The nobility of fishing for salmon

[salmotrutta]

Around this time of year, many fishermen turn their noses up to those who fish for spawning salmon.

When you think about it, steelhead, pike, walleye, bass, carp, browns, brookies, lakers and Atlantics all share something in common. They do not die after they spawn. They spawn multiple times, and some of those species can live to 20 years and beyond.

Pacific salmon, on the other hand, die shortly after entering the tributaries.

As such, even if you injure a pacific salmon, leave a lure or hook stuck somewhere on it, keep one, or otherwise harm the fish, it's nearing the end of its life cycle anyways.
But when you keep a game fish with increased longevity, or injure it somehow, the repercussions could last for years.

I'm not saying we should all become grizzly bears and limit our hunt only to Pacific salmon, just adding a mere observation that there is indeed some cleanliness to the black boot chase.

 

[Rain-Bow]

Hmmm, that sounds more like a put and take fishery kind of attitude, except Lake Ontario's north shore isn't much of a put and take salmon fishery. Most salmon here are wild which means they actually do spawn successfully if people let them!

 

[ChaseChrome]

Not entirely sure you are not tarrying with some grey-zone here...it's often the case that just such an argument is marshalled by those who gut Chinook hens for spawn...

HHHmmmm
CC

 

[salmotrutta]

I think my observation here has been misinterpreted.

I am not suggesting it is more acceptable to cull a salmon than any other game species. Culling should always be a swift kill. I am moreso saying that, from a humanitarian standpoint, any harm inflicted upon a running salmon during angling, is harm inflicted upon a living creature that is soon going to parish.

If you injure a lake trout, sturgeon, walleye, or pike, that fish may be still swimming around for many years.

I don't think any of us (or, at least most of us), want other living creatures to suffer unduly. Salmon fishing, from the aforementioned standpoint, carries with it less potential harm.

Harm could be a deep hook set, a hook set through the eye, a hook that is left inside the fish, ripped lips, etc.

 

[NOTTA STEELER]

Not entirely sure you are not tarrying with some grey-zone here...it's often the case that just such an argument is marshalled by those who gut Chinook hens for spawn...

HHHmmmm
CC

I"ll have to agree with the already said comments , while it is true the salmon will die shortly after spawning , they are still a living , breathing creature and in most cases as in the Notty , are not stocked and are obviously supporting a healthy returning population each year and the Steelhead depend on them for protein , not only for the spawn but also for the flesh of the ones already passed on .
While I sometimes wish that Chinook could be better replaced by Coho , being a more simular fight to a Steelhead . They are here and are to be treated in the same way as any other game fish should be .

 

[CanadianAngler87]

While I sometimes wish that Chinook could be better replaced by Coho , being a more simular fight to a Steelhead . They are here and are to be treated in the same way as any other game fish should be .

Amen..

 

[ChaseChrome]

I think my observation here has been misinterpreted.

I am not suggesting it is more acceptable to cull a salmon than any other game species. Culling should always be a swift kill. I am moreso saying that, from a humanitarian standpoint, any harm inflicted upon a running salmon during angling, is harm inflicted upon a living creature that is soon going to parish.

If you injure a lake trout, sturgeon, walleye, or pike, that fish may be still swimming around for many years.

I don't think any of us (or, at least most of us), want other living creatures to suffer unduly. Salmon fishing, from the aforementioned standpoint, carries with it less potential harm.

Harm could be a deep hook set, a hook set through the eye, a hook that is left inside the fish, ripped lips, etc.

Not at all Salmo...
I am suggesting that given the certain fatality of spawning Chinooks (as you point out), that many take this as license to dispatch fish for their own purposes. I am not disagreeing only saying that this argument becomes something of an apologia for meat and spawn hunters...
CC

 

[mauro]

Not at all Salmo...
I am suggesting that given the certain fatality of spawning Chinooks (as you point out), that many take this as license to dispatch fish for their own purposes. I am not disagreeing only saying that this argument becomes something of an apologia for meat and spawn hunters...
CC

interesting discussion. I think i see both sides of this argument.
Salmo's point is valid, but some will use this argument to justify killing fish. I've heard the same thing used in discussions around large browns in the upper credit. "they kill more small fish than they make" was the point someone tried making. I didn't buy it, but you can see how some may justify killing wild fish with this line of reasoning.

 

[FishingNoob]

interesting discussion. I think i see both sides of this argument.
Salmo's point is valid, but some will use this argument to justify killing fish. I've heard the same thing used in discussions around large browns in the upper credit. "they kill more small fish than they make" was the point someone tried making. I didn't buy it, but you can see how some may justify killing wild fish with this line of reasoning.

x 2

I agree with you 100%

 

[Dozer]

I'm sure most peoples knives don't discriminate between the fish. Goes in and comes out the same way across the species. But yeah, some people think like that. How about a brook trout guide sitting at a bar telling you he throws steelhead bankside and leaves them to rot because they are invasive... to each their own.

 

[ChaseChrome]

I'm sure most peoples knives don't discriminate between the fish. Goes in and comes out the same way across the species. But yeah, some people think like that. How about a brook trout guide sitting at a bar telling you he throws steelhead bankside and leaves them to rot because they are invasive... to each their own.

