Selectivly Collecting Specimens at location X

[Talltails]

I only have to drive a couple miles down the road to go fishing. If I had to drive all the way down here from Georgia, then I'd probably keep more fish. Also, that's a long drive back up to talk about the fishing. I bet the fish get bigger by the mile on the way back up.

[Reel Slow]

The reason this has boiled over into debating tourny fishing is because a few tourny fishermen started the admonishment of WAM's fish. Even after I explained the measurement mistake, which really is not the issue.

Dude, BD smoked WAM out. Simple as that. If he had said it was 24" from the get go, no one would have said a thing.

Why, because a 28" is a dang rare fish to catch and therefore has value to us fishermen that try hard to get one and prefer to release them. Its value to the resource is much greater than the typical trout caught. All this is true.

That said, keeping a 28" trout also ain't the end of the world...there will still be trout.

Happy New Year folks.

[Redbelly]

The reason this has boiled over into debating tourny fishing is because a few tourny fishermen started the admonishment of WAM's fish. Even after I explained the measurement mistake, which really is not the issue.

Dude, BD smoked WAM out. Simple as that. If he had said it was 24" from the get go, no one would have said a thing.

Why, because a 28" is a dang rare fish to catch and therefore has value to us fishermen that try hard to get one and prefer to release them. Its value to the resource is much greater than the typical trout caught. All this is true.

That said, keeping a 28" trout also ain't the end of the world...there will still be trout.

Happy New Year folks.

Dude.....Wam and I both were mistaken that evening. Wam posted it in his excitement, I corrected it soon after. I posted an explanation .

Where would YOU draw the line in a tournamnet? 24.5"

Like you said there will still be trout. And just how much difference is 4" gonna make?

BUT imposing your self made limits by openly scolding someone WHO WAS WITHIN HIS LEGAL RIGHTS in such a manner as was done by Birddog is a gross example of elitist double standards.

If you fish tournaments that would allow a 28" trout "KILLED' to be weighed for the money, then YOU sir are participating and supporting that which you publically admonish!!!

Simple as this: DOUBLE STANDARD!

I think an apology is in order, sir. And it is not me or WAM who needs to make it!

[Chalk]

BUT imposing your self made limits by openly scolding someone WHO WAS WITHIN HIS LEGAL RIGHTS in such a manner as was done by Birddog is a gross example of elitist double standards.

I think an apology is in order, sir. And it is not me or WAM who needs to make it!

Nobody has imposed their self made limits onto you or WAM, if that is the case, I think you look better in pink plaid...I expect to see you in pink plaid next time I see you, yes I am imposing it onto you. You gonna go and buy pink plaid?

This is an open forum, debate should be expected, apologies are not needed nor would I expect one.

[Redbelly]

Chalk I don't feel that was a debate statement, but rather an admonishment based on a personal view, and delivered in a harsh tone so to speak. That sir is imposing on someones elses thread.

And I don't think you have seen me in pink plaid, so your statement is purely unfounded and deserves no credence.
That is a statement in the spirit of debate, sir.

[Chalk]

I feel it's a debate statement, just as you felt the other was a debate statement. Therefore I find no credence in your statement and believe it's purely unfounded.

All in the spirit of debate you know.....

[Redbelly]

I feel it's a debate statement, just as you felt the other was a debate statement. Therefore I find no credence in your statement and believe it's purely unfounded.

All in the spirit of debate you know.....

I wonder.......

[Reel Cowboy]

Did everyone remeber to take their "happy" pills this morning?

[Reel Slow]

Dude.....Wam and I both were mistaken that evening. Wam posted it in his excitement, I corrected it soon after. I posted an explanation .

Where would YOU draw the line in a tournamnet? 24.5"

Like you said there will still be trout. And just how much difference is 4" gonna make?

BUT imposing your self made limits by openly scolding someone WHO WAS WITHIN HIS LEGAL RIGHTS in such a manner as was done by Birddog is a gross example of elitist double standards.

If you fish tournaments that would allow a 28" trout "KILLED' to be weighed for the money, then YOU sir are participating and supporting that which you publically admonish!!!

