Cpr

[Catfish]

I have been thinking and bothered all day about these trophy cats being caught and killed .. I have to admit , I have made that mistake before I knew better ----- and still feel awful about it -- The question is - "How do we promote this idea without offending everyone ? " I saw a 75#er taken and killed a few weeks ago .. I am in a boat in swift moving water .. You just do not drive up to someone elses boat and tell them what they need to do with "their" catch . In Tennessee you could get shot for less ... SO how do we get the message across ?? I was thinking maybe TXPalerider could help us get some decals made for our boats that spreads the message .... What kind of decal could we make that promotes this and doesn't make us look like a hippocrit(sp?) when we keep a 5#er ?? Any other ideas ?

[Hawkeye]

I don't know what to tell you Catfish. There are a lot of decent catmen up here who have been practicing CPR (Catch Photograph & Release) for a long time. There are always folks who caught "it" and are going to keep "it" no matter what species, size, season or other variable. Even with the new advisory against eating ANY blue catfish taken from the James River, there are a lot of people who haven't heard about the advisory and a lot more who are going to ignore it. The very fact that the record has been broken in such a short time is "proof" to some that releasing fish is unnecessary....and a waste of good catfish. I've tried to reason with folks, scare 'em (Mercury, PCBs, Kepone, impotence from eating all of the above LOL) and the die-hard fish keepers keep on keepin' fish... big, small and in between.
Years ago, I used to be a died in the wool varmint shooter. I'd shoot anything allowed by law; feral cats, dogs, coyotes, groundhogs, crows... name it, I've killed truckloads. My "thing" was long-range surgical removal of "problem" animals... I read an article on crows.... one of my favorite targets... it said a crow *can* live 75 years... well, that article ruined me as far as killing crows. I figured anything that, given a fair chance, could outlive me, deserved to be left alone.
I've appealed to every emotion, ethic, and even tried to shame some of the locals into releasing fish, and I haven't found the right combination yet. If our very own TxPalerider can help in some way it would be great... Maybe we can pool our collective brain power and come up with a slogan.... I figure our combined IQ must be at least 150.... that makes us a genius LOL...

How about "Never Kill a Trophy Fish" Practice CPR (with the meaning of CPR in little letters in between the "CPR") and a picture of a big blue cat in the shape of this one on the side of the sticker... I'll put two on my boat.

[NightTrain]

I think ya'll hit the nail on the head...maybe that's what it takes...to kill a coupla bigguns...and then get to thinkin' about it later.
I'm 100% behind the decal idea and will display and distribute them proudly.
How about"Save a "fat girl"-Catch-Photograph-Release"with a BIG OL' CAT emblem?

[NightTrain]

This idea might be a cool T-shirt option for ya,too. Maybe Catfish Supply on the pocket...Big CPR slogan on the back?

[mudd_catt]

I don't know what to tell you either, as most everybody in my area is focused on dried catfish fillets, especially the older hands. It reminds me of an article I read in an old back issue of Catfish In-Sider magazine about Santee-Cooper and all the big cats caught and kept from there in the last several years. I stated that there have been fewer and fewer really big cats caught every year.

I for one would be proud to wear a t-shirt with something like that on it. Maybe with education, people will start listening.

[fishomaniac]

Maybe a picture of Kutter "defillibrating" a big ol' blue. Or how about mouth-to-mouth?LOL! I want that t-shirt.

[Trophycats]

Like Wendell, I have pondered over this post for a couple of days. It bothers me very much to see someone keep/kill a huge cat. However as much as we would like to think we can stop it, I don't think we ever will. Most of the Trophy Cats are caught by the LUCKY angler who just happens to be in the right place at the right time. This angler has just caught the fish of a lifetime, and wants to brag about it. This same angler who has spent a lot of money on a boat and equipment very seldom has a camera in the boat. So his only option is to take the fish home and show it off to all of his friends. And sad to say but a lot of times that cat does even make it to the table.

We have had the same problem here on the Cumberland River for many years, and finally got a law passed that allows a angler to have in his possession only one cat over 34 inches. Now this will not stop that LUCKY angler from catching a huge cat and dragging it home but it does stop a lot of wannabe catmen from killing huge cats.

I instill in my clients that we will release all cats over 10 lbs, and that rule is strictly enforced..NO EXCEPTIONS...I insist my clients bring a camera on the trip. I aslo have a digital camera..a great 35MM camera..and a video camera on board at all times. And I have had several clients tell me the RUSH/THRILL of releasing a big cat and knowing it will be there the next trip.

I like the idea of the decals, and would gladly display them. If they were at a decent price I would order a lot of them and give 2 to each of my clients. Let me add one more twist to this. How about in Wendells situation and he saw the 75lber being put in the boat and he went up to the boat and GAVE the guys in the boat a Disposable 35MM camera, offered to take pics for the gentlemen, and gave them 2 stickers for their boat? I realize this is a touchy subject and it will not work in every situation but if it works ONCE then we have saved one more big cat. Besides I figure Wendell could make it happen he can sell a freezer to a eskimo in a blizzard <grin>

Gentlemen all we can do is promote the release of the big cats, we will never get it to stop completely but if we save one more cat then we are on our way. I for one am going to start carrying a $4 disposable camera in the boat and if I see anyone fighting a big cat here on the Cumberland, I will hang back till the cat is boated then make my pitch for CPR..might tick a few people off..but then again I am pretty good at doing that anyways.

Tight lines to all..and if you have more ideas...lets hear them...Warren

[MUDHOLE KID]

What Chaps Me Is To See A Boat Load Of Huge Flatheads That Have Been Grabbed Or Noodled For. I Know Its A Sport Just Like Rod And Reel But Its Totally Destructive To The Speices.i Think Catch And Release Should Be Practiced In All Methods Of Fishing For These Beauties.yes Wendell Ill Be More Than Glad To Place A Decal On My Boat And Truck.they Haul In Record Size Flatheads Every Year On Clarks Hill Lake Just To Be Showed Off And Then Maybe Eaten.this Is A Good Post Men Lets Use A Little Cpr On It.dont Let It Die Either.thanks

[Catfish]

Well guys -- Lets here the ideas - Remember - it needs to be short (IMHO) , Promoting CPR - where others can comprehend and also I believe it should not make us look bad when we keep table cats ... Idears ?

[MUDHOLE KID]

I LIKE HAWKEYES IDEA ,SOMETHING LIKE " SAVE A TROPHY CATFISH PRACTICE CPR" (catch,photograph,release)