Dillema

[3wt]

interesting thoughts. thanks

[JoelO]

I'd release it. Although smaller, my brother caught a 15" brown on the LR a couple of years ago (definite trophy for the park) and he let it go without any pictures (he left his camera in the car). It's a special memory for both of us even if I didn't get to see it.

I caught a 23.5" brown a couple of years ago and, although it wasn't legally big enough to keep, it still gave me great pleasure to see her swim away. Even if I catch one over 24" I'll just take pictures and measurements and let him/her go.

[Denver1911]

That's easy for me. Let it go. I never carry a camera. I just don't care that much about trophies. If nobody believes me because I don't have a picture, well, I just don't care about that either. I want to sp nd my time living. Not making sure I'll be able to re-live it.

[Thunderhead8]

Funny the difference in perspective. It wouldn't be a delima for me at all. I would take supreme joy in the catch, and equal joy in the release. I would probably quit for the day.

[Bran]

I was fortunate enough to run into that situation once, although it was a Smallmouth Bass. We were about 4 miles from anywhere, floating the Staunton River in VA. We anchored the canoe to fish a deep green hole under a railroad trestle when she hit, boiled the top, then went deep. I had the heart in the throat for a few minutes before I got her boatside and lifted her. 4 solid pounds, 20 plus inches, and no camera! My Dad said throw her back, and I sat there a few minutes swimming her by the lip thinking because there's not a handful of Smallies in that river that size and nobody will believe this! Then it happened, I heard the train coming, and Dad lifted the anchor to get out from under the trestle. The engineer happened to look down and I hoisted that Bass up as he did. He gave a thumbs up and a honk on the horns and I turned her loose. I figured I had at least 2 witnesses now, even if I didn't know one of them. Good memories of fishing with my Dad and floating the rivers.

[beesandtrout]

Great fish! Release it quick and savor the memory. Like some else said, you can come back and catch her again with your camera ready. Grins