Catch / Catch and Release Etiquette ?

[TONY-B]

I'm new to Fly Fishing and have only been a couple of times to my local fishery. There is no written rule on the size of fish which can be taken just the amount. Personnally i don't see the point in taking a fish just to put it in my freezer. But what if i were (fingers crossed) to be lucky enough to catch a double figure fish or decent size one day, should i be returning them to catch another day or would it be okay to take a trophy fish home for the pan? I've seen people take large fish but is this generally frowned upon by you more experienced guys ? ? ?

[flyman]

Hi Tony,
My club water you can have c.r which i do most of the time,
like u said whats the point in filling up the freezer when i can try and
get a fresh 1 when ever i want.
A lot of waters are u pay for a limit and if u catch a big 1 why not keep it.
When i started i coudnt wait to catch a double figure fish to show of to my family.
The main thing is enjoy your self,you will get some funny buggers saying that should have gone back
only because u caught it not them.

Good luck
Flyman

[GAZJB]

Totally agree with flyman there. Yeah you will get the funny buggers some will say you should put them back, some will say you must take your quota? the reason some say put them back is that if correctly played witch is quick as possible unhook them with forcepts in the water. when releasing hold the fish upright by one hand under the fish the other hold of the tail in the water, try not to touch the gills and give them time to get there breath back (they will let you know when they want to go). Now some say that, when you put the fish back they appear to swim off ok. But later die due to the Latic Acid in the muscles, Also if a fish has been caught it will remember and never take a imatation bait again? Well my answer to this is go on to the forum ans ask a carp fisher if this is true and if so why don't they just knock it on the head a prevent a slow painful death? i think you may find that their answer will be something like "What a load of cobblers". like flyman say take them as you need them., if you want a trophy like we all do, take a photo and brag about it till the cows come home. Tight lines mate and i hope you get your double this year.

[TONY-B]

Thanks for the comments and time to reply guys, appreciate the help. I've been a course fisherman for nearly 30 years, and i've caught tagged carp on the same baits in the same day before now, throws that theory out the water

Its a bit frosty out there but time to put the rods in the car,

[NICK R]

I put all trout back if caught from a man made mud hole as they taste like shit ,
if i catch one from a stream i will only take one fish no matter what the bag limit is

[GAZJB]

Originally Posted by NICK R

I put all trout back if caught from a man made mud hole as they taste like shit ,
if i catch one from a stream i will only take one fish no matter what the bag limit is

maybe you need cooking lessons?

[NICK R]

Nothing wrong with my cooking skills mate
trout always taste,s better out of fresh running water

[Pleccy]

Originally Posted by NICK R

Nothing wrong with my cooking skills mate
trout always taste,s better out of fresh running water

Agreed, the bigger farmed-trout get, the fattier their organs become and as a result, they taste like cardboard when cooked...

[aculbert675]

farmed trout taste awful i think, but if u get a good sized stocked fish then i would keep it unless its from the river. but put the small ones back

[GlasgowJames]

Pleccy you say that bigger farmed trout taste like cardboard, how do you know this have you ever eaten cardboard lol

Only joking mate i do agree they are less tasty than there wilder cousins.