But we also must rember that the biggest fish arent always the most genetically superior...

'Special' genes dont equate to big fish.

Back to my original point, no Stadle, I disagree with you. That kid did more genetic damage to that humpy run then I did by harvesting a 51" sturgeon.

I did not kill off a 1% fish. Not even close.

This is not a populations discussion, nor a "health of the run" discussion.

I certainly agree that harvesting one humpy has no real effect on the population. That was never an issue.

Parker

"'Special' genes dont equate to big fish."

"Hey Parker, how come your fish is bigger then mine."

"Genetics, Special, Genetics!"

and that is why we live in america - As I disagree with you. I would rather have more sturgeon and smaller humpies that less sturgeon and bigger humpies.

It is a lenth of time thing with reference to sturgeon just not with the humpie.How else can you measure the damage to the sturgeon fishery? Different type of damage.

I personally will not ever harvest a sturgeon again due to this.

[ 10-19-2001: Message edited by: Stadle ]

range should work better now

range should work better now

It would seem to me that ocean conditions had most to do with the over sized humpies[and coho and chum]than genetics. Parker mellow out, sleds and waders probably destroy more redds and have more negative impact than that 9 yr. old.

Very cool that the kid was able to land such a big fish, even if it was a humpie. A trophy is a trophy and a terd is a terd. If the father is not going to at least mount the fish, then he should at least eat it. I would really really really be disappointed in today's society (even more than I am now) if a 9 yr old kid kept a world record and couldn't get it mounted.

I like what was said, "we keep the first few fish and then we practice c-n-r for the most part." I think that is true, at least for the educated, conscience-minded people. I practice this and I don't have a mind.

I'm proud of this kid and his accomplishment. Most of us spend our whole lives in search of trophies, but only a few of us are blessed by God to actually see a trophy, and even fewer harvest a trophy.

That's what makes a trophy a trophy...that's what makes it special. If we have nothing but 14 pound humpies swimming around, then who's to say what a trophy would be? I mean if the norm became 14 pounds...

Not ruffling too much Parker. Just not everyone has such an extreme catch-n-release policy....because of many different reasons. Plus, if the dad can't afford the mount on a world record, I don't think he's the kind that carries a tape measurer around with him; and others (like myself) may not know all the biology, etc. associated with fish.

And also, consider the source. The father may have said so much more about the fish, or the kid did, but editors hack and change a story like an artist paints on an easel.

Hopefully somebody can get in touch with the padre of this kid and work something out with the mount. If anything, break out a tape measurer and get a replica made of the fish and have the taxidermist "brighten" the fish up or make other cosmetic changes. To me though, a big cosmetic cover-up would completely change the trophy. I like to keep it how I caught it. That doesn't mean I retain trophies. It means how I said it.

I release all the wild steelhead I catch. Not even an issue. However, if I catch a big bright king, and its legal to keep it....bonk. Big bright silver and its legal to keep it....bonk. Big chum and its legal to keep it....measure and release.....Big $ss humpizoid on steriods.and its legal to keep....measure and release....but if it was my kids fish....bonk......I would think I am in the majority on these ideals....who agrees?

[ 10-19-2001: Message edited by: RANDY ]

I'm as mellow as it gets. I just don't want to hear the double standards when I post that pic of the State Record steelhead I'm bonking this year.

I'll probably have it mounted, but odds are, I'll just let it get freezer burned in the freezer. Oh well, no harm done. I can always kill more.

Are people really out there catching all of these humps for food, or just out there because 'catching' fish is fun? I know every hump I've ever seen is not table fare in my house, that's what hatchery steelhead and springers are for . I can see both sides of the coin that you guys are presenting, but I kinda lean toward Parker's point. I think the biggest problem is all of our rivers are full of fish this year, and it's easy for everyone to forget the lean years of the not so past that actually created the awareness that spawned all of us C-N-R freaks. If you abuse it now folks, you are speeding up the return of the dismal years....

Well to me a native is a native, I'm not keepin a 10lber or a 30lber. 3-4 hundred thousand fish versus 3-4 thousand, that is my double standard.

I'm 9 years old.....I get a fish to the bank that is an absolute monster.....I'm sorry, I'm keeping it. Do you really think that in the heat of the momment that kid thought about, or for that fact even knows or cares about a gene pool?!?!?!? I don't think so. Is everyone who fishes as smart as some of the folks on this board....I don't think so. Give the kid a break!!! I glad he caught it and I'm glad he kept it.
Good luck and tight lines, Jeff

Turd 'Yall, not TERD, if that's what you were trying to say. Sorry, always catch others speelling erirs.

Why don't we find out who this kid is and all pitch in to have his fish mounted? Just get the thing out of the freezer!!