Native fish poll

[Salmonator]

How you feel about taking pictures of natives and posting them.

[Hogmaster]

Ahhh, comon Salmonator...

Where are the responses for things like,

"I support photos of nates as long as the fish are carefully handled and quickly released."

It seems incendiary to suggest anyone would think taking pics of "all nates" would be appropriate. A tired or injured fish should be revived, not photo'd, and I doubt seriously that any credible fisherman would argue that...

[Flatfish]

If you don't want a photo of your first steelie, you should probably find a new hobby....But after 20 or so, do you really NEED another pic of another 8 pounder?

I have caught enough steelies now that I just pull the hook and get it back swimming ASAP. But if I have a first timer( eyes WIDE open. Talking fast and almost nonstop), a pic will be taken...Unless the fish will be put in jeopardy because of it.

Mark and the dog.

[Salmonator]

Hogmaster, you have to take into consideration that there will ALWAYS be rookies that are going to mishandle fish. The poll in my mind takes this into account and you have to look at the broad picture when voting I guess. As far as "incendiary" to assume some would take pics of all nates, look at the votes :smile:

Flatfish, I agree with your entire post

[ 02-24-2004, 09:57 PM: Message edited by: Salmonator ]

[ampersat]

I'm the wrong person to ask this question. I laughed out loud when I came across this exchange in my Dilbert page-a-day calendar:
Pointy Haired Boss: I'm a nature lover. When I fish I practice catch and release.
Unknown female: So you torture fish for fun.

I know that folks think winters are "sturdy" fish and will survive well when properly released, and they probably do go on about their business just fine once they've recovered. However, in the end, you really are just torturing them and sending them on their way. I'm not going to stop fishing just because I might hook a nate. However, if the only fish in the river are nates and I have no chance of bringing fish home, I'll go elsewhere or wait until the keepers are in.

However, like many things here in our great US of A, that's my choice and may not be the choice of others. And if those folks want to take a pic of their catch, as long as the fish is handled with respect I don't have a problem with it. In the end, there's no law against it. Express your self righteous indignation all you want but until it's illegal that's all you can do about it.

Can we get over this issue and get back to the "all important" snagger problem?
:grin:

[Tilla]

Waugh waugh waugh.....waugh waugh, waugh waugh waugh.. waugh waugh waugh
Just like Charlie Brown's teacher!

[6horsekicker]

Oh come on. Yes if you are taking 5 minutes to get your camera out of the tackle box to take the picture then that's one thing, but the pics that I take only last about half a second. The issue is in the handling. If you can take a nate for the brook stock program fight the fish for 10 mintues mess around with the net and finaly get it up and drop it into the holding tank then I sure hope that a person can take a quick pic and quickly send the fish on its way

Originally posted by Flatfish:
If you don't want a photo of your first steelie, you should probably find a new hobby....But after 20 or so, do you really NEED another pic of another 8 pounder?

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">Well said Mark [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] An exceptional or first fish as long as it isn't mishandled then fine but make darn sure you know what you are doing!

[ 02-24-2004, 11:01 PM: Message edited by: Stew ]

[Oncorhynchus]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with snapping a quick photo of your nate. Make sure your hands are wet before touching them and give them a "drink" every minute or so. When ready to release hold upstream in well oxygenated water until fish takes off on its own. Avoid any contact with the gill area as they are only a few cells thick.

[IFISH4U]

Everyone is so worried about what to say on here anymore, if you know how, and you want a pic for memories take one, then let the fish go. Unless the law states you cant remove from water, before release, then snap a pic while in water.

[reeldick]

I don't think there will ever be one answer to this question. There is just too much gray area that leaves it all open to discussion.

Of course with the people on ifish there is very little that all agree on. OK, maybe helping sick puppies.

[FrogPond]

reeldick,
Don't forget bonk'n snaggers and litterbugs

[ 02-25-2004, 08:45 AM: Message edited by: Keta ]

[hookem]

wow that poll says it all
I think the case has been put to rest guys lol [img]graemlins/icon_argue.gif[/img]

Numbers don't prove who is right here. At one time it was ok to dynamite Passenger pigeons in their roost trees and shoot buffalo for their hide and tung.

PS:
You show your concern by laughing

[ 02-25-2004, 09:41 AM: Message edited by: Keta ]

[Salmonator]

I didn't start this poll to see who was right and who wasn't. I do like the results however, and some of it is interesting.

I'm surprised at the number that either don't know or don't care. I did vote for pictures of "Special" wild fish.

[Salmonator]

Oops, gotta learn how to read [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img]

[ 02-25-2004, 09:59 AM: Message edited by: Salmonator ]

Posting pictures of wild fish is my biggest problem here. Post pictures of clipped fish and keep the wild fish pictures for friends and family.


Put it back Sam & 8er, it was good input.

