13lb 12oz

[johnr]

awesome

 

[camoman]

It is 100% true and kept for the wall. Caught on Sunday.

That sucks. Nice fish though.

 

[iceeyes]

Hopefully people are releasing these fish. These were 8 and 9 lbs. They may not be out prime spawner fish but they are close to becoming a great trophy fish. Released 5 of these over the weekend and hope they can make it 5 more years or maybe more.

 

[deleted_account]

That sucks. Nice fish though.

lame comment

 

[iceeyes]

10lber that also went back to be a mega giant someday.

 

[Vollmer]

10lber that also went back to be a mega giant someday.

good man

 

[ranger150]

What Vollmer said!!!

 

[Bfishn]

That sucks. Nice fish though.

I have no problem with someone keeping a true trophy like that. I'll release anything between about 5-10# but one over 10# would be coming home with me.

 

[guywhofishes]

where do you guys think all those 16-17 lbers come from if they don't release the 13s-14s?

sad deal - I bet she was just coming into heat this year too

 

[MSA]

keep in mind, not hardly a percentage of 8-10lb fish will make it to 13 or 14lbs. that's like an alien saying he released a bunch of large humans with the intentions of them all becoming as big as Shaq one day. And yes I know fish grow their entire life, but that growth rate has all but stopped at the last quarter of their lives.

 

[Bed Wetter]

keep in mind, not hardly a percentage of 8-10lb fish will make it to 13 or 14lbs. that's like an alien saying he released a bunch of large humans with the intentions of them all becoming as big as Shaq one day. And yes I know fish grow their entire life, but that growth rate has all but stopped at the last quarter of their lives.

I'm no biologist, hardly even an angler, but this was my understanding as well. There has to be a point of diminishing returns where a fish doesn't grow much at all anymore and might not survive the spawn, depending on the species and environment.

 

[iceeyes]

well im not a biologists either, but carving an 8 to 10 lb fish up does not help the odds of it getting any bigger. Also with our system so full of bait right now odds are these fish are growing very well. This winter a buddy caught a tagged 10 lb 7 oz that was released and two summers ago the fish was 27 inches and it was 30 when he caught it.

 

[Vollmer]

I have no issue with this guy keeping that fish. I would have. That's a fish of a lifetime in ND.

 

[MSA]

And many female walleye may not even have the genetic ability to even reach 8lbs. Trophy fish are rare exceptions to the average on most bodies of water.

 

[johnr]

makes me want to punch that baby again

 

[Bfishn]

well im not a biologists either, but carving an 8 to 10 lb fish up does not help the odds of it getting any bigger. Also with our system so full of bait right now odds are these fish are growing very well. This winter a buddy caught a tagged 10 lb 7 oz that was released and two summers ago the fish was 27 inches and it was 30 when he caught it.

This wasn't an 8-10 pound fish. It was a nearly 14# fish likely near the end of its life. The chances of releasing that fish and it surviving and being caught again when it's a state record are pretty much zero. Good on you for releasing the fish above though. I agree that those fish should go back to create monsters like this thread started with. The guy who's boat this was caught in has caught & released more big fish than most have lied about.

 

[Kurtr]

I would keep it and not feel bad at all. We might have alot of bait now give the Coe 6 months and they will change that

 

[iceeyes]

that big one i would of have mounted in a heart beat and i have no problem with what people consider a trophy. its the ones that get cut up that are 8lbs that could have been a trophy for many.

 

[wildeyes]

I can no way clean a fish that's over 25 , I have when I was younger but not now I feel guilty doing it unless they swallow a crank and they are bleeding bad this one did that don't get me wrong idk if you do I just like to think that they will add some pounds and inches and the more of them the merrier. besides I like the taste of smaller fish less mercury ;:;popcorn

 

[Vollmer]

I can no way clean a fish that's over 25 , I have when I was younger but not now I feel guilty doing it unless they swallow a crank and they are bleeding bad this one did that don't get me wrong idk if you do I just like to think that they will add some pounds and inches and the more of them the merrier. besides I like the taste of smaller fish less mercury ;:;popcorn

I do too. Over 4 lbs I assume it's a female and throw it back.