Reply #14

[Sturzman]

I think, as I said would happen, you'd find your arguments would be put down by people who have spent the greater portion of their lives chasing these fish. As I said there can be a difference between a wild fish and a true native. Example, Green river native summer runs coming from the previous plants of hatchery fish. However there is no way to tell the difference between the two. Your argument seems to be that just because it "could be" a relative of a hatchery fish that it makes it ok to bonk it. I think you can agree that there is in fact, no way to tell and even if there was, why keep a wild fish that has overcome all those obstacles that Brian and company listed. For me, after thinking about what that fish went through, I would feel horrible about killing that fish and denying it opportunity to fullfill it's mission in life, to create life.

As Codfather pointed out why does a skin mount make that experience more memorable. If I'm not mistaking there are talented taxadermist artists that with a set of dimensions and a quality picture, could produce a brilliant replica of that trophy.

Lastly I'll say it again. You're right it could've been a hatchery fish, but why take that chance?