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Don't want too clutter up someone else's thread.....
[quote hooknhunter]
I think a big part of Matt's point is that the big ones eat the little ones and help to keep the population of little ones in check. Even 8 and 9 inchers produce eggs, and if you don't have enough big ones, you will almost certainly over populate over time. With the birds, Bass, squaws, trout, coho, tiger muskie, etc, that may not ever happen in Cascade, BUT I personally would rather have an under population so that there is enough food to create big ones, the an over population where there is not enough food and the little ones get stunted, but still breed and compound the problem. I say, lets err on the under population side. Then we can still have the wonderfully diverse fishery that is Cascade.[  ][/quote]
awesome points HnH... One other thing, is taking home 1-3 14"ers really gonna make that big a difference on the table? Take a picture and stick it down the hole...
Matt
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I agree with Duck-Slayer and HNH. You don't always have to keep the biggest fish. i Generally take pic and release the big ones. I would rather eat the medium size ones, I think meat quantity is about same, less waste.
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Bigger fish lay more eggs, that's basic math. Older fish will contain more mercury. I don't care for fish so they are all safe around me, except for carp.
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a couple more awesome points, with all the 4-10 inchers I catch on a regular basis, there is great stock on the up swing, which mean's there doing well, keep more smaller one's with less mercury in them, let those big female's go too keep those genetics going, and that way there's always a possibility of catching a state record or several of them... with lots of eggs each spring... they also help keep that population under control too a point along with all the other predatory fish in the lake, great management comes from the ordinary fisherman who see's the whole picture, not just the monster fillet's that are on that fish... some may not agree with this, but there are ton's of 8-14 inch fish in that lake, those are the eaters... those 14"+ fish are picture's/ 's and a good fight, put back for some one else too get a big on there face.... it's gonna take at least a 15 3/4" fish too even come close too the state record so keeping those between 14" and 15 3/4" don't need too be put in the pale(unless your tournament fishing).... this is my personal belief, you may or may not agree with this, I understand that,
Matt
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They are just fish. Big or little. there fish. Un-like the Elk being chased by wolves in that part of the country. Wish the Elk had that many eggs..
[:/]
Idaho
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Matt, there are hundreds of thousands of fish in that lake with the genetics to become a 16" fish. Those slob fish that have spawning each year for the last 4 or 5 years have been spreading their genetics all over the lake. Most of the little fish in Cascade are the progeny (or progeny of progeny) of the first few stockings. Just a though...
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I realize that, but doesn't take long for stunting..... you can stalk those giant perch in many other reservoirs and they end up being little.... I just would like too see more big one's put back and more of the eater size kept...
Matt
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Big fish eat little fish, don't kill big fish. Pretty simple.
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Take home what you and your family and friends will enjoy. Sure would be a tragedy to have a lake full of stunted perch like horsethief was not that long ago..........
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Your Avatar pic is priceless...
Matt
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a good read on the reservoir.
[url "http://www.idahostatesman.com/2013/10/31/2842539/lake-cascade-bounces-back-and.html"]http://www.idahostatesman.com/2013/10/31/2842539/lake-cascade-bounces-back-and.html[/url]
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Great article!!! I love the scientific explanation of the importance of predator/prey relationships and how that can be a major factor in the overall health of a fishery...
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Could not agree more with Mojo. I respect Matt because I think he is a responsible sportsman and is making an effort to protect fish which is good stuff. That being said, Cascade is a big pond with a bunch of fish and it gets relatively little pressure. Imagine if it was a 90 minute drive from Seattle, Portland or SLC. Even the Idaho Fish & Game Department is trying to get more people to fish it and I hope it happens because the lake can support more fishers and the Cascade economy will benefit.
I am in no way attempting to come off as a fishery expert, because I'm not, but my gut tells me that we have far less impact on the fish population of Cascade, let alone the fish egg population, than we think we do.
It is my opinion that the biggest disservice we can do to Cascade is to harvest more fish than we need and throw them away after they get freezer burned. I agree with the previous posters that an 11" perch is the optimal keeper size and the jumbos are great for photos but are harder to fillet. I fish Cascade a lot and catch more fish than I can eat so, like Matt, have developed my own methods of managing my harvest. If you are going to kill a fish, the least you can do is honor it by eating it.
I make these statements knowing that the haters are going to come out of the woodwork to correct or educate me but that is the beauty of both BFT and the First Amendment so bring it.
