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General => General Discussion => Topic started by: MT204 on 03/13/21 10:16 UTC

Title: The odds and why to put big ones back. Update!
Post by: MT204 on 03/13/21 10:16 UTC
We always talk about the odds.
Last month one of the guys in our group caught his biggest Pike ever 28.5 pounds, We had a quick talk about mounting it but decided to let her go so someone else could enjoy the once in a life time thrill of catching a big one.
This year we also converted over to circle hooks and will never look back, so much easier on the fish!
Well yesterday the odds where in my sons favor!
Caught the same fish (look closely at the pattern). Little bit bigger 29.5 pounds, I imagine she's filling up with eggs. No damage to the fish with the circle hook didn't even need plyers to remove and she's back for someone else to enjoy.

Title: Re: The odds and why to put big ones back.
Post by: Lines on 03/13/21 11:34 UTC
Very nice fish. Great example of conservation. Thanks MT204!
Title: Re: The odds and why to put big ones back.
Post by: Shaunm81 on 03/13/21 13:25 UTC
Wow that is a beauty MT204.  I would have that bad boy on my wall hanging or a reproduction.
Title: Re: The odds and why to put big ones back.
Post by: ctom on 03/13/21 13:41 UTC
The belly pattern is the tell on this. Great fish and a super job of releasing. Congrats on both accounts!
Title: Re: The odds and why to put big ones back.
Post by: WALLEYE WACKER on 03/13/21 15:42 UTC
I’ve got one mounted that was 46” but if I had it to do all over a gain I wouldn’t.
Title: Re: The odds and why to put big ones back.
Post by: Bass Boys on 03/13/21 16:40 UTC
 Great fish guys ,,
  very cool
Title: Re: The odds and why to put big ones back.
Post by: Bass Boys on 03/13/21 16:42 UTC
I’ve got one mounted that was 46” but if I had it to do all over a gain I wouldn’t.

  My last 2 mounts were replicas.
  take pictures ,, measure length and girth ..
  Not exactly the same but works good for me .
Title: Re: The odds and why to put big ones back.
Post by: efishnc on 03/13/21 19:13 UTC
I can see the same pattern on the gill plate, so I would definitely agree it is the same fish... congrats on both catches!!!

Also, putting on a pound in one month is pretty impressive as well!
Title: Re: The odds and why to put big ones back.
Post by: Bucho on 03/14/21 05:01 UTC
I have heard that the only comercial fisherman in the Kiel Canal releases specimen brown trout for re-production. Frankly, this would never cross my mind a few kilometers farther east in the baltic sea, neither would the semi-professional gill netters there even cosider to think in this terms.

It depends on the habitat and the species. I once had to harvest a specimen northern pike. It was ok eating for once but given the choice, I would always pass as long as I have cod and zander in the freezer.
Title: Re: The odds and why to put big ones back.
Post by: Do-it Rep on 03/14/21 10:25 UTC
That is awesome! Thanks for sharing!
Title: Re: The odds and why to put big ones back.
Post by: efishnc on 03/14/21 11:21 UTC
I once had to harvest a specimen northern pike. It was ok eating for once but given the choice, I would always pass as long as I have cod and zander in the freezer.

I've eaten far more walleye (a cousin to the zander) than pike in my days, and I think pike are the better tasting fish... it's cleaning those beasts (slime, smell, and bones) that prevents me from eating them more often.

Title: Re: The odds and why to put big ones back.
Post by: basscatlildave on 03/14/21 20:28 UTC
Good deal. It’s very rare for sure.
Title: Re: The odds and why to put big ones back.
Post by: Lamar on 03/15/21 09:12 UTC
 I bet that fish is tired of seeing you.  :) Nice catch and thanks for letting her go.
Title: Re: The odds and why to put big ones back.
Post by: bassinfool on 03/15/21 09:25 UTC
Absolutely beautiful fish.  Always a big advocate for letting those beauties go to be caught again another day.  I have thought about having my PB spotted bass made into a replica mount but haven't bit the bullet on that just yet. 
Title: Re: The odds and why to put big ones back.
Post by: efishnc on 03/15/21 18:09 UTC
Absolutely beautiful fish.  Always a big advocate for letting those beauties go to be caught again another day.  I have thought about having my PB spotted bass made into a replica mount but haven't bit the bullet on that just yet.

