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Post by Dutch on Apr 9, 2023 16:34:32 GMT -5
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Post by Dutch on Apr 9, 2023 16:35:25 GMT -5
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Post by ridgecommander on Apr 9, 2023 19:27:05 GMT -5
Yum. Native brookies eat well if you can find them big enough to keep. The one looks close?
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Post by Dutch on Apr 9, 2023 20:32:19 GMT -5
They might have made it, but just too beautiful to kill. They aren't as numerous as they once were, so, we catch and release
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Post by rusty on Apr 10, 2023 7:44:35 GMT -5
Beautiful way to spend a day. It would be a shame to kill wild trout, especially the natives.
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Post by ridgecommander on Apr 10, 2023 14:10:15 GMT -5
Thats what limits are for. Some of the sweetest fish there is.
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Post by bushmaster on Apr 10, 2023 15:14:33 GMT -5
I never eat them, regardless of size. Catch and release.
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Post by Loggy on Apr 10, 2023 16:40:02 GMT -5
Virually 100% of the fish I catch are "wild". I see nothing wrong with harvesting "wild" fish to eat. It's been proven that the mortality of C&R actually does harm the resource especially those who improperly handle C&R large numbers(just enjoy hooking, playing fish etc etc). Harvest(creel limits) are there for a reason as ridge posted. I constantly read where some brag about C&R hundreds of trout. I'm convinced that one who catches a few & keeps them then quits fishing is doing less in harming the resource in the end game. I know some striped bass regs make C&R illegal during certain closed season segments for this reason.
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Post by Dutch on Apr 10, 2023 16:48:56 GMT -5
Ok, I don't eat fish.
With the droughts up there the past few years, natives have had a hard time of it. I've also noticed numbers, compared to when I was a kid, are in serious decline.
I'll lip hook them, and release them, all day long.
Also, some of these never get hooked, they just grab the piece of worm and hang on! LOL
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Post by rusty on Apr 10, 2023 17:07:55 GMT -5
If most trout guys who fished natives and wild trout killed five fish, even a few times a season, many of populations would disappear. I am pleased that I see more trout fishermen handling trout carefully over the past several years than was common when I was growing up. But, even with careful handling, many of the streams stocked by the state have long stretches where the water warms too much to support trout. The creel limits could easily be raised on these streams and make no difference in trout numbers after mid June or so.
Personally, I would strongly favor no kill regs for trout on nearly all streams that are not stocked waters. Trout creel limits are set with the stocked waters in mind.
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Post by Loggy on Apr 11, 2023 5:39:04 GMT -5
I panfried a few natives over the years but probably could count the number on one hand. Ok....but certainly nothing to write home about. Stocked trout are total garbage as far as table fare imo. Only freshwater fish I will eat is a cold water caught blackened catfish fillet, walleye or panfish caught thru the ice. I mainly enjoy seeing the natives dart around as I hike while hunting along remote mountain streams many which likely never see a fisherman.
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Post by Dutch on Apr 11, 2023 7:29:37 GMT -5
I panfried a few natives over the years but probably could count the number on one hand. Ok....but certainly nothing to write home about. Stocked trout are total garbage as far as table fare imo. Only freshwater fish I will eat is a cold water caught blackened catfish fillet, walleye or panfish caught thru the ice. I mainly enjoy seeing the natives dart around as I hike while hunting along remote mountain streams many which likely never see a fisherman. Care to share those locations? LOL I'm not serious. Got enough water in my area to keep me busy. I'm on a native brookies Facebook page here in PA. The one guy posted pics from the Blue Ridge in Virginia, man, that extra growing time makes for nicer sized fish |
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Post by fleroo on Apr 11, 2023 8:21:28 GMT -5
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Post by ridgecommander on Apr 11, 2023 12:27:30 GMT -5
A fresh native brookie roasted over an open fire is tough to beat! The Hammersly Wild Area of Potter has some sweet brookies for sure. |
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Post by Dutch on Apr 11, 2023 17:49:33 GMT -5
I hiked thru Hammersley in 1976. Beautiful area, back them. Pretty sure it hasn't changed much
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Post by Loggy on Apr 11, 2023 19:11:18 GMT -5
Places like that refreshes your soul!! Thanks to our great PA State for offering us so much!!  |
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Post by Dutch on Apr 11, 2023 19:48:45 GMT -5
Places like that refreshes your soul!! Thanks to our great PA State for offering us so much!! Some folks wonder why we fish for such a small fish. It's not about size, it's about where they live. |
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