I have learned some very good catch and release techniques from this board. I have seen people get flammed for evidence in their photos that they have not followed good technique. I agree with that if your going to do it you should do it correctly. My question is do you folks who flame others, show the same respect to all fish that you intend to release. For example a sucker, pikeminnow, carp etc.. decides to grab your eggs. If you do not treat all fish you intend to release with the same C & R techniques; does that make you a fish racist?

This could get real ugle or possibly really funny. But on a more serious note.....No. I dont take my steelies out of the H2o anymore even to take out the hook. Is that needed? Probably not because they are a lot tougher than we give them credit for and the rules were made for the idiots out there that carry them up the bank and take photos for a 10 mins....Dropping them on the heads three or four times in the process.
I am not even sure that law applies to other fish out the salmoniods. For those that know the rules better than I does it? The rest of the fish seem to get a little more sun shine on my boat anyway. Racist or not.....on fish that is.

You're a fish racist if you only eat the pink meat!

If I eat white kings, am I still a racist?

No squaw fish has ever swam away from this guy in anything resembling good shape. If they don't die on the spot they skulk off someplace else and croak shortly afterwards.

I show them all a little respect. Why in gods name would you harm or kill something that you did not intend to catch or don't intend to keep?

Why? I REFUSE to let go a squawfish. I don't intentionally fish for them, not do ever intend on keeping one, but I will never let one go back once it's caught. They get tossed up in to the bushes to become an air breathing land animal. Or die. Their choice.

They are smolt eating machines. That's why.

No, beacause sometimes smaller fish make great bait for bigger fish. 10 more days until fresh fish and chips, I wonder if ling cod like squawfish?

Thats fine Parker. Clear intention of helping smolts and no intention of it getting back in the water, same as keeping it in my book. My question was geared towards releasing fish that you werent targeting.

Well, they have a place in this world, and Kumbia and everything. However, man sort of created a better than original environment for them ( how many creatures on this earth are better off because of man ?? not many)

Hmmm, good question. If you started out a racist, yes, you are still a racist

I kill squawfish. I think that's more in the realm of genocide.

How bout bass? Bonk or Toss back??

95% of the non-target fish I catch get released back into the river as carefully as I can...the other 5% get a little different treatment.

Some fish weren't ever meant to make babies in our streams.

Can't we all just get along, its only fishing! LOL

Interesting question. When I release, I release with almost equal care regardless of the species. Part of the problems with our fisheries is that we (mankind) have made qualitative decisions about species. I do not know enough to make those kind of decisions.

I'm with Sky-Guy on this one. No one appointed me keeper of the realm. I used to kill any fish I didn't like. Now I don't think I know more than nature.

I admit to chucking whitefish on many a bank back in the day in Idaho but no longer do that to any fish other than suckers and squawfish on occasion. all others are released gently...cheers

I take great care releasing the occasional smallie into a frying pan with some hot oil. Wouldn't want the oil to splatter and burn me. Yummmm!

Squawfish and chubs get the boot(literally and figuratively) and I don't feel bad about it.

All other non-target fish are carefully revived and released.

I know I'm splitting hairs here, but what were really talking about here is specism, right? Or, do I not know about the various races of steelhead?

Anyway, I treat the steelhead that hang in the mean streets (puyallup etc...) as well as the the steelies living the "good" life on the OP.