Fishing inland lakes-- do you keep or catch & release?

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: Fishing inland lakes-- do you keep or catch & release?

I'll only keep what I will eat that day....otherwise back they go. If I wanted frozen/refrigerated fish my local grocery store has a very good supply..and no cleaning required.


Ian

 

[redfury]

Re: Fishing inland lakes-- do you keep or catch & release?

I don't know about "mealy", but Bass do have a soft flesh. Northern is stiff, and I haven't eaten enough walleye to have a memory of the stiffness of flesh. I guess if I had to describe it to someone, I'd have to say it was a smooth flesh. Not much for tactile feedback when eating it. I'd compare it to cooked sliced carrots for texture I guess.

The size of the fish you are eating has a bit to do with taste also, in regards to what the averages are. Younger fish have less meat, but I find them to be tastier than older lunker type fish, though the difference is really pretty trivial.

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: Fishing inland lakes-- do you keep or catch & release?

We C&R whenever we fish....................the exception is when we go on a charter......................there are some captains that insist on keeping what they/we catch.................Most have looked at us like were crazies when we inform them we'd like to C&R but most comply.

 

[lifeisfun]

Re: Fishing inland lakes-- do you keep or catch & release?

100% catch and release for me

 

[AZMinyard]

Re: Fishing inland lakes-- do you keep or catch & release?

Depends on the time of year and fish, personally. We have a "kill order" on pike where they are an invasive species. I have tried to clean and cook them to no avail.

Pan fish (crappie, bluegill, perch) ? well, there IS a reason they are called pan fish . . .
Catfish ? always eat ?em; if you every run into a batch that comes across as muddy or algae flavored, soak them in milk over night.
Bass ? cornmeal, cumin, cyan and fried ? yum
Trout ? only when the water is cold and the meat is firm
Striper ? see bass above

I only take what we will eat before the next fishing trip.