Quinte Fishing

Got to the bay after we got our stuff in the cottage on the Friday and decided to go out for a few hours launching from Mcfarlands. Trolled around with the inline boards till about 7pm with no luck.

We got started on Saturday about 7:30am west of the hydro plant and around 9am John picked up an 7.6lber(no pic)off of the inline board. About an hour later Rod Hog Johnny picked up another one(9.8lbs) off the rigger.
[url="http://www.myfishingpictures.com/?p=41540&c=500&z=1"][/url]

Next time was my turn when I pulled in an 11.8lber and my first Double Digit.

After quite a lull in the activity we decided to motor up to the less windy side of the bay. Halfway across the motor lost power and started clanging like it was a diesel . We put the kicker down (while trying not to think about how much this will cost) and hang around closer to the launch. Quite some time passed with the two of us staring at the rod tips with no action.
We ended up getting into a conversation that apparently was so rivetting that neither of us were paying attention to the rods(can't remember now what we were talking about though). The downrigger rod was going nuts and John reels in first Double Digit..........12lbs even.

We met up with Big O, Markus and RoughRider at the launch and they took the picture of what we thought were big ones..........Until we saw their fish HOLY SMOKES. Congrats guys on the team effort.
[url="http://www.myfishingpictures.com/?p=41541&c=500&z=1"][/url]

We went back to the cottage and celebrated our personal bests with many beers. We showed up at Merlands for a brief stay(cab ride) and found we had won a Manns +25 lure. Met a few people from the group and cabbed it back to the cottage to celebrate our winnings with more beer.

I wish we could have stayed longer to meet everyone but I was very glad to hear that SuperDad had received a plaque for his efforts on this site. He played a big role in my interest level for this fishery holding up all those fish last year. Good job on the organizing of the weekend to all those involved and we will hopefully be there next year.

Can anyone tell me why those fish are not still swimming around? Really, do you dislike yourself and your family that much that you'd want to poison them? I simply don't get it!
Congrats on the catch, condolences to the fish!

Please.

I took that picture for Hoss. Those fish are alive and well. They took them out of the livewell for a picture, transported them to Merlands for a weigh in and then they were released.

Is it neccessary to jump all over someone? I'm tired of this.

Thanks for the update on those fish, I'm just getting tired of watching people keep 'em! As you'll note, I did congratulate on the catch, and I'm sincerely glad that they were released! Great job guys!

I'm happy they were released too. But what's the problem with keeping them?

Regs say their allowed too. Obviously the biologist have deemed the fishery strong enough to sustain this or they'd impose further catch and keep restrictions.

As for your "poisoning" theory, I checked the Ontario Guide to eating sportfish and it appears they have been deemed safe to eat again.

These above facts are documented public information that everyone should familarize themselves with. I trust the factual conclusions of the educated biologists and scientists over the opinion of the guy who "told you so".

C&R is a great practice, but enjoying a feed of your catch is great experience too. Lets not crap on the guys who choose to enjoy a meal of their legally earned catch.

Marcus, I agree with everything your saying, however, some food for thought (no pun intended)
If we continue to emphasize catch and release maybe we get people to think twice before keeping one of these big lugs! Any idea how old these fish are? I don't, but I have to assume that they have been swimming around in Lake Ontario for a number of years! I know people that won't drink Lake Ontario tap water, but they'll eat a fish that's been filtering that water for years! Keep the small one's for the table, absolutely. I don't even mind a guy who catches his "fish of a life time" to get mounted (replica's are better, but...) As far as the legal reg's are concerned, yah they are within their rights but part of the function of this board is to educate beyond just how to catch 'em.
I know this is a no win discussion, but as I said earlier, if my C & R rants get's one guy to put a fish back, it's worth my efforts and I'll take the heat from anyone who wants to dish it out. Gimme a second to get off my soap box before you call me a dreamer.

Nice fish guys!

Hoss, tell me you won something with all those

_________________
WIG

5th Place! Nice work Hoss!

There ya go!

Thanks Markus!