Ha...I've come across this also. In New Brunswick, not satisfied with having almost decimated the Atlantics with their spraying programs, they do the very same thing on beautiful rivers like the Irish (pointless redneck behaviour as that river is now devoid of salar...).

 

[rocheleauc]

I'm sure most peoples knives don't discriminate between the fish. Goes in and comes out the same way across the species. But yeah, some people think like that. How about a brook trout guide sitting at a bar telling you he throws steelhead bankside and leaves them to rot because they are invasive... to each their own.

ha, that guy was a piece of work :roll:

 

[Float_On]

Salmon spawn only once in their lifetime...

Interrupting that might result in some fish not being able to spawn at all because of stress or culling.

I would say that salmon are even more important NOT to fish for than any other type of gamefish.

Any given pike you catch may have already spawned 5-6 times in its life, but any salmon you catch may have lived a life without reproduction (7yr old virgin ).
Screwing around with their spawning cycle is way more detrimental to overall population than fishing other species...

So Salmo, Call it what you want, but i would reconsider calling it "Noble".

 

[NADO]

interesting discussion. I think i see both sides of this argument.
Salmo's point is valid, but some will use this argument to justify killing fish. I've heard the same thing used in discussions around large browns in the upper credit. "they kill more small fish than they make" was the point someone tried making. I didn't buy it, but you can see how some may justify killing wild fish with this line of reasoning.

I dont think theres anything good about browns being in the upper credit. Most people you talk to that are employed in the conservation field will only have bad things to say about brown trout.

Its too bad more stocking efforts arent put in for native species like brook trout rather than all of the invasives we stock. The problem is that we are greedy and stock the fish that we prefer to catch rather than what is best for the fishery, greedy greedy fisherman.

Oh well, I cant say I dont have a blast catching chinooks and rainbows. At least unlike carp the population of these invasives can be controlled.

 

[ChaseChrome]

I dont think theres anything good about browns being in the upper credit. Most people you talk to that are employed in the conservation field will only have bad things to say about brown trout.

Its too bad more stocking efforts arent put in for native species like brook trout rather than all of the invasives we stock. The problem is that we are greedy and stock the fish that we prefer to catch rather than what is best for the fishery, greedy greedy fisherman.

Oh well, I cant say I dont have a blast catching chinooks and rainbows. At least unlike carp the population of these invasives can be controlled.

I feel a debate coming on...again...

 

[mauro]

I dont think theres anything good about browns being in the upper credit. Most people you talk to that are employed in the conservation field will only have bad things to say about brown trout.

Its too bad more stocking efforts arent put in for native species like brook trout rather than all of the invasives we stock. The problem is that we are greedy and stock the fish that we prefer to catch rather than what is best for the fishery, greedy greedy fisherman.

Oh well, I cant say I dont have a blast catching chinooks and rainbows. At least unlike carp the population of these invasives can be controlled.

I actually agree with you. whoever brought them over way back when was an idiot, so was bringing over carp and zebra muscles. Credit has not been stocked with browns for a really long time now as far as i know. I for one welcome our brown trout overlords and feel that we should welcome them with small fury and feathery fishing hooks in the face.

they are here now. i cant fix that. may as well fish for them! Kinda like the freaking Atlantics that are getting stocked.

 

[Rain-Bow]

virgin salmon h34r:

 

[salmotrutta]

Salmon spawn only once in their lifetime...

Interrupting that might result in some fish not being able to spawn at all because of stress or culling.

I would say that salmon are even more important NOT to fish for than any other type of gamefish.

Any given pike you catch may have already spawned 5-6 times in its life, but any salmon you catch may have lived a life without reproduction (7yr old virgin ).
Screwing around with their spawning cycle is way more detrimental to overall population than fishing other species...

So Salmo, Call it what you want, but i would reconsider calling it "Noble".

Sure, chinooks and cohos only enter the streams once, giving them only one chance to spawn. But that works both ways, it also only gives one chance to catch them while running. Steelhead and browns can spawn multiple times, but that also gives anglers multiple opportunities to catch them. It works both ways.

My title isn't "salmon fishing is noble". My title says, "the nobility of salmon fishing", the "the" referring to the fact that they're taking their lasts breaths so if you do harm one, it's going to give out soon anyhow. If my use of hyperbole in the title wasn't obvious, it is now

 

[mauro]

Sure, chinooks and cohos only enter the streams once, giving them only one chance to spawn. But that works both ways, it also only gives one chance to catch them while running. Steelhead and browns can spawn multiple times, but that also gives anglers multiple opportunities to catch them. It works both ways.

My title isn't "salmon fishing is noble". My title says, "the nobility of salmon fishing", the "the" referring to the fact that they're taking their lasts breaths so if you do harm one, it's going to give out soon anyhow. If my use of hyperbole in the title wasn't obvious, it is now

well if you say it that way, there is no way we can get into an argument. What fun is THAT???

my life is getting in the way of fishing. ARGH! need to wet a line soon or i'm gonna blow.

guys, what are your thoughts on saturday morning? still good? i was thinking of hitting port credit at like 4 am. PM me if you think its worth it or if you have a suggestion on where to go.

 

[NADO]

I feel a debate coming on...again...

ha, he agrees with me!