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Catch and Release Thoughts (Guest Article)
by Duane Richards

Catch and release (C&R) has saved many a fishery in my opinion. For the most part, I practice C&R and have done so for many years, and will continue to. I’ve caught many of the same fish, over and over again in the same waterways. I know this, due to unusual markings from one source or another. These fish could not have been caught a second time if they were not released.

However, I also support the fisherman's right to keep every fish within the law, on their water, if they wish to do so. The laws are there to help the ecosystem, as well as the sportsman involved. AS LONG AS THE FISHERMAN KEEPS WITHIN THE LAWS, IT'S HIS/HER RIGHT TO DO SO.

Overpopulation can be as bad, or worse, in my opinion, due to a number of factors, including C&R. I'd much rather see a fellow take a fish for the table as opposed to the fish dying a long, slow death for whatever reason. Mother Nature has, and always will, take care of her own, in one form or another. We are at the top of the food chain and are a part of it, like it or not.

Now to the laws. Laws vary from watershed to watershed and there's a reason for that. Much study has been done on each watershed to enhance the population of certain species in one way or another and to improve it for us as fishermen. I support our laws on the water, and always have. With that said, not all laws can be good!

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"Mother Nature has, and always will, take care of her own, in one form or another. We are at the top of the food chain and are a part of it, like it or not."

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I never understood why people rally behind every new law that comes into play, while the politicians stand with that all too familiar smile, pat on the back look, they always have. I see it daily! "A LAW ONLY TAKES AWAY SOMEONE'S FREEDOM". Yes, we may agree with whatever the law may be and we can support it, but, at the same time, there is someone else out there that just lost his or her freedom to choose. There has to be a happy medium between laws and freedom. To choose should be OUR CHOICE.

As expressed by many, I too, frown on a trophy fish hanging from a stringer. But, I fall apart at the sight of a trophy fish floating breathlessly down the current, even though I know the fish will provide food for many others in the ecosystem. I also frown on an improperly managed system where the fish are out of balance with their environment due to a broken link in the habitat.

Our resources have not been correctly protected in the past and that state of mind is hard to overcome, yet it must be a two way street. We are headed in the correct direction concerning watershed conservation and protecting our resources.

Catch and release is a big part of conservation, but no less is the fellow sitting at the table with fresh fish on his plate for dinner.