[tkwalker]

Like many Post and Threads before us this subject arises about every 90 days or so ... We have members that fish to fill their freezers .... We have members who fish for the pure sport and follow Catch and release ... Now the fuse that ignites most is the Game fish ... Smallies, Large Mouth etc ...

I have never, ever! heard anyone say a word about a Monster Crappie, or gill being kept ... (ask me about a 3 pound crappie That was served to me at a ReelFoot Lake Restaurant) UUM UUM !

With this said ... Being a Trophy Striper guide ... I have feelings about Large fish that took 10 to 18 years to develop their size ... I also Have an understanding about trophy's... Example, a 60 year old fisherman who's lifetime ambition was to catch just one trophy Striper over 35, 40 or 50 pound or better wall hanger ... Note ... Only 5% Stripers reproduce in the wild ... Cats, (Bass any species) 100% ...

Another point is ... Well, Game fish or not ... Stripers are Game fish ... They can be mounted and displayed ... Cats This would be rare ... a skinned fish is very difficult ... Kind of like a shark, ... Reproductions are easier ... So basically the cats are kept for food source ... Catfish has been a basic fish food source for man kind for ions ... and there are a lot of them ... My personal pallet, no matter Striper, Bass, large Walleye ...Even frozen Farm raised Cat fillets from Sams ... I still have to remove the red mussel ... To me, unless this is done it tastes like dirt .

At our FishingTN Gathering last year ... Jim caught and Fillet'ed some of the most perfect Cats that I have seen in Years ... He gave me a few slabs ... Took them home removed the mussel cut up in tenders and sliced to vent ...(you do this so the meat isn't wet inside) They were As good as Walleye (almost) Sweet stuff !! ... Thanks JIM !!!

Here again ... Look back at the old pic's of stringers of Fish (mostly Bass) that was displayed in the 50's, 60's, 70's ... of anything between 2 and 5 pounders ... I'm guilty... I love the taste of bass (In Canada they are trash fish) But to be honest ... with the tourney's and push for catch and release I dare say that there are more Free bass per ratio in our fisheries now than there was 30 years ago ...

But there is a fine line between being Politically correct with Catch and release and being a Meat/freezer hunter ... I am kind of like Merv when it comes to the taste of large fish ... My experience with large cats is not good, also with any large fish ... My wife caught a 10 pound walleye on Center Hill about 9 years ago ... man I thought this would be a fantastic meal ... steaked out ... One of the worse Fish I have ever eaten .... No mussel 2X3 inch cubes ... Bad !!

But to some ... especially the folks raised on the West side of the State .. (Mississippi River) Cats are king when it comes to table fare ...

Bottom line of my opinion if it is legal so be it , enjoy and lets fish !!!... But both sides are welcome to express their opinion ... If it gets really nasty ... I will lock it ... ... <'TK><