Hand off survey:

[TundraIII]

On my boat I prefer that everyone gets a chance to fight a fish. If you bring your own pole
or use one of mine I always suggest at the beginning of the trip that if your pole hooks a fish and
you land it (kept or released) you hand off the next one to someone else. I will in most cases
hand off my first fish to whoever is in the boat that has never had the experience of fighting
a fish. I have been on other boats where this policy would seem absurd. Would like to hear
some feed back on what other folks do on their boats.

p.s. Most of the folks that I take dont get to fish very often. If the boat owner gives up his only
fish it is always appreciated if you offer a nice fillet for his supper :grin:

[ 04-03-2002, 11:42 AM: Message edited by: TundraIII ]

[omnivore]

TundraIII, you're my kind of angler! It's always nice to share, especially something as special as fighting a steelhead or a salmon. :cheers:

[SureSet]

For me it basically depends on who is in the boat. Certainly if I have a kid in the boat, the first fish goes to him/her. If I have some people who don't routinely catch fish, I'll hand-off the second. If I'm with the buddies who fish allot and it means bragging rights, forget it! (unless it goes on for a few weeks).

SureSet

[wetaline]

I think this question realy depends on who your fishing with... if its someone that never gets a chance to fish then i'll pass off after my first, or in a rare case that the person will not have a chance or has never fished before, i'll pass the first...

however its usualy the case that i'm out w/ my regular fishing buddies, and theres no way they'll accept a pass off... I even tried to offer my rod holder spot the other day (it was hot) .. they'd have nothing to do w/ it... I think the on going insult in our boat is .. " hey dont worry i'll pass you the next one! :grin: "

[MasterCaster]

Well I dont do alot of fishing for Salmon and Steelhead from a boat. Most of the time im on the bank. But when im Steelhead fishing with either family or friends if i have caught a fish in the past week or so I will usually hand off anything i hook. Most of the people i go out with dont get to fish regularly and dont catch many fish and besides the look on thier face when they get that fish is well worth the wait for my next. I think the best day i have had was a couple years ago summer steelhead fishing I handed off 7 fish and didnt even land 1 for myself. They landed all 7. Although i hooked and lost many more lol.

Pretty much the only exception is Fall Chinook fishing on the Nestucca. I put in alot of time for the fish i catch usually but on the few and far between days that i get one and am lucky enough to hook another I hand it off. I have only limited on fall chinook once. all the other times i kept one and handed off others.

Jon :smile: :grin: :smile:

[TH]

Great topic,
I fish my kids and wife a bunch, as well as my dad and friends that don't have boats etc.

In my boat (for salmon) I land very few fish... my kids get to land all the fish they want, my wife helps them, so does my dad.
When the kids aren't in the boat, my dad gets first shot, of my grandfather etc. If I have guests in the boat they land all the fish, simply because I like to do all the netting, and boat handling etc. (Control freak like THUMPER :smile: (which I find just as fun)

If I am in my uncles boat (he's a guide) we usually draw numbers, you LAND a fish you go to the back of the line, if my grandfather of father or son/daughter or who ever is in the boat they always go first!

When steelie fishing, you land what you hook, unless my kids or wife or someone new is there then I pass everything off.

Fishing is about fun.. there is nothing funner than watchig a 4 year old kid battle a 30# in shorts and a life jacket with his/her mother. That's why I fish!

[crabbait]

Often, I am supplying the boat and all the rods. Even when someone brings their own gear we tend to take turns with fish when trolling or anchored fishing Kfish, etc.

Drift or float/bobber fishing is something else. Usually, the person who hooks the fish lands the fish unless someone is inexperienced or otherwise at a disadvantage.

[On a mission]

First fish is in the boat by who ever hooks it. Always. That way we have fish to take home. Then handing off is great, everyone should have some fun.

[Thumper]

TH, I guess we can't ever fish together......Neither of us would want to play the critter!

[Pete]

No matter who is on my boat, I always grab the rod. The only reason I ever let anyone on my boat is to increas the chance that I will get to fight a fish. Kids are the best, since they often don't know that they should have the chance to fight a fish. My boat, my fight, my fish!

Well, not really. OK, I'm joking! Is there any bigger smile than on the face of someone landing their first steelhead or salmon? I love making smiles!

[wetaline]

Pete I was wondering when somebody would step up and tell the truth! :cheers:

[CptCatchem]

There are only two rules on my boat:
1: if the first fish is hooked on my rod, reguardless of who reels it in, I win the $5 first fish bet. :grin:

2: Among the people I fish with no matter what happens the captain CANT WIN the first fish bet !!!!!!!!! LOL :whazzup:

[Mojo]

In Idaho, whoever grabs the rod, owns the fish. I have lost several steelies because my buddies were not ready when they hit, and I wanted them to get one! I still would rather lose a fish trying to get a newbie on one, than hog the fish and have my friends go home thinking they suck as a fisherman. The common theme is share the love! If you can't legally "hand off" a rod, yell at the rookie to grab it, and be quick with the net. :grin:

[Jerry Dove]

Fishing is such great fun, everybody should get a chance to land a big fish, or a little one. My daughter landed her first trout when she was 4 years old(it was a stick) I put on her hook when she was not looking. BBut she was hooked after that, her next 3 fish were 3 fall chinook all in one day. That was legal back them. Yes she hooked all 3 her self. I love handing my rod off to any one that has not had the pleasure of hooking and landing a fish. bUT WHAT I DON'T LIKE IS A PERSON THAT FISHES FROM DAYLIGHT TO DARK 7 DAYS A WEEK AND HANDS OFF THE ROD ALL DAY LONG , JUST SO THEY CAN KEEP FISHING, AND ONLY FOR HALF OF THE MEAT, OR ALL OF THE EGGS~!!!!!!!! I see a lot of this and it makes me push for the rule that says , the person that hooks the fish tags the fish. I would be happy to tag a fish for some one that had never caught one, or some little child, or an elder person. I hope I have made my point. I see to much of this in Tillamook, and they know who they are, and they know I don't like it.

