Algonquin Adventures / What's Your Personal Best?

**Posted by kenny** 6/07/2017 11:33 am

whats going on here is why I was away from the forum for almost 2 years and for sure why some have left the forum for good. As someone has pointed out if you have certain views WHATEVER they are about catching or not catching fish in APP START you own thread and let people comment on YOUR views. Tightlines out there. And Bass season opens in 17 days.

**Posted by dontgroandaddy** 6/07/2017 11:55 am

The second I saw the topic when this was first posted I knew a holy war was coming. Hoping we are at the tail end of this particular post though. Relative to Kenny's comment, I can tell you that I will think long and hard before I post anything about fishing on the trip I'm taking my family on this summer. Getting killed for posting a photo of a smallmouth bass that I don't immediately follow up with "and I released it right after the photo" is not high on my list. (I know this post is largely about trout fishing, or has become that, and there isn't much concern over the fate of a smallmouth taken in season). I buy the non-resident outdoor card and conservation license, and you better believe I follow the rules because I am a guest in Canada and I try to behave as such. My son wants desperately to experience a shore lunch of a fish he caught. If I can help him experience that, I will. And then I probably won't mention it here, which is a shame.

**Posted by nvm** 6/07/2017 1:09 pm

Let me try and explain this another way. I love fishing, and I think it's great if it gets people outside (especially if it encourages exercise- canoeing, portaging...). It's a key component of most of my camping trips. But I don't believe that these are 'our' fisheries. Though they have become our responsibility because of our impacts. If conservation is important to you, I think it's unrealistic to believe that catch and release fishing has no effect on the fisheries. It's only reasonable to look at the hobby of fishing (for sport or for food) without blinders on- like most hobbies, there are consequences.

**Posted by Antman** 6/07/2017 1:18 pm

Don't.... daddy,
A holy war ? Give me a break. Just a difference of opinion on whether its ok to catch your limit or limit your catch. Personally I gauge keeping any fish based on how heavily the lake is fished. Ie the fish I release will provide the pleasure of hooking a trout for the next guy. In one case I visited the same lake twice ,about 2 weeks apart in early May. Hooked the best looking male ,about 3 lbs, I ever saw in Algonquin , on both trips, in the same place and on the same lure. It was a small lake and I am confident was the same fish. Now on both trips I hooked a few other nice fish, but two different fishing partners, both good park fishermen, were skunked. Considering one of them got heat stroke on the mean trip in and was puking on the last portage into the lake, that's how little it takes to make a trip worthwhile. Is it a wonder when we asked Jake Pigeon about the fishing there , he said 'respect the lake' . All fish released .

**Posted by Fish eater** 6/07/2017 1:21 pm

Hello

Spring Lake Trout from Cedar Lake, 12.5 LBS, I ATE it.

I did not eat the 1.5 lb lake trout that it spit up while preparing fish for frying pan.

**Posted by Fish eater** 6/07/2017 1:33 pm

Spring, Cedar Lake, 2.5 lb lake trout and 2.5 lb brook trout. Ate them both, they were delicious.

**Posted by RCSpartan** 6/07/2017 2:05 pm

Well obviously that was meant to stir the pot.
'New Member', Fish Eater. Hmm...?

Going to grab some popcorn as I'm sure this is about to get good.

**Posted by Jdbonney** 6/07/2017 2:14 pm

Possibly time for a lock down.

**Posted by Antman** 6/07/2017 2:20 pm

RC,
Hah I noticed those troll posts too, but I'm not biting.

**Posted by ShawnD** 6/07/2017 2:45 pm

I try to practice good catch and release techniques but recently I've noticed that a dozen or so fish really struggle to revive themselves when I dump out my gill net.

Can anyone suggest a fishing method less harmful to the AP fishery?

I have tried using a rod and reel but I find it can take me 1- 2 hours (sometimes a lot more) just to land 1 fish. Does anyone else experience the same problem using this method?

**Posted by Fish eater** 6/07/2017 2:46 pm

How do I become a Troll after 1 post.
Topic is "What is your personal Best", so I posted pics and defined what happened to the fish, I did not go off on a rant as other upstanding board members did and insult each other.
If you don't like my photos, delete them.
Yes New Member, yes joined yesterday. Have yet to insult anyone or violate the rules regarding identifying small lakes.

**Posted by basilthegood** 6/07/2017 2:57 pm

We all like fishing eh? Yeah? Good.

I've really enjoy this community so let's not see it akin to the comments section of an obscure youtube video. Next thing you know, were going to be reading how to make $2000 CASH A WEEK by not leaving the comforts of your couch.

Keep your lines tight and keep the pictures rolling!

**Posted by basilthegood** 6/07/2017 3:05 pm

Not a beast my any means, but this was my first brookie and standing PB. Harvested earlier this spring, with help from this forum!

**Posted by Fish eater** 6/07/2017 3:45 pm

Cedar Lake Summer Walleye, released

**Posted by ShawnD** 6/07/2017 3:48 pm

Nice looking fish Boys !!

**Posted by Fish eater** 6/07/2017 4:48 pm

Hey ShawnD

Thank you

12.5 lb laker was on a light action rod with 8 lb test. Took 30 min to land, it did not survive but never have I had a fish strip a reel like that. Took 100 yards off my reel in its first run. Actually pulled the boat around.

If I kill it while catching it, I eat it. That's what us trolls do.

**Posted by Bob** 6/07/2017 6:34 pm

Antman wrote:
Don't.... daddy,
A holy war ? Give me a break..... blah blah blah

Hi Swede!