Missdemeanor

I've actually had guests request Lake Trout... I've eaten the smaller ones and was surprised how they tasted.... Now don't get me wrong, they are not a walleye or a Perch .. but I wasn't expecting how those smaller ones tasted. You're 100% right on when you mention the finger lakes LTs.

Catch and release .... Interesting topic... There are lots of factors that are involved...I guess it all depends on the time of year, water temps, depth of fishing,where the fish was hooked, how long was the fight, did the guest drop the fish on its head when we took the photo? ( I might be forgetting something). I specifically ask guests " Are we keeping fish today" as I am setting the first rod. In a perfect world.... If the reply is no, then I take extra time to ensure the fish is in good condition. If the guest doesn't want a picture, I won't even take the fish out of the net... Unhook, and flip the net over .. so minimal protective slime is lost. If I can tow the fish behind the boat and try to revive it, I will. Sometimes that's not possible .. I have no issues with releasing fish.... But I refuse to release fish that are floaters....That is not ethical... That brings up an interesting debate... If you are out on the Lake ( Charter or recreation)... And you box a limit catch... Do you still remain out fishing? If the answer is " Yes", what do you do if you gill hook a fish and it's going to die? Do you keep it even though you got a box and now you're over the limit? Do you let the fish float? Is it wonton waste to knowingly let that fish float off dead? I don't know ... Ethically I couldn't let a fish float off only to be scavenged by seagulls... Many ways to look at it.... I know lots of charter captains who still love the sport and love watching folks catch fish. However there has to be tough decisions made on the water to ensure guests have a good time, while ensuring there are more fish to catch in the future. I don't think it's a business decision, but more of a moral decision.... J.m.o. Be well guys and tight lines

Sorry for your loss..... I have always had Choc labs... I have two males right now. I could take or leave most people... But dogs are different. They are family ... Great video..

Watching this thread .... I'd love a thermal

And just like that, We are back.... Later season dates, cold cold weather.... Awesome!!!! Some observations from this season .. considerably less birds ( I diver hunt... no puddle ducks) than I remember.... The divers that usually show up in the Finger lakes got shore shy and stale very quickly...and most of all... Setting out big spreads takes me a little bit longer ...lol ... It was great to be able to hunt in January again.. IMG_20250110_114859.heic IMG_20250110_114859.heic

Saskatchewan

I got the invite to hunt whitetails in Northern Canada .. 1800 miles one way and we reached the most remote destination I've ever seen. The guides were fantastic .. day 1 and I'm in a ground blind .. I see a doe walk in and she was 2x bigger than any doe I've seen in NY... An absolute Clydesdale! A short time later a big body, Chocolate horned monster walks in... The guide told me to look for a buck with a split G3... This guy has no split G3, but was the biggest buck I've ever seen... I level the Weatherby on him and letter bark... The buck hauls the mail past my blind and disappears. After a short tracking job, we find him piled up .. the buck broke off 7 inches of his G3 split just hours before I shot him. I'd love to see the buck he fought with... What a trip.... I'm not going to forget the Giant bucks of the Northern Canadian bush .