Curt, you want your cake and eat it too. Sorry, but Todd's comment applies to himself and everyone else that won't admit their own C&R has an impact.
If barbless has to be instituted, or we should do away with bait, can't remove from the water for a picture and NEVER try to measure a really big fish, then we are micromanaging for a select population of elitists to continue inflicting THEIR impact at the exclusion of other sportfishers. If one group should sacrifice, you ALL should sacrifice.
I think this particular line of reason is a delineation that you are putting forth. If you can have a larger population of sportfishermen fishing for a longer period of time with the same resource it makes sense for the following reasons:
1) Recreational opportunity is expanded.
2) Additional revenue for the state is generate (debatably good!)
3) Additional revenue for stores that rely on sport fishing
Calling it elitist because of a different fish management strategy is a label you're putting on things. As far as I can see, C&R and it's extended fishing season and going baitless and barbless is only enhancing the fishery.
Case in point, have you been up to BC to fish there stillwater lakes? If you have, that specific example alone is a great reason why selective rules work in some cases. They went from a crappy set of lakes filled with 10" stockers, to a real trophty class fishery...
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