal opinions on the matter thats all.

[Spence Scout]

Hey Bacon,

To respond to your comment.

To me my morals dont come from a reg or off paper, someone has made up for us. I release what I feel betters the sport and my chances next outing on the water. So ya I stick to my morals, and no i dont think their any better then anyone else's. I never implied it was moraaly wrong to keep bass either.

Regards,

SS

[Canadian Bacon]

Spence Did ya miss the part wher it wasn't directed at you but everyone who has said that???

Morals do not come from a peice of paper but the rules do...so if the rules are there and followed nothing is done wrong..morally, ethically or otherwise but when people say "my morals" they imply others who don't do what they do don't have as good moral behaviour.

[ratsotail]

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 . that memory has stuck with me and has been tough to shake...

Well i think you are talking about the Bass That I caught....yes I put it on the ice, it's a in season fish, why would this fish give you night mares....when there were about hundred fish on the ice that day, Crappie, pike, Blue gills Sunfish, punkin seed ...of course these fishare not on a pedistal like the MIGHTY BASS. we have to remember that a Bass is just a fish...like all the rest that swim our waters

Sorry Big O...you started the thread and asked for replies. I think the moral or ethical question is the crux here not a simple poll on who eats Bass.

Regarding your comment on the Bass you kept at Petrie this year, I will never call anyone in public for doing something that I "believe" is unwise. That's what PMs are for or face-to-face discussions. Perhaps you're feeling a bit guilty if you did, eh .

I don't have a problem with folks keeping young Bass, but when folks keep stringers of the best spawners out there I believe it's not a good thing to do for sportfishing, the taste of larger fish is not good at all (and I've tried them also), and it's probably not a wise thing to do with regularity since they are high on the food chain (also read as high in methyl mercury content).

I'm just a visitor in your beautiful country at this time and have found the majority of people on this thread have tried to justify keeping larger Bass is OK because it's "legal". I think there is a tendancy to want to brag about catching larger Bass to friends and neighbors with some fisherman (not saying that's you, Big O because I don't know you that well)..."Look what I caught!" I just don't think it's something you want to promote on this board because of the risks to health, the sport, and to future/young fisherman. Panfish are more prolific spawners, taste better, and are safer to eat with frequency. Bass aren't on my pedestal, but I believe should be harvested wisely like other species. Keeping large Bass bad Selective harvest good

Cheers,

Ratsotail

[Canadian Bacon]

I think the moral or ethical question is the crux here not a simple poll on who eats Bass.

Come on..Moral and ethical values have no place in this discussion....no one is doing anything they are not entitled to by law!
Please don't preach them we all have they are all differnet but no ones are any better thatn others!

also read as high in methyl mercury content).

Your kidding right? Do you know how much one must consume to have a problem with Mercury content!?

I don't necissarily disagree with some of the things you are saying but these two I do!

[joco]

THE QUESTION WAS


SO HOW MANY KEEP BASS TO EAT''''''''''

[big-o]

Ratsotail Wrote:

I don't have a problem with folks keeping young Bass, but when folks keep stringers of the best spawners out there I believe it's not a good thing to do for sportfishing, the taste of larger fish is not good at all (and I've tried them also), and it's probably not a wise thing to do with regularity since they are high on the food chain (also read as high in methyl mercury content).

I'm glad that you are worried about my health... , Also there were no stringers of the best Spawners....there was ONE Bass..... and I'm surprized that one bass on the ice would keep you up at night...for that I appolagize,, but I realy think that one three pound Bass, is not going to jepordize the population in river that runs over 100 miles But I still wonder why....that one bass bothered you so much, that it has kept you up at night thinking about it....when there were 12 to 14 inch crappie on the ice also....they are the breeders in that Speicies....but no one ever gives them any consideration! (There are some on this board that do )I do not and will not appoligies for keeping one three pound bass some of you say....what would you have done if it was a five LBS bass...well it wasn't, so let kill that conversation before it starts


And as feeling Guilty......not in the least...it was the best tasting Bass I bass I ever ate

[skooter]

Just lookin for a little info here,.....

I posted earlier that I enjoy a feed of bass, when filleted properly, just to clarify, I was talking "smallies".
I have never actually targeted the large mouth, as I heard that they are really not that good to eat.

Just wondered what experiences other members have had, ...say taste comparison, ways of cooking etc.

I might add large mouth to my list, depending on the "feed back"..(Say, that's kinda funny)

Thanks...

[big-o]

Skooter


I know a guy that makes the best home tapera batter you have ever tasted...and a great dipping sauce, i'm not to sure how to make the batter..I'll find out and let you know....but the dipping sauce..is a 50 / 50 mix of Horse radish and Marmalde Jam....yes you heard me right.....this is super tasting Sauce We use at home on just about everything....but it is at it's best with fresh fish ....and far as the differance between Sm and LM....i don't find any....I like them equiley