RVTA tag 1008..... Bow-a-saurus!!

[Polelock]

9.253 lbs and measuring 26.5 inches from the shore on a 1/4 oz kastmaster.

[acabtp]

dayum! that'll put a bend in the rod!

[UglyStick]

That is one big Bow - great job... too bad he's not still swimming...

[jimmythegreek]

monster rainbow, I gotta get down there soon..........too bad no C+R on lots of these fish, keep a few little ones and let the breeders do their thing

[Polelock]

I'm going to say about 80% of RV tagged fish caught don't go back into the water... This may have been the anglers PB.. His call on what he does with it.. I have an empty spot on my wall for a big ol bow..

Rainbows nor browns can breed in RV..

[Billfish715]

Originally Posted by UglyStick

That is one big Bow - great job... too bad he's not still swimming...

Life and fishing are about making choices......personal, ethical choices. That fish is a trophy in any place in the world no less N.J. I have no problem with people who catch and keep fish as long as they are not wasted. Would that fish have survived if it were released? Maybe. Was it that big when it was stocked? Probably not. Given the size of the "Valley" would that fish likely be hooked again by you or anyone? The likelihood of that fish dying of old age is probably a better bet. Would that fish have grown much bigger? There is a limit to everything.....again probably not.

The smile on the angler's face is priceless. It's his trophy......probably of a lifetime. Don't deny his pride and accomplishment. Thank the RVTA for making it possible and send them a donation so maybe you can make your own ethical decision when you catch one.

[addictedtobass]

awesome fish congrats!!!!!!!!!!!

[UglyStick]

That fish is definitely a trophy and no one is denying the angler anything (as evidenced by my saying great job in my original post). I have no problem with an angler keeping a legally caught fish and agree it is there prerogative and yes, I hope he makes a donation to the RVTA who made his trophy possible.

Without debating whether a fish will die of old age before someone catches it, my point is simply that in today's age of a craftsman being to able to make an extremely long lasting super realistic mount from a photo and a measurement, it would have been nice if another angler could have possibly enjoyed this trophy also.

[Moz]

Originally Posted by Billfish715

Given the size of the "Valley" would that fish likely be hooked again by you or anyone? The likelihood of that fish dying of old age is probably a better bet. Would that fish have grown much bigger? There is a limit to everything.....again probably not.

I'm not going to go into the C&R debate but from personal experience....

A couple of years ago the first fish I ever pulled out of the Valley was a trophy golden trout. The tag was gone as a club member had caught and released it a few weeks earlier. It was a downright amazing day for me catching that fish and my application and check to join the club was sent in a day later. Really changed my outlook and appreciation for sport fishing, none of which probably would have happened had the fish not been released to make my day a few weeks later.

Not too long ago I was told by someone in the club that one of the goldens was caught and released 3 and maybe even 4 times. Those fish do get caught again is my point

In any case the shore guys have been nailing the trophies pretty good this season. Congrats to all of them.

[Mark B.]

Yesterday afternoon, wading RVR's eastern shore, caught on a Yo Zuri:

15" & 18" browns, 23" tagged rainbow: released 'em ('bow still has tag).

Had another BIG one on, but lost it. And, a couple of follows.