[ 02-25-2004, 10:03 AM: Message edited by: Keta ]

[Abalone]

Hmmmm ! During the Springer run it is common to see floaters on the Willamette. Some are natural deaths but some are from releasing. I have seen many Huge Sturgeon on the Columbia all Bloated that I would assume were played until death and then released. I suppose a lot of it has to do with handling a fish. Pesonally it seems natural to just grab the hook while the fishes head is under water and either cut the line of pull the hook I don't even think about it. On a rare occasion I might snap a picture of a Native before I release it. I sure did when I went with Marty a couple of weeks ago as I wanted my Wife to have that image in her head of being a Fisherwoman. I let lingcod go all the time without taking them out of the water. Even the big ones. I don't like killing
spawners. I am thinking probably it's more of an issue for guides because they want to give something for their clients to take home. So I guess my question is. How many Floaters do you see
on the Wilson or the Nestucca or any other stream where there is a lot of Native fish being released ? I think this is an important question for sure and I think it may serve to educate a lot of people. I also bleed any fish I am going to keep. First thing I do is cut it behind the gills. I do that to each an every Sea Bass, Lingcod or Salmon. I think it is humane and I think it makes the meat last longer and it certainly taste better.

Good Thread

[ 02-25-2004, 12:03 PM: Message edited by: Abalone ]

Lots of the dead fish sink too.

Bleed ALL fish headed for the table.

[Salmonator]

Keta, I'm not sure I worded it right. 96% were for taking pics yet only 25% wanted to see them plastered all over IFISH. That is what you (and I) were trying to say... :smile:

Abalone, I'm not sure it is possible for a winter steelhead to float? I've never seen one. Could it have something to do with water temp or maybe a springers fat content?

[ 02-25-2004, 10:10 AM: Message edited by: Salmonator ]

[Abalone]

Eventually they gas up and float. I see more during the warm season though. But just the same
floaters might be an indicator. If not floating then you would see them in Shallow water occasionally I would think. I don't fish the coast that often so I have noticed but I see a few on the Clack during the summer months. Would colder weather be a factor for mortality ?

As I said. I most often take the hook out while the fish is in the water but Still I would be interested in knowing. I avoid touching the fish as much as possible. I also will cut the hook below the eye if the hook is buried too deep. What ever it takes to minimise the harm to the fish. And I don't get people that use nets on the bank. I see guys netting natives on Meldrum bar. That looks really bad to me. If I can't catch it by hand to fish is free to swim another day unless of course that
bank is too steep.

[lost_sailor]

I'll trust you to handle the wild fish so your photo doesn't kill them. Still, it can't do them any good, especially after losing a fight.

If I'm going to release a fish, it stays in the water, gets unhooked and revived and on its way as soon as possible.

Most of my pictures are of guests hoisting dead fish.

[Abalone]

Personally it's no big deal to take a photo and if I were convinced that by handling a fish It would kill it, I promise you I would never, ever do it. That's why I like this thread, I may be learning something here. Obviously there is a big difference of opinion on the subject. Where are the facts ?

Common sense tells me that it's not healthy to take a tired fish and stress it further by taking it out of the water. But also, When I fished with Marty, all the fish we handled swam away swiftly unlike the Steelhead I have release on the Deshutes where I have had to revive them.

Lets face it; There is going to be mortality on Native fish if we are going to Catch and release.
So as a percentage ( That we all want to minimize ) What is the mortality on fish removed from the water to take a photo ?

As I said before I rarely if ever take a fish out of water or touch it with bare hands.
Some people kill fish whether they photograph it or not just by the clumsy way they handle it.
Can't get away from that. But for those that do it properly how high is the risk ? Based on what ?

[ 02-25-2004, 10:40 AM: Message edited by: Abalone ]

[Fishalot]

If you know how

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">Now that my fishing friends is the bottom line. You are now thinking, yes if you release the native fish properly it is no big deal.
Think for just a secound about how each and every person gets to the point of properly releaseing a fish. It is a learning process and the fish are the victims. I know that guides and experienced fishmen have good intention and have handled many fish, however I have seen them mishandle a fish now and then. It may not be on purpose it just happens and no one is exempt from these mishaps.
Each fish caught needs to be assessed and handled accordingly, this assessment is bassed on how deep the fish is hooked, how long the fish was fought, is the fish lethargic ect.
I am not aganist taking a quick organized picture of a native fish.

Fishalot

[ 02-25-2004, 11:11 AM: Message edited by: Fishalot ]

[sigard]

Taking a pic shouldn't cause any harm if it's done right. I have a buddy ready with the camara when I land it,(I don't use a net) and I cradle the fish and never take it all the way out of the water. You know, the popular guide in fish mag photo. I cringe when I see a fish draged onto the shore then held up in the air for 20 seconds while someone fumbles to snap a pic. Give 'em a break already!!! As for pics of hatchery fish... one good bonk and they'll hold still for as many pics as you have film for. This is my first post so take it easy if you don't agree.


Fishing is my WMD...weapon of mass distraction!!!!!!!!

[SKP]

Bring on the action pictures - I prefer the pictures with the fight in action. But I'll take pictures of the chrome moment too!

Do you prefer to see pictures of Ratliff blocking a shot, or standing there after the game talking to the announcers? HMMMMMM

SKP