Within the limits of the law, keep what you want.
At that point you need only back it up by saying that your harvest is at a level that you feel is responsible.

Some of the jokers here trying to justify their harvest with ill-informed pseudo-science are just as bad as those who keep fish just because theyre in season.

I release everything caught in the rivers they all taste nasty except early spring eyes wich i no longer keep since the pfbc quit stocking eyes
on erie i keep all legal fish except garbage fish
on pymy i keep enough for a nice meal i even like the catfish
fishing is exspensive keeping some is all rite by me just dont be a hog and fill your coolers /freezer w fish u probaly wont eat

I really like to keep the small ones, if there is enough, and put the large ones back, that way someone else can have a nice catch and plus bigger freshwater fish generally tend to get mushy once they get too big. But if there is only a few I just throw them back. Some fish like perch multiply like crazy, you are doing them a favor when you keep the small ones, if the little ones don't get enough food because the water is too crowded, it stunts their growth. The older ones will be fine because they can eat the smaller ones, but the younger ones will grow to a certain size untill there is not enough food to go around.They can live for years with very little food, but will not grow in those conditions, which is why it's hard to find decent perch. That's my argument for keeping the small ones anyways :p

You're right Swan.
 
You CAN, "keep em or not"

The Amish....most sterotypes are correct but not all Amish Keep everything they catch most of the ones I see fishing NWPA lakes like Pymatuning, Wilhelm do release under size walleyes and bass and are decent hard working peole that provide value on goods and services purchased from them. There are other ethinic groups that keep everything they catch legal or not legal
Now lets talk about Obama supporters...usally young uniformed and not aware of whats happening or have a bad case of liberalism ... or a classic lazy taker of others people's money aka welfare with no respect or apprecation of the handouts they get on my and other peoples money, case in point on a previous post the welfare case that catches a trout and throws in the garbage or buries it while taxpayers pay for his food healthcare, possibly housing, cell phone and internet.
How about that! thanks barack Mr welfare

Yup Fryem,
 
OR.  You could think about it like a Romney supporter. Those that go out and fish for them, AND have the skill to catch them. Should be allowed to keep ALL the fish they can catch. Whether, or not they "need" them, or will put them to good use, or ANY use. They have the right to stack them up in freezers, or cook them up & feed them to their cats. Or bury them in the ground, where they benefit no-one, not even themselves.
 
It's their right as a great American, capitalist angler.  If you don't like it. Get out there, and catch them before they do.

Could we please leave the politics off this forum? You don't realize how offensive it is. I voted for Obama. I am not a bum. I don't take handouts. I am not on wellfare. I have my own home business. People need to stop listening to all the propaganda (on both sides). Not all Republicans are bad nor are all Democrats bad. Every politician does things that we dont approve of. Lets leave this great forum to the fishing questions.

Another thing. I've heard of people burying dead fish in their gardens because it makes excellent compost. It ads nutrients to the soil.

mr.crappie

I have heard of people defecating in thier gardens,does that make it right?  sam

To be fair, I've never heard of any sort of hepatitis scare resulting from farmers putting fish in their soil.  Cant say the same for human feces.

well I dont know about all that political stuff I say fire ALL of them ! as for putting fish in your garden I mean really is this a grade school experiment ? somebody trying to be a pilgrim ? quick tip: they sell fertilizer these days. you know what makes good fertilizer ? FERTILIZER !!!! as far as my statement on the amish it wasnt a judgment i have heard the over fish as well as over hunt areas its a differant lifestyle. the end . So anybody been out in the hot weather we been having ?

thats a nice mess o fish