As stated before I release all, just because I love the challenge of catching them. I enjoy the fishing, especially if I have my grandkids with me. They like releasing them as much as I do. If I want to eat fish, I will go crappie or bream fishing.
The only way i keep them is if i want to get one mounted, which i havent done yet, or if i should be lucky enough to catch close to a state record. Otherwise i have no desire to clean and eat them so its pointless.
I keep some, release some, depending on the location.
- Lakes with a healthy population I tend to keep more decent sized fish (usually 3 to 6 fish at 12-16"), but turn loose the larger and smaller fish. Let the big ones keep breeding, let the small ones grow up. Also I do this because the larger ones are more likely to have a higher concentration of mercury or other potentially dangerous chemicals that can be passed on when eating them.
- Lakes with lots of pressure where too many people already keep them, then I tend to release most of them unless the hook gets them in the gills or gullet with no chance of surviving.
- Now when I get out on the river, I tend to keep most of them since there is such a large population that works its way up and down the river, the 5 or 10 I keep doesn't even touch the many thousands or potentially millions that traverse those waters.
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