[CATCH AND EAT]

Grind that ax Jerry. :wink: Some people just don't get it huh.

[WaterDog]

Depends on who's in the boat. Folks that don't get much fishing in are considered "guests". They get the first fish no matter what. Which ever rod goes down it's theirs. Others that bring their own rods and are considered "fisherman" it's every man (woman) for themselves. I will however set all guests in the better spot and with the right rigging so they get the first one, hopefully. And that even means you CAGEY! :wink:

Kids of course get the first one as well.

Exception #1: :rolleyes: if I happen to have greenhorns (those that dont know a bass from a chinook) on board I will take the rod and have the "guests" reel in the other rods while I "hold" the fish and then hand it off. Too many lost fish created exception #1.

Exception #2: :rolleyes: If the crew is "napping". :sleep: I will take the rod since I'm the quickest to wake up and know where I am and what needs to be done. :rolleyes: This usually applies only when fishing with the family. It's amazing how long it takes some to wake up out of the fog. :mad: graemlins/icon_argue.gif Again too many lost fish. Those that anchor fish a lot know what I mean. :smile:

[Chris Nordling]

I'm another that tries to pass the buck . Or hen or whatever. Just like to see fish to the boat. Sometimes the occasional stubborn one comes along, but most are pretty eager to start the battle. I guess others like to see Cappy get fish too. That's just fine with me too. Sometimes that avoids the graemlins/stupid.gif if no one can seem to get the hooks going.

The standing rule with my buddies is to get your skunk out first, then work on the next till the boat goes home. Some other guys don't like it. graemlins/berry.gif graemlins/berry.gif Too bad. Most of us work too hard to leave by 9 am cuz our buddies stick is on fire. No way. Give me the graemlins/eek13.gif if you want, but when the fires burning, no reason to get out the water and go home.

I've had the pleasure of fishing with Pete. Don't believe him, he is all over those rods like a hawk to a field mouse. :shocked: The nine year olds are just easier to push out of the way:hoboy:

Just teasing Pete, any chance soon to fish ? E mail me, and thanks for your help the other day with that search.

To Springers :cheers:

Chris :cool:

[rhansme]

I was out on my favorite coastal river this winter. I had been having a great day, I made a cast into a likley looking spot when I had a big hit. I set the hook and had it on for about 3 seconds when my NEW Lamiglas rod broke above where the two sections joined. I was with my buddie Rick and I told him to get in there and get that fish! He tried for quite some time and became impatient and handed me his rod. I made one cast and this time the plan all came together. Nice bright wild hen about 15 lbs full of fight. I handed Rick his pole and told him to fight his own darned fish! What a blast. Rick enjoyed every second of that fish and I was happy to be there to release another beauty. Sharing the joy is really more fun in a long run, Or a short run for that matter!

[Thumper]

As a former (pretty lousy) guide I handed off many a fish. If I'm operating my boat I usually try to hand off the rod. It's gotten to be kinda habitual over the years. Besides, I find playing the fish to be much less interesting than operating the boat, netting the fish, etc. Control freak I guess.

[Keta]

Kids first, new anglers second, and "KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF OF MY ROD!!!" with my usual fishing partners! The two friends (and me) that I usually fish with love to flick s... at any
one of us that is getting skunked. They will let me tie the gear though (they trust my knots and
don't know how to tie mooching leaders). I always take care of cleaning the catch too, I just can't stand to watch someone else hack a fish when I can do a better job and I am much faster at it (I worked on a friends salmon troller in Alaska and can do a very good job of it and fast). Even when I am with a guide I would rather clean my fish. My 13 year old daughter is catching on to bleeding and gutting and can fillet better than me but she takes more time at it.

[Hilo]

I'm one of the guys that most of you would like to have in your boat! I have a lot of experience sitting in the front of either of my brother's boats, either letting the line out or bringing it in.

Frankly it never bothers me if I am the one to "reel it in". I still get a big adrenaline rush even if it is on my brother's rod.

What keeps me fishing is that I always learn and I am outdoors with people I care about.

The meat ain't to bad either! But we always share our catch.

As far as the skunk goes, it's either on the boat or not!

[CATCH AND EAT]

Spread the love. Hand offs are cool and everybody gets a chance. Heck, yesterday I tried to hand off my first fish to Pop's. He said nope. Native fish had to be released. He must have known. Second fish, I again offered it to him. This time he readily took the rod. keeper. :shocked: graemlins/stupid.gif

Point is everybody deserves a chance. :cool:

[RichH]

Depends on who is in the boat. If its the standard crew theres a lot of crap flinging that goes on so handoffs only happen if someone is on fire. In fact, I finally saw Bubba hand off a rod twice this year :shocked: graemlins/1zhelp.gif after 15 years of fishing with him. Happily it wasn't me that needed the help. :grin:

If I have rookies I will typically allow them to land all the fish since I get out more than they do my landing one more fish is not gonna have an impact on my enjoyment of the day. Last week I had a fellow from South Carolina with me and he tried to get me to land one after the 6th fish on but I held my ground and # 7 was a nice broodstock fish so he got to take one home to eat. I think he was pretty happy about that. :cheers: