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Ice Fish Ohio Forum

Ice Fishing => General Discussion => Topic started by: crv423 on January 09, 2014, 09:44:38 PM

Title: Let me know your opinion.
Post by: crv423 on January 09, 2014, 09:44:38 PM
Today I kept a 3lb largemouth and I caught threw the ice, and got ALOT of slack for it. My question is, why is it so wrong to keep 1 large mouth every so often when the same guys giving me slack keep 6 eyes or 30 crappie every time they catch a limit. I understand bass are a tourney fish but eyes and crappie are too. Some say bass don't taste good but I"ve caught and ate them before threw the ice and they are like crappie, not great outta warm water but tasty outta cold water. I don't think anyone with a eye or a crappie on the ice should say anything to a guy with 1 bass on the ice. What's your opinion.
Title: Re: Let me know your opinion.
Post by: wis2ohio on January 09, 2014, 09:47:34 PM
I feel that if you are eating it and not throwing it away who cares what you keep. Heck those guys complaining are probably the ones whos keeping the small gills for dinner.

I saw blow them off and tell them to mind their half a cent.
Title: Re: Let me know your opinion.
Post by: crv423 on January 09, 2014, 09:52:03 PM
To me it doesn't make sense, every state has a limit on fish they feel should be limited, if they thought that limit would deplete the species they wouldn't allow you to keep any. I feel if you don't think it's right to keep a bass then you shouldn't keep any species of fish.
Title: Re: Let me know your opinion.
Post by: slabslayer on January 09, 2014, 10:04:15 PM
Agreed!  I'm strictly catch and release myself and am a bass tournament fisherman. However, if it's a legal fish, it's your business and nobody else's. A 3 pounder isn't like a 10 pounder, so you're not pulling from the mega gene pool. Nothing wrong with a nice tasty dinner!  Enjoy! ;D
Title: Re: Let me know your opinion.
Post by: snowcone on January 09, 2014, 10:06:40 PM
crv  I have 2 agree with ya  the all mighty largemouth tastes just as good as the others, and keeping 1 now and then isn't a big deal..  2  me they have been over rated , I usually throw bass back because I don't care for them . im a perch, gill,crappy,ect kinda guy ;D ;D
Title: Re: Let me know your opinion.
Post by: jaybird62 on January 09, 2014, 10:46:12 PM
i see nothing wrong with it, nice to have something other than dink bluegill we are blessed with.  very tasty too
Title: Re: Let me know your opinion.
Post by: swedish nipple on January 09, 2014, 11:00:40 PM
I fully agree. They taste much better through the ice. I don't go targeting them but every now and then you need a table model. Besides It isn't anyones buisness what you keep as long as its legal. If its your buddy messin with ya, well ya kinda gotta take the ribbing. But if it isnt, Tell them to go sit on their bucket and mind their own business.
Title: Re: Let me know your opinion.
Post by: pig puncher on January 09, 2014, 11:12:01 PM
you caught it legally. it's your fish. release it, eat it, fertilize your garden with it.
 i don't always eat bass, but when i do, they're always bigger than that.
Title: Re: Let me know your opinion.
Post by: jmsteele187 on January 09, 2014, 11:29:17 PM
I personally don't keep bass and don't see myself ever keeping them, but I'm not a big fan of eating them either.  If you like eating them, feel free to keep some "eater sized" fish for the table.  I don't really target them through the ice, but if I see one on the camera, I'm definitely trying to get it to take my bait.  So far I haven't had any takers though.  I say fish on and feel free to take one or two here and there, just let the bigger ones go.
Title: Re: Let me know your opinion.
Post by: MDBuckeye on January 10, 2014, 06:31:51 AM
You should do as you want within the limits.  Sure bass are considered trophy fish but so are saugeye and other fish people regularly keep.  I wouldn't let what people say phase you.
Title: Re: Let me know your opinion.
Post by: g on January 10, 2014, 08:27:57 AM
To me, it is up to the individual to do what he wants to with his or her fish as long as it is legally caught and of legal length. It is nobodyelses business but your own. Everyone has different tastes as to what fish species they like to eat. Keep what you want and I won't think any less of you for keeping a fish I wouldn't keep myself. You don't have to justify or explain it to anyone.
Title: Re: Let me know your opinion.
Post by: steelneyes on January 10, 2014, 11:38:30 AM
It probably takes less time to grow a legal size bass than an 8" gill.  Certainly less than an 8 lb. walleye.  Plus they reproduce themselves without any need for stocking.  Those are some of the same people who would keep a pike if they caught it so it "wouldn't eat the bass".   I haven't eaten a bass in 15 years, but used to take them out of a small farm pond in reasonable numbers to prevent stunting and they were fine.  Respect the fisheries we have and keep what you wish in reasonable numbers (whether its a limit or just enough for dinner).  In New England yellow perch are considered worse than white perch.  In the south catfish are prime eating.  Just because a fish has millions of dollars in sponsorship and sparkle boats dedicated to it, doesn't mean you shouldn't keep one if you wish or 5 or whatever the limit is.  I am sure many more fish die from a hot afternoon in a "livewell" after a few days, than ice fisherman eating them. 
Enjoy our resources responsibly and enjoy your catch. 
And next time someone asks if your going to release a fish just tell them "yes I will, he's going home to take a bath in the Crisco Jacuzzi.
Title: Re: Let me know your opinion.
Post by: fishingful on January 10, 2014, 11:49:51 AM
Not a big deal! I catch a bunch of bass during the year and let them all go. But during ice season I will keep a 12-14 inch bass or 2. They are great through the ice and are some good eating baked with lemon pepper! Over my life time I have released many many more fish than I have kept. I know one year when I bass fished hard all year I kept 2 bass and released over 700. Both that were kept were caught through the ice.


