Quote:
Originally Posted by Dean Romig
I very rarely ever keep a fish anymore. They really are too valuable to catch only once.
These three pictures were taken on the West Branch of the Penobscot sometime in the mid-90’s. Little brookies during the day are cute but frustrating but about dusk when the spinner fall happens it is fast and furious as the last picture shows. Yes, she was delicious. And I think she was the last landlock I ever killed.
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I agree with you. I have lived in western Maryland- starting my fourth year now and estimate that I have caught between 600 to 800 trout. I have released all of them except one. I kept a stocked rainbow trout that was way over 20 inches in Bear creek that was a old brooder the hatchery threw out. I almost wish I would have thrown him back too. I have seen several of the streams around here that have almost been ruined because of over harvesting. It was not uncommon in the cassleman river a few years ago to catch 20 inch Browns. Now your lucky to even catch a Brown as People couldn't bring themselves to throw them back. The Potomac River that holds most of the records has also went downhill and relies on stocked trout. Even though I caught over 20 trout the last couple of days-the brookie was the only native fish of the bunch. With plastic casts available now that look real-there is no reason to keep native fish.