I just returned from the OP where I spent all of last week. We released probably close to 20 wild fish (some might be long distance C&R) But were guilty of killing one that was bleeding extremely bad from her gills. Am I in the wrong? I just want a few opinions on this.
Yes or no. Why or why not.

We recieved a major guilt trip from the guide on the river at the end of the day.

I guess I am just sick and tired of all of the hypocrites out there. My fishing partner and I have released so many wild steelhead in the last few years I have lost track. I know that still don't make it right to kill them but I would love to look on some of these old timers punch cards from the past and see how many wild fish they have killed.

Hay mini:
if its open and the fish is bleeding to the point that it is going to die, why wast it.
I was up at the sol duc last week and I kept one to mount, and dont really care what people think if it bothers you then thats a personal feeling you deal with. as for the guid P**s on em he wouldt like me verry much.
happy fishing assy

If it's going to die, better in your boat than seagull food. It is a shame, you do the best you can, but if it is a lost cause, keep the fish, toss the guide.

Sounds like you are doing the best you can. No one can ask more from you.

I once read a B.C. study where they found that slightly more than 30 of the fish that were bleeding profusley, at the time of release survived. Don't have any idea of waht "bleeding profusley" means, but I think it tells me that many fish that are bleeding will survive.
I do remember they determined "survival" by keeping the fish in a tank for three days. Those that looked to be in good shape at the end of day three were considered survivors. That said, if it was legal to kill and you beleived it wouldl die, keeping it is the right thing to do.

Did the right thing in my book, waste not want not.

Thumbs up here......good (and responsible) fishing!! Here's to ya......

"We recieved a major guilt trip from the guide on the river at the end of the day."

Did the fish die on you while you were on a trip? Perhaps the guide's choice of fishing methods played a part in it??

It's gonna happen no matter how careful you are from time to time ... but anglers can lessen the chances of it happening by fishing wisely.

assalyanizim ... why kill the fish for a mount? No need this day in age for a steelhead mount around these parts! Lame excuse in my book.

Bob, actually it was myself and my fishing partner in our own boat fishing behind the guide all day. What are "wiser" fishing methods? Have you kept a bleeding fish while fishing on the OP?

Oh, guys will use bait divers and stuff that's more likely to hook them deep.

It's your call out there. If I landed a wild fish that was bleeding badly and was turning belly-up, I'd probably keep it, providing it was legal to do so. I'd feel bad about it, but I'm sure I wouldn't lose any sleep.

we have all been there. dont beat your head against the wall. it sucks when it happens but all of us have probably had fish swim off only to die a while later. take it as a good sign that the guide felt the way he did. it just show that the education campaign is working... even if it was a lil hypocritical

Now I dont know the rules for that river but as far as keeping a native that is bleeding is a no, no in my book. How is that supposed to stop the average idiot from saying that the natives they are keeping were bleeding badly and they had to keep it. I believe you are ethical fisherman and you figure the fish is going to die anyway, so why not keep it, but you are not following the rules. If you can keep natives in those waters then its a personal choice but if its a rule, dont break it no matter what. We need to set examples for others in an effort to hopefully change things.

I bet that wild fish tasted GREAT!!! Don't beat yourself I would have done the same thing. YUMMY!

Actually, he WAS following the rules. It is legal to retain a nate in the system he was fishing.

Bob;
CAre to explain why you feel that way?
do you have any mounts ?
why can't some one mount a nice fish they cought don't get your point.

I don't mean to speak for Bob, but I believe the point is that there is no need to kill the fish for a mount. Fiberglass reproductions often look much better and will definately last longer. All that's needed is some measurements and photos.

Why keep a fish for a trophy unless you specifically want a skin mount to prove that the trophy is valid? One can just as easily take measurements and supply those and a photo to the taxidermist for a realistic replica.

In fact... Why fish for a trophy in the first place? One can simply tell a taxidermist to whip you up a realistic fish of any desired size.

Keep Bleeding Fish - After my knife has slipped through the base of the fishes gills and the profuse bleeding has stopped, I usually consider the fish dead and remove the viscera, gills and kidney.

This is the best way to treat a steelhead unless you would rather release it then eat it.

--- --- --- --- ---

"In its truest form "conservation" of a wild species, wild place, or other renewable resource means to nurture it to the point where its abundance allows for virtually every "use" whether consumptive or non-consumptive."

I would just mention that a dead fish in the water is not "wasted", it's food for the inhabitants of the river including juvenille salmonids. I don't blame anyone for legally keeping a wild fish, but the thought that the carcass is wasted is selfish.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Wild Chrome:
I would just mention that a dead fish in the water is not "wasted", it's food for the inhabitants of the river including juvenille salmonids. I don't blame anyone for legally keeping a wild fish, but the thought that the carcass is wasted is selfish. [/QUOT

I agree with you WC but the thought of letting a DEAD fish just swim away does not sit well with me..............................

The system we fish is OPEN to native retention,
but the Q is---should we kill because the fish is bleeding???????????

And I am still waiting for a reply from BOB about more "WISER" fishing methods???????

We don't pull divers and bait........................

We feed the monkey and watch him "sh ee!t

Plunker, Please - you're killin' me - but April 1 is over, isn't it. But your attempt to fool us all into thinking that you are a crazed NWfishing.com exile was very good.

I just want everyone to know I was not trying to start a "Wild fish kill or not to kill post!!!!!!!!!!!

Just some well appreciated posts!!!!!!!!!!

Just wanted some of the well educated board members To inform me on the popular opinion of this matter?????????????

Oh.... and the greatest site to see was Bob and Fishgal driving through Forks when the rivers were almost """"""PERFECT"""""""" :p