Title: Re: Let me know your opinion.
Post by: Ntoiceman36 on January 10, 2014, 12:39:06 PM
I think you should be ashamed if your self keeping a legal size fish,especially since our lakes are filled with them,what next we shouldnt keep CHANNEL cats even though they stock them consistently!!good for you  for icing dinner ;D
Title: Re: Let me know your opinion.
Post by: Luvztaphish on January 10, 2014, 05:20:51 PM
The only time bass are hard to catch / find ,is during a tournament . If  its legal and your going to utilize it , go for it . My wife loves eating bass and I keep some for her . It's a fish , and it will be replaced .
Title: Re: Let me know your opinion.
Post by: hmaster on January 10, 2014, 09:49:20 PM
crv423 is my dad   8), the bass tasted great, keep bringing them home.
Title: Re: Let me know your opinion.
Post by: xrider on January 11, 2014, 03:26:55 PM
A legal fish is yours to keep, release  or what ever you want. Fish do taste better through the Ice.  :D
Title: Re: Let me know your opinion.
Post by: davidhoheisel on January 11, 2014, 05:00:44 PM
Ok I guess he is right.

I just hope he doesnt catch anymore bass so i can catch them in the tournaments ;D
Title: Re: Let me know your opinion.
Post by: Hillbilly on January 13, 2014, 04:47:49 PM
you can thank the great "Save The Bass" movement from the middle 80's on for the slack you caught. That mentality, that bass arent fit to eat(a complete falsehood, dont care who you are) you shouldnt keep them(another falsehood), and you should feel bad if you do, is out-dated, and silly. Heck some bodies of water in Ohio are realising the lack of harvest is hurting the fishery, and have lowered or changed bag/size limits.

Im a tournament angler, and i love to see folks keep some bass. I do myself, normally once or twice a year.

And along the lines of big fish, i dont know many, if any folks who would turn an 8lb walleye/saugeye loose, its either eaten or mounted...i cant see for the life of me a reason why a bass should be any different.

ya know at one time in our world, using leeches to "purify" the blood was a medical option, but we dont do that anymore do we? lets get with the times. Bass are a sunfish(yep), and i believe only good things will come from folks keeping some. The limits are low, size limits in place for a reason.
Title: Re: Let me know your opinion.
Post by: buddachiefer on January 13, 2014, 07:00:12 PM
I ate bass for the first time this year, and let me tell ya it won't be the last one I eat.
Title: Re: Let me know your opinion.
Post by: gimme ice on January 13, 2014, 07:28:09 PM
I don't keep bass. Better catching than eating.  I would have released it.  JMO. But...caught legally and it's your plate of choice, go for it.  ;)
Title: Re: Let me know your opinion.
Post by: icebucketjohn on January 14, 2014, 07:42:51 AM
iT'S YOUR CHOICE, NOT THERES.  I've done both in my time on the ice.  If I keep one, it'll be a 1-2b LMB.  The bigger ones I always release.

Title: Re: Let me know your opinion.
Post by: chaunc on January 14, 2014, 08:06:38 AM
If i feel like eating bass i'll keep them. If not i'll throw em back. Rather eat smallmouth than largemouth tho. Sorta like perch over walleye.
Title: Re: Let me know your opinion.
Post by: threeten on January 14, 2014, 11:32:41 AM
a legal fish=a legal fish.
yours to do as you wish! period
Title: Re: Let me know your opinion.
Post by: Treble on January 14, 2014, 01:09:25 PM
Some people believe they're an authority on everything. Don't let them waste a minute of your life arguing, about what's right for you.  If you think they tastes good, then eat them.