Truly yours,
Eric
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[quote Untangler]Could not agree more with Mojo. I respect Matt because I think he is a responsible sportsman and is making an effort to protect fish which is good stuff. That being said, Cascade is a big pond with a bunch of fish and it gets relatively little pressure. Imagine if it was a 90 minute drive from Seattle, Portland or SLC. Even the Idaho Fish & Game Department is trying to get more people to fish it and I hope it happens because the lake can support more fishers and the Cascade economy will benefit.
I am in no way attempting to come off as a fishery expert, because I'm not, but my gut tells me that we have far less impact on the fish population of Cascade, let alone the fish egg population, than we think we do.
It is my opinion that the biggest disservice we can do to Cascade is to harvest more fish than we need and throw them away after they get freezer burned. I agree with the previous posters that an 11" perch is the optimal keeper size and the jumbos are great for photos but are harder to fillet. I fish Cascade a lot and catch more fish than I can eat so, like Matt, have developed my own methods of managing my harvest. If you are going to kill a fish, the least you can do is honor it by eating it.
I make these statements knowing that the haters are going to come out of the woodwork to correct or educate me but that is the beauty of both BFT and the First Amendment so bring it.
Truly yours,
Eric[/quote]
Well stated Eric. You know me I'm good at catching eater fish but rarely do I catch jumbos. I do get lucky once in awhile but for us it's all about eater fish. And yes I have no problem eating the smaller ones and actually prefer them. My freezer is well stocked with fish and game so last week I kept 1 trout and Avery"s one big perch. Both ate well the following night. My wife, the freezer manager, even told me not to bring home fish. I don't hear that often and it's not because we have excessive perch by any means. We don't waste fish to freezer burn but we do eat a ton of fish a year. 52 wks x 3.5 days x 3 lbs a day = 546 lbs. of different species we eat a year. OK not a ton but we eat a lot of fish a year. Do I think I effect the Perch at Cascade? Not at all. I don't fish it enough, it's a big pond, don't catch enough jumbos and only take what will be used. But if I was good or lucky and kept 546 lbs of jumbos each year I think that would have a negative effect on the population. Keep all the smalls you want and enjoy them at the table. If you get lucky and slay the big jumbos think about tossing some of them back. Your kids will thank you.
Rod
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good stuff, I too agree that it can handle more fishing pressure with responsible harvest, I like catching the big one's that's why I release most of them, I have no problem with people keeping as many as they need too feed there family responsibly,
That being said, I like too think I am a steward of the land, I have not purchased meat in 10 or 11 years, forget, between the elk, deer, antelope, and several warm water species of fish and the upland variety, there is no reason another can do the same, there are some steps that people of this nature need too remember, with responsible harvest it is a renewable resource, I am a firm believer in this, a couple steps too take too ensure that meat does not go too waste is too freeze your fish, steaks, and upland game in a freezer bag filled with water, this will prevent freezer burn, I do this on all the listed above meats, my venison burger is done the same except no water and fill the bag completely with meat, and squeeze the air pockets out of corners, only meat exposed too air with burn,
and Thanks Eric for the compliment, there are quite a few haters that would disagree with you on that comment....
Matt
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[quote Duck-Slayer]good stuff, I too agree that it can handle more fishing pressure with responsible harvest, I like catching the big one's that's why I release most of them, I have no problem with people keeping as many as they need too feed there family responsibly,
That being said, I like too think I am a steward of the land, I have not purchased meat in 10 or 11 years, forget, between the elk, deer, antelope, and several warm water species of fish and the upland variety, there is no reason another can do the same, there are some steps that people of this nature need too remember, with responsible harvest it is a renewable resource, I am a firm believer in this, a couple steps too take too ensure that meat does not go too waste is too freeze your fish, steaks, and upland game in a freezer bag filled with water, this will prevent freezer burn, I do this on all the listed above meats, my venison burger is done the same except no water and fill the bag completely with meat, and squeeze the air pockets out of corners, only meat exposed too air with burn,
and Thanks Eric for the compliment, there are quite a few haters that would disagree with you on that comment....
Matt[/quote]Vacuseal, brutha!
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I'm too cheap for a vac sealer... This is just as good of a method...
Matt
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But it takes up twice as much freezer space. Vacuum seal all the way. Why fill your freezer half full of ice when you can use that space for more fish and game?????
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cuz I have a full size stand up just for meat..... a separate one for everything else... and if your keeping that much meat you got issue's.... I have a 4 person family and we fit 2 elk, 1 deer, 3 antelope in it along with 20 bags of filleted perch.... and a limit or two of ducks... but if your hurting for room... well you got your priorities in the wrong place... wasting game is a beat down offense....[pirate]
Matt
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