Dear Tom,
I've been following the debate and here's my take on things: Trout and salmon
go straight in the belly. With bass, I find they're more fun to catch than
eat on account of them scales.
However, let me throw in some general advice which, I'm afraid, goes against the grain of
traditional fisheries
management: When kin folk are
coming up for a fry, I'm inclined to keep smaller, succulent ones because
them biggies don't taste for a damn. Same holds for cattle. See, this knocks off
yer hunger but still keeps
the lunker water pigs wet. Some western states have similar slot limits, which require
you to throw back fingerlings and breeders. Considering how few people can
find my house in the first place (let alone drop over for a fry) I don't generally require
taxadermy; a picture
in my billfold is braggin rights a'plenty. Plus, I find you can do more with lenses.
Don't get me wrong though, if I
caught a 23-pounder, you can bet that sucker'd be hangin somewheres, so long as
Penn National Bank would extend my credit. All said, I suppose your personal balance
of keepers is decided by votes from the Good Lord above, Lady Luck, hunger,
vanity and, of course, the Fish Commission.
- Doug
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