I have also considered replicas for a couple of fish, but they are just more than I would like to spend, especially when wanting to upgrade for a bigger catch.  A fishing friend keeps his trophy memories by getting quality photo-transfers put on canvas; it looks almost like a painting and is much more impressive than a simple photo... plus these are a fraction of replicas in size and cost which can help in having more trophy displays and/or upgrades.
Title: Re: The odds and why to put big ones back.
Post by: MT204 on 03/15/21 20:33 UTC
I have also considered replicas for a couple of fish, but they are just more than I would like to spend, especially when wanting to upgrade for a bigger catch.  A fishing friend keeps his trophy memories by getting quality photo-transfers put on canvas; it looks almost like a painting and is much more impressive than a simple photo... plus these are a fraction of replicas in size and cost which can help in having more trophy displays and/or upgrades.
Great idea!
Title: Re: The odds and why to put big ones back.
Post by: Bass Boys on 03/16/21 03:57 UTC
I have also considered replicas for a couple of fish, but they are just more than I would like to spend, especially when wanting to upgrade for a bigger catch.  A fishing friend keeps his trophy memories by getting quality photo-transfers put on canvas; it looks almost like a painting and is much more impressive than a simple photo... plus these are a fraction of replicas in size and cost which can help in having more trophy displays and/or upgrades.

  I would like to see the photo transfer idea.
Title: Re: The odds and why to put big ones back.
Post by: Mike J on 03/16/21 12:33 UTC
I like the canvas idea. I have had fish mounted in the past, but honestly have no desire to get one mounted ever again. A good picture is better than a mount to me. Plus I love watching those big gals swim away!
Title: Re: The odds and why to put big ones back.
Post by: efishnc on 03/16/21 18:21 UTC
  I would like to see the photo transfer idea.

I'll see if I can get him to send me a picture or two to post... (though he may not want to have anything posted on a public forum).
Title: Re: The odds and why to put big ones back.
Post by: efishnc on 03/16/21 18:48 UTC
A good picture is better than a mount to me. Plus I love watching those big gals swim away!

I agree, it preserves so much more from that experience than just the fish... I wish I would have had this practice much earlier in my fishing history... Dang, the pictures I wish I had!
Title: Re: The odds and why to put big ones back.
Post by: efishnc on 03/17/21 22:46 UTC
Here's a couple of the trophy pictures my buddy has... (click the close-up pic to see the canvas detail).

Title: Re: The odds and why to put big ones back.
Post by: Bass Boys on 03/18/21 04:20 UTC
Wow, very nice ! 
 I like the idea.
Title: Re: The odds and why to put big ones back.
Post by: Lamar on 03/18/21 06:26 UTC
  What this makes me think of is the fishing camp I go to in Canada. I first went to this camp 24 years ago and the fishing was good. The son of the owner was starting to take over and he made some rules that he asked all the guest to go by. Being the only camp and a very hard to get to for the public he wanted to make sure the fishing on this chain of 13 lakes would be good for years to come. So he made some lakes catch and release only. You could keep some for shore lunch but that's it. He also made all the lakes you can't keep any walleye over 18 inches not even for shore lunch. The results of this over the years has been amazing. Very few lakes I fish have gotten better over the years like this place has. Now the only problem we have when fishing for shore lunch is sorting through the larger fish to get a few under 18 inches.


Title: Re: The odds and why to put big ones back.
Post by: Slow Burn on 03/18/21 13:00 UTC
I get those canvas prints made like that as well.  I get them done at Walgreens and they are not too expensive.
Title: Re: The odds and why to put big ones back.
Post by: efishnc on 03/18/21 17:37 UTC
I get those canvas prints made like that as well.  I get them done at Walgreens and they are not too expensive.

Really?!?!?...  How much do they cost for what size?

(My buddy's are 20"x30" and said he paid about $140 each two years ago through mpix.)
Title: Re: The odds and why to put big ones back.
Post by: WALLEYE WACKER on 03/18/21 19:15 UTC
Sweet pics to remember a awesome day. I’ve got a ton of pics that need to be printed and I’ve seen the canvas one look great also. This is one I’m having made for my mom that a pic from the lake.
Title: Re: The odds and why to put big ones back.
Post by: Slow Burn on 03/20/21 17:52 UTC
Really?!?!?...  How much do they cost for what size?

(My buddy's are 20"x30" and said he paid about $140 each two years ago through mpix.)

I sent you a PM
Title: Re: The odds and why to put big ones back. Update!!
Post by: MT204 on 03/08/22 15:25 UTC
So a quick follow up.
This weekend My son caught, you guessed it the same fish...... again.
Now this isn't a we think it's the same fish, this fish has very distinct markings on the side of it's jaw which are the same.
And yes this is a large lake, over 25 miles of shoreline.
What are the odds?
(https://custombaits.com/gallery/2349-080322152348.jpeg)

Title: Re: The odds and why to put big ones back. Update!
Post by: efishnc on 03/08/22 19:12 UTC
That's awesome!!!

A buddy's son is big into flathead cat fishing and he has caught the same cat (nicknamed "yellow spot" because of its particular marking) several times over the years... he not only has multiple pictures of it and has documented its weight increases every time.