_________________
WIG

Question #1:


The reason they are not swimming around There's one is because I made a mistake. When I left the launch at Prinyers I put fresh water in the livewell and turned on the aerator in the livewell. Unfortunatly, I left the pump out valve slightly on BY MISTAKE. By the time we made the drive to Merlands to weigh in the fish it was dry. When I opened the livewell and saw this I felt like the biggest moron ever knowing what I had done.
I tried to revive them, in fact one of them swam off but eventually circled back. That is when Kevin said don't worry about it(probably sensing my embarrassment) we need them for the fish fry which my family did not attend.

Question #2



I do like myself(even though sometimes I make mistakes) and I love my family. If you knew me and the person that I am and what my family has been through the last several years than you would know how unacceptable that comment was.

Hoss, a couple of things. Firstly, mistakes happen, accidents happen, S$#* happens etc... . I understand and believe I would react the same way given the same circumstance. I get a knot in my stomach every time I see a fish foul hooked or gill hooked. As far as your personal situation is concerned, the comment was not a personal attach on anyone, as you'll notice, I asked if "anyone could tell me". Life hands us all cards we are forced to deal with, adversity makes us stronger. I by no means meant to attack your family, remember, this forum is detached from one to one conversations and my comment was intended to be a generality. If it was taken any other way, it was taken out of the context it was intended. I actually intended my response to act as a pulpit for catch and release. If you took it personally, then perhaps I need to work on my writing skills to avoid further misconceptions.

Markus:

While one reason, among the list of reasons, for allowing the harvesting of big BOQ walleye may be that MNR biologists have deemed that the BOQ walleye fishery is capable of sustaining such harvests, I contend there are other reasons closer to the top of the list. Firstly, there are the socio-economic benefits for the municipality as well as the province derived from ensuring that recreational fishermen will spend dollars in the BOQ trying to land trophy walleye. Secondly, the outfitter community routinely lobbies hard to ensure their businesses won't suffer. A prime example of this was in northern Ontario where the MNR proposed to delay the opening of walleye season 3 weeks to protect still spawning walleye. Local outfitters successfully persuaded the minister that their potential revenue for 3 weeks was more important than spawning walleye. Consequently, no delay for the start of walleye season.

I too checked the 2003-2004 version of the Guide to Eating Sport Fish In Ontario. I looked at area 11 as that is the area where fish have recently been harvested. My interpretation of the advice on page 175 is that neither women of child bearing age nor children under 15 years of age should consume any walleye in area 11 over 18 inches in length. Is there a more recent version of this advisory that has different recommendations?

You're correct Tomcat. They are rated safe, but recomended that young'ns and child baring ladies only eat the smaller ones.

I haven't seen the latest updated guide.

Here's a link to the current guide for those interested.

http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/envision/guide/

It slays me how everyone always cite " socio-economic " benefits as the first line of defence. You can provide these benefits without keeping the fish just as well. My clients and freinds have kept less fish in the last 5 years than I saw slaughtered at the BOQ get together in 5 minutes.My clients are told up front that I do not prefer them to keep fish. If they find this distastefull they can hire someone else. I really don't mind .I want clients who feel the same way I do. Citing the legality of the issue is nothing more than a substitute for "thinking for yourself".Do you always get BIG BROTHER to do your thinking for you . The socio-economic benefits and the legality of the cod fishery on the East coast were foregone conclusions and now look at them. I pay the same for my boat/gas/hotel/licence/food/bait/rods/reels as those who keep their fish. Are we all still "cave men" who must return to the tribe with our trophy and bask in the glow of the fire as we revel in the glory of our own magnificence; the proof of which lies dead at our feet upon submitting to our ominous power as gods among men. Poetic words for a DEAD FISH!!!!

targa2
Guest





Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2003 3:54 pm Post subject:

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I used to get all worked up about people keeping big fish but the fact of the matter is that those big walleyes are NOT the lifeblood of the spawning cycle. The SLOT fish are. That is the reason for the slot. I release all my big fish. You can remove up to 40% of the mature fish from a system like Quinte every year and it will replenish itself. People have been keeping these fish for food for a long time. Much longer than most of us have been alive and look how good this fishery is still.

By the way...Wed 10...Thur 48...Fri 24...Sat 49. The place is loaded with fish. All each of us can do is do what we know is best and gently encourage others to do the same.
Tell us how you really feel,without the forked tongue.