CPR Guys (Catch Photo Release)

[Seanstone]

Just wanted to say THANKS to everyone that practices catch and release with catfish. I really appreciate the effort set forth to protect these fish. I noticed that alot of you guys used the term CPR, Catch Photo Release. Where did this term originate? Who influenced you to practice CPR?

For as long as I can remember I have practiced catch and release. For a while it was because I didn't catch anything of size. Then I began to appreciate each large fish that I had caught after days spent catching little ones. (Back then a 5 pound channel was a monster) I was shocked to see that there were so many of you that were avid about releasing catfish. I just figured I would say thanks.

[Smoothkip]

I'm a strict catch and release guy, I don't agree with jugging, limblines, paylakes or commercial fisherman taking more than they are allowed. I'm not against selective harvest of smaller fish for the table. This causes a lot of problems throughout the catfishing world. A lot of guys and gals are just uneducated with the negative impacts these practices have on trophy catfishing. Not only for egg dispersion but I believe genetics play a big role in growing trophy fish. I try to educate people before I give them the third degree. My father taught me the importance of catch and release and I in turn spread the word to my children, family,friends and even complete strangers. I apprecite your post sean........smooth

[fishstick11]

i agree totally with smoothkip but i would like to point out that if people dont practice catch and release there will be no fish for the people of tomorrow to catch.

[papaw714]

Very well versed Kip, thanks for an excellent post Sean.

[Catfishrollo]

Very good post guys! I am an avid CPR fisherman of trophy fish as well. I do like a good fish fry once or twice a year like many, but you have to consider the resource you are keeping fish from and make an educated decision on what you keep and how many. It makes me sick to see people running lines, jugging, etc. that simply keep everything they catch, and have no care towards the sport or resource. The only thing we can do is educate, and hope they will think about what they are doing before the fishing is destroyed. rollo

[ducky]

I have been a cpr guy since i started catfishing when i was very young, my grandfather told me about the days that there was very few flathead in the tusc, due to water pollution and so many oldtimers droplineing, so when we would catch one we were sure to let it go after a pic, now that i am older and catch alot more and bigger flathead than i use to when i was young i still have that memory of my grandfather telling me about a time when there wasnt that many flathead, I DONT WANT THAT TO HAPPEN AGIN! i never have and never will eat a fish so fun and challenging to figure out. But channels in the 2 to 4lb range are not so lucky! ;D

[ducky]

Heres some release pics from last year a few are prety cool!

[Varmint_Sniper]

Quote from kip ......I'm a strict catch and release guy, I don't agree with jugging, limblines, paylakes or commercial fisherman taking more than they are allowed. I'm not against selective harvest of smaller fish for the table. This causes a lot of problems throughout the catfishing world. A lot of guys and gals are just uneducated with the negative impacts these practices have on trophy catfishing. Not only for egg dispersion but I believe genetics play a big role in growing trophy fish. I try to educate people before I give them the third degree.

I agree 100% buddy .....Sniper

[fisherman3234]

Catch and Release of big fish is so important for us big cat anglers. The larger more mature fish tend to successfully spawn the best, they carry big cat genetics to future generations, big cats take a long time to get real big (Can live 20-30 yrs), not to mention a lot of the larger cats especially out of the river systems have a high level of pollution in their systems like Mercury and PCB's due to they are the apex predator, so they wouldn't be good to eat anyway. The key is education, and on almost every fishing show or DVD they stress the importance of catch and release of the larger fish because it's important for the river or lake system. Who wants to fish in a river or lake full of small fish due to a lousy gene pool? The other point with the paylake guys and so called commercial guys is that they are not educated and a lot of times are not motivated by the love of the fish or fishing, they are motivated by greed so they could care less what happens to the ecosystem. Now of course I'm not saying you can't have a nice cat dinner every once in a while, I will still have a cat dinner every now and then, but when I do keep cats, I do the right thing and keep a couple smaller fish and release the bigger ones. Selective harvest and CPR works, it's supported by the facts and science.

[katfish]

I agree that releasing big flathead is important.



Flathead become sexually mature at 4-6 years of age.



Most catfish in America die before reaching 20 years old.



Flathead are not stocked in Ohio and were just started to be regulated in the last few years.





Carefully handling and releasing big flathead will result in more spawning of existing stocks of fish.



Releasing big fish makes sense and sometimes you catch the same fish again.