June 17, 2008
Sean Snyder with a 29-pound James River muskie
When a storm rolled in Saturday while Sean Snyder was bass fishing on the James River, the 34-year-old fisherman from Daleville figured that weather change might get muskies moving.
He stuck with his lightweight gear (8-pound-test) but had the sense to put a steel leader on in front of the big white spinnerbait he chose. It's a good thing because this 44-inch long muskie hammered the lure and the fight was on.
Snyder plans to get the 29-pound fish mounted.
"It's going on my wall," he said.
I've heard of a couple other good muskies pulled recently from area rivers. In one case I even got a picture of another big one, but the sender swore me to secrecy regarding that catch.
Comments
[June 23, 2008 5:42 PM]
BotetourtSteveWhile certainly a nice trophy, I would remind everyone that replica mounts are available that can be made to the exact measurements and coloration of the fish you catch, allowing you to return it to the water unharmed to keep on growing AND to have that mount you want on the wall too. If you think this is crazy, keep in mind that the STATE RECORD smallmouth bass was actually caught and released by Donnie Eaton, after he had the weight certified. Now I know it may be "just a fish," but that fish isn't getting any bigger sitting in your freezer or on your wall. The satisfaction from a successful catch-and-release will be an added bonus to catches-of-a-lifetime. Instead of a stringer or cooler, try taking a camera and measuring tape with you on your next fishing trip.
[June 23, 2008 5:49 PM]
BacklashWhat if the person decides that he wants the fish mounted and turns that days catch into dinner?
I see nothing wrong what a person do with his catch as long as it is ethical, I do respect your comments but it is ultimately the person that catches the fish choice.
Backlash in Christiansburg.
[June 23, 2008 5:58 PM]
Mark TaylorYou both are right.
Replica mounts are incredible and are a great option for displaying a fish that (you hope) is still swimming around out there.
On the downside, they can be expensive, although not significantly more than a skin mount.
Personally, I am a supporter of catch-and-release and replica mounts whenever possible.
But, ultimately, as long as the catch was legal and ethical, it really is an angler's choice whether or not to keep the fish. In the long run, if a guy keeps one trophy of a lifetime in his lifetime, the bioligical impact is nil. It's just an ethics thing, where what's right or wrong is largely up to the individual.
Thanks for the comments.
mt
[June 23, 2008 6:13 PM]
BotetourtSteveDon't get me wrong, Backlash or others. You or anyone else absolutely has the right to do whatever you choose with your fish, within the law. I merely bring up the Replica Mount idea as an OPTION instead of toting the fish home with you. I would probably do exactly as you suggest (eat it and get a replica mount) with a large trout or other fish I find tasty, but there are quite a few out there that I have either tried myself or heard about from others that I have no desire to eat. In those cases, a replica mount would work well. I posted that thought here as I have been seeing and hearing about a lot of Muskie catches, which from what I hear are not the tastiest or easiest to prepare (boney). Just want folks to be aware of an alternative, that again, allows the memory to be captured via a mount on the wall, plus the satisfaction and knowledge that a successfully released trophy fish has the opportunity to grow even larger.