The importance of catch and release

[nate01]

I've been struggling to catch pike for the last two years in the river. My go-to spots just don't produce like they used to.

Sunday morning I decided to give it another shot. Overcast day with a little misty rain and a very low water level. Lost a chatterbait on a snag so I pull out a spinnerbait. About an hour of casting and I see a healthy, long pike following it in. It comes right to my feet in inches of water and I'm slowing down just fast enough to keep the blade going but I'm running out of real estate. It makes a lunge and just kinda nips at it and I bury the hook, landing a nice pike after a battle.

As I go to remove the hook, I notice what appears to be an old hook and a short piece of line buried in his throat. Clearly this guy has been recently caught...thank you for releasing this fish! My second biggest ever, made my day. Catch and release makes a world of difference!

Anyway it tasted great. Just kidding!

I don't ever criticize someone who follows the law and keeps fish they are legally allowed to keep...but I'm happy catch and release is so popular these days.