I've been a reader and sometimes participant of the BB since its' earliest format. I've never participated in "bashing" posts and I've tried not to ever offend anyone with my hopefully helpful comments.

My point that I was poorly trying to make is that a native hen steelhead is worth far more than a couple of lousy fillets. The fact that he POACHED it is what really pisses me off.

Do I think people are dirt who kill wild fish when legal to do so? Hell no. There could be alot of reasons he/she conks (new one) that fish. First fish, etc. I've done it earlier years and witness it daily on local rivers. It's each individuals choice whether or not to kill a native fish, and like I originally said, it's all about your personal morals.

Mr Bob, you're dead right about me. I'm a total hypocrite. Not only do I live in a house, drive A car, and use toilet paper; I also archery hunt for deer and elk and have a spaniel for upland hunting, AND I store that meat in yep...a freezer. (I'm sorry if I offended anyone else who also hunts and stores there perishable meat in the freezer).

But you're defending a frigging POACHER and attacking a guy who believes that releasing a wild steelhead is the ETHICAL thing to do? It's not me who needs to look in the mirror.

As far as my "high and mighty attitude" about releasing hatchery fish, there's many reasons why I often release 'em. Most of the time I don't feel like dragging a sorry ass 5-6 lb. fish (like 98% of those found our local rivers) back to my car, and I'd rather crack a coldy when I get home than deal with blood, guts, meat, baggies, foil, cleanup, etc.

I would kill a double digit hatchery fish in a heartbeat. My gal and I like to eat fresh steelhead (hatchery, obviously) or saltwater salmon 6 times a year, tops. Of course I'm going to release the rest.

I guess I've gotten to the point where I just love to fish, and I get just as much pleasure watching it swim away as I do spilling blood. Since you Mr. Bob have "caught more fish on Sat. afternoons between 2 and 4 than I've caught in my whole life", I would think you would have reached that point also.

Sorry for my longwindedness, I had to clear some things up.

If I knew how to make one of those rotating smiling faces, I would.

TK

Back to fishing! Finally some fish starting to show up in the barren Sky. My friend and I hooked 4 today, landing 3, one big one.


[This message has been edited by TK (edited 03-24-2000).]

[This message has been edited by TK (edited 03-24-2000).]