Catch and Release: Best Practice

It's a burning issue, and hot topic across the midwest right now. Nothing new for me, really. I received a call from a potential client the other day, I was just getting done washing off the mud and cedar debris from the Adipose in the drive-thru car wash, so I decided to take the call. The kind lady first asked if I was Catch & Release?

"Well, of course I am ma'am."

"But we want to fish up there next week when we are up for vacation. Can't we keep the fish we catch?" replied the lady.

I had to take the opportunity to explain myself. I am an advocate for C&R, but also believe there is a time and place for selective harvest- meaning taking out certain size fish in a population that is self sustaining in order to ensure future healthy size class, whether warm water or cold water species.

"I would gladly take you fishing, but if I let you keep fish, that would not only deter the quality of guide trips next week, month and next year, but also, if the word got out that True North Trout catches and kills trout, I could quickly gain a negative reputation and lose potential clients. It works like this, if you popped a basketball every time you make a basket, you might be missing the point. The relaxation, the art of tying and fooling a fish on a fly, there in lies the reward and why we chase 8 inch brook trout with a three weight rod. Fly fishing is about the peace, the serenity and the enjoyment of seeing the beauty in nature around us."

"But what if we let the females go?" she retorted. "My husband and I would like to learn to fly fish."

She was relentless. I felt backed in the corner. How can I turn around a possible learning situation for these anglers and for myself?

"I would be more than happy to take and show you how beautiful the river is and some fly fishing technique, but I won't purposefully kill or take a fish home. Simply put, if you catch a nice 18-20" trout, I know where he lives, and perhaps have the opportunity and chance to share catching that mature fish with future anglers, even a couple more times in a year, and next year, he is a 22-24" fish. If we take him out of the ecosystem, there is zero percent chance of catching him again or that he will be a two foot streamer crashing trophy next season." the best I could come up with.

"Well, maybe. Let me talk with my husband, we would like to learn how to fly fish. Do you know any other guides that will let us keep our catch?" She is not giving up easily.

"I am sorry, I do not, sounds like you are look more for a charter boat captain and would enjoy a trip on Lake Michigan trolling for salmon or lake trout."

"Thank you. We will get back with you. Good Bye."

"Thank you. I am sorry. I hope you understand. If we as guides killed every fish we catch, we wouldn't have a job in a few short years, similar to a restaurant that gives away a lot of free drinks, they don't manage the resource very well and end up dry."

Scenario phone calls like this seem to pop up every other week or so. Kind of crazy when I think about it. What is driving this customer my way? Google Search shows TNT at top ten? Most of these anglers are from out of state. I understand the need to bring a fish home, a bit of a keepsake from Michigan, and understandable with out of state License fees. But these fees are exactly what helps keep Michigan a often sought fishing destination. What about where they are from? I see a trend in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and even Georgia residents seeking a piece of our northern Michigan heaven. So I looked into these states and why the popularity.

First, The PURE MICHIGAN campaign. Laugh a little, I did. But a considerable quantity of out of staters have said they were influenced by the Pure Michigan campaign, either on TV, billboard or on Social Media. It does get the word out on what a wonderful water wonderland we live in. It is much appreciated. Maybe we could focus these ads to incorporate a "Leave It as You Found It" mantra.

PURE MICHIGAN

As I dug deeper, and asked other guides from around the state, I found stocking practices in other states to be very instrumental in the anglers outlook on the fishery. It seems many states to the south are mostly "put-in/take" fisheries. There is nothing wrong with that, Michigan used to be fairly seated at the helm of the same practice. In the seventies and eighties, if a fair number of anglers complained about a local river or lake that wasn't putting out, it would often receive a healthy dose of fish early the next spring. Later, with coordinated efforts of concerned non-profit groups like Trout Unlimited and Anglers of the Au Sable, we realized that these practices were short term answers. It was only in recent decades that DNR biologists have shifted focus on rehabilitating the resource instead of just throwing more fish at it. This allows for better and more natural reproduction. And it also provides a wild fishery, not hatchery stockers that will readily accept any food-like particle that floats near them. Most of the stocking done by the DNR are fingerlings or just below keepable size limit fish with hopes that they will establish themselves and become a more viable adversary within a season or two, IF we allow them to grow. Some states are raising their hatchery stockers to a much larger release size. This is due to the fact that many of the fisheries don't often see holdover fish from previous seasons. The water either gets too warm, dissolved oxygen depletion or outcompeted by other cool-warm water transition species. Often it is all three factors that play a part. So these states actually expect you to keep your catch, they will often start the season with a "flies-only" regulation for the first month and transition to all gear/tackle regulations, when all the anglers head out to stock up the freezer.

This then reminded me of our childhood. I vividly recollect many ice fishing trips with dad, filling our 5-gallon buckets with perch, bluegill and crappie, bringing them home, reviving them in a sink of cold water and cleaning a mess of panfish. Without consideration, we would also clean out the freezer of ziplock bags or perch and bass caught in previous years outings. They became fertilizer for our rose bushes. Our father and grandfathers generation were survivors, they kept and saved everything, form rubber bands to Cool-whip containers, simply because you never knew when you were going to need them. Fishing was very much a machismo sport, and you had to bring home your kill, otherwise, what proof would you have? We didn't have cell phone with cameras. I would actually have to wait until all my photos were used up on my Kodak Instamatic 110 and drop the roll off at Meijer Foto Lab, and wait a week longer to show others the bounty of our day on the water. I am certainly glad times have evolved, some for better some for worse. Sure, we see more posting on our FB feed from the great hatch last night, or someone who hooked into a monster across the country, but more often they are released and pictures have proven the same fish to be caught more than once on many rivers in our neck of the woods.

not a monster, but a fine adversary caught on a river that is slowly getting better.

We are advocates of our resources. I believe we need to teach and share responsible catch and release practices with as many people as we come in contact with. It is simple. I realize I am preaching to the choir, but it amazes me how many people still feel the need to fill a freezer with fish that they never end up eating before it is freezer burnt.

We enjoyed a great fresh caught walleye and morel meal the other night, one of the rewards of fishing with Chef from Sante' and being on Lake Charlevoix in the spring. I love fish. The best tasting fish is brookie, fried stream side while camping with nothing but butter, lemon and some fresh cracked pepper. I only do this on occasion, that is why it is special, otherwise it would be as ordinary as a PB&J sandwich.