Simple as this: DOUBLE STANDARD!

I think an apology is in order, sir. And it is not me or WAM who needs to make it!

Chalk is correct, no one is imposing anything. Just sharing ideas and different opinions. I hope your laughing as you type because I am. This is good stuff.

We let a nice gal one go yesterday but kept some of her young for the table That is the way we prefer to do it. If it was a tourney and we were competing she would have been eaten. Those are the rules and a comprimise. No double standard, just different rules on different days. Kind of like the difference between Saturday Night and Sunday Morning

Happy New Year.

[Redbelly]

Reel Slow....your post just showed the attitude I am addressing. And yes now I am laughing

It's alright when you say it's alright.

If I read you correctly about saturday night and sunday morning then that is addressed also....and it is written "as a double minded man" .....

When someone begins a statement with "What the hell".....I think it crosses the line on just sharing an opinion, and becomes open ridicule.

Or am I being too sensitive?

Or am I correct? That is a matter of opinion, sir.

[birddog]

Wow, you fellas can really run with something......the bottom line is this, I knew from the picture that the trout in question was not 28". Ya'll were throwing around numbers like 30" trout and I smelled a little BS. I also knew I could smoke out the truth if I poked ya'll a little.

I hope ya'll do find that elusive 28" to 30" trout. If you do, snap a pic. I'd like to see her.

[Redbelly]

I explained the mismeasurement. It was not an intended lie by WAM to begin with. Coming home I was instrumental in guessing it might be up to 28".

Measuring it in the boat close to dark with the boat rocking and not holding it correctly resulted in that 28" guesstimate.

I really measured it and posted the correction the next morning as the fish came home with me (thanks WAM)

I don't think we were "smoked out". Insinuating you did a good deed revealing a fishing lie is dodging the issue.

Birddog if you will read through you'll see being "smoked out" ain't the real issue at hand here.

[What a mess]

Next time I will be more specific as a guest on a boat the fish was longer than the length of the device he had aboard to measure the size of fish. We collectivly guessed and were wrong. I will not keep more than 1 over 20 per man.

I did not knowingly nor intentionally mistate this fishes size.

I do think it is funny that what is the right thing to do is regulated by the situation.

That is called situational ethics which calls into to question the persons commitment to what they belive.

You wouldn't steal unless it was enough money?

You wouldn't cheat on your wife unless the girl looked good enough or you thought you wouldn't get caught?

You would not call it cheating on your taxes, unless the audit caught it?

Integrity is what you do when know one is watching.

You can base your ethics on the situation but it makes you look like a hypocrete to others.

[caseycook]

I feel like I owe WAM somewhat of an apology. My comments were a little harsh and after thinking about it, I probably shouldn't have said anything. I disagreed with his logic in his initial report comparing a 27" trout to a similar size redfish and about how difficult it is to catch one (or many) fish of that size. There are a lot of really good fisherman on this site who've never experienced catching a trout that big, but hope that one day I'll get the chance. I love seeing "trout porn" and would love to see pics of people's big trout from the past.

Y'all have made some good points. I see both sides of the argument and how many of us could be viewed as hypocrites. Chalk and I have very similar views here though and I don't think this post will change the way I operate in '08.

I would like to offer up an alternative that nobody has mentioned yet. If one catches a large fish of any species and wants it to go on the wall, why not get a replica mount? I caught a nice trout in May, took measurements and pictures and released the fish. I'm having a replica made by these folks, http://coastaltaxidermy.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. Check out their gallery; IMO the fish mounts look damn good and very realistic. I'll get my fish back on Jan. 7th and will post pictures.

I've enjoyed reading this thread over the last couple days. Happy New Year.

[Redbelly]

I like the idea of a replica mount. Casey I for one appreciate your apology to WAM. Good man.

A trout like the legendary 30"+ size is a monumental catch. I wonder how long one that size would live? Is ahe near her last days?

The trout the last couple of trips were good eating sizes. I actually think 15" is too small to keep. I like to filet, and those don't yeild enough to my liking.

Does anyone have to worry about me catching a lot of overslot fish and destroying the resource?? Now that thought is a joke!