A Fish Story

A story about ethical sporting has hit main stream media. It all started with “Did you hear about that fish?” A Google search about a record breaking trout will bring up the story. (I was going to post a link to the news story, but could not obtain legal permission to do so.) Anytime there is a story about a fish, and my ears are perked.

While at a Pest Management Conference, I was standing in line for a buffet. Small talked turned into a story about a man catching a world record Lake Trout. I was filled in about how the man had already kept his limit, which in Canada is one fish.  So he gave his 1^st fish to his son, who was fishing with him; keeping the record fish from himself. He brought the fish in to the taxidermist. One problem was while fishing in Canada you are not allowed to party fish. He was open and honest with the authorities that he broke the law and what had happened. The Canadian Department of Wildlife in turn impounded the fish which was 20lbs. larger than the Minnesota state record.

Immediately I felt bad for the man, he was honest, he told the truth, he didn’t hurt anyone, I kept telling myself. Then I sided with the authorities. He broke the law; it’s up to him to follow the law. Laws are in place to protect the fish from us. Battling back and forth with this I decided to take a stand. Maybe it is time for the laws to be looked at regarding record fish. I believe there has to be a way for an angler to measure the fish with a tape for length and girth. Have a photo taken of the fish and a documented witness for a record to be official.

Under the current system a fish must be weighed on a registered scale. The fish dies in the process of taking it to a shop that has a registered scale. Why must all fish be killed to be a state or world record, let alone all the fish that may be records?  I understand wanting to keep a record on the wall as a trophy, but in all cases such as this case, that is not possible. Is it time to look at the way we view these records and the way we record them?

Let me know what you think.

Just Happened

I have wanted to start this blog for a couple of months. One of the things holding me back, besides the childish chiding from my friends, was what do I post as my first blog. I had visions of an epic fishing trip this winter that netted me a couple 30" walleyes to boast about, or an ice shot of 20 14" perch. The topic of my first post came out of a simple promise and it is perfect.

At the beginning of this winter I purchased an Ice Castle Grandpa's Hideout. My daughters curiosity skyrocketed she wanted to know everything about ice fishing in 3 seconds. I was overwhelmed with why and how questions. I decided the best way to answer her questions was to show her. So I promised her an ice fishing trip.

The week leading up to the trip Kendalyn was stuck at home dying for Saturday to come and she and I set out on our ice fishing adventure. I was of course fishing, different trip, and different group of fishing buddies. We had a decent week that really picked up Friday morning. I was begged to stay and fish the whole weekend knowing the fishing on Lake of the Woods had picked up. We were in the honey hole. However whispers of my Promise kept bringing me back to reality and I had to decline on account of the Promise many times. I made it home Friday at around 5pm. Kendy met me at the door ready to go get her very own fishing rod. We headed to our local Shopko and she picked her very own Spider man rod out. I was very worried about this rod holding up. My main concern was ice building on the line and jamming the closed face reel. (Reel did not freeze up)

Saturday morning came and we set out on our quest. Headed to Island Lake, a place I wanted to bring her especially because it was the lake I grew up on. On the way I answered as many questions about fishing, how many fish we would catch, and are we there yet as I could. Finally we pulled up to the lake access on the East Shore and headed out for Crappie Island. Kendy stayed in the vehicle and watched in amazement as I set the house up. We were fishing by 1:30; I knew the crappies would start biting at around 2:00. That first half hour Kendalyn had sworn off ice fishing completely knowing there was absolutely no fish in the lake and seriously questioning the hour she wasted of her life driving with dad to a lake that was so boring. Then the bobbers started to twitch her eyes gleamed with excitement. 2:00 hit and so did the first crappie in the house, a nice 9 incher through my hole. Bringing the fish up I explained how to reel the fish up and get the fish out of the hole. She caught on very nicely because the next fish through the hole was hers, an 11 in crappie. She was giddy with excitement. Her first fish caught. She beamed with amazement at the fun fishing is. She continued catching fish over the next couple hours. Bringing 4 into the house and also learning the disappointment of having a fish get off the hook. (I got to hear the cutest awe ever as she lost a fish halfway up.) We took several pictures then released the fish and continued to fish. Turns out Kendalyn is a pretty good fisher girl and also not bad with a camera. Because nobody would ever believe I caught fish too unless she took a picture of one.

After this trip Kendalyn was hooked! She shows everyone her fish and tells people how fun it is and that she can’t wait to go again. Hearing that makes me a very happy Dad and excited to Promise her an ice fishing trip again.