T-man, thanks for your measured response. You and Viejo are the only persons who have actually been measured and thoughtful. I admit that I have not been measured, at all. I am glad both of you responded. Thanks.
One last point to all fisherman on this forum:
Let's say based on the scientific research presented that the 20% survival rate using power bait is valid. Based on this, of the 25 fish I caught, five (0.20 x 25 = 5) are "potentially" going to die.
By phools and seals standards, One should not release either 95% (24 trout) or 50% (13 trout), respectively, of these power bait caught fish. One should be taking the fish home and cookin' 'em up because they are going to die!... anyway that's their supposed theory, I assume.
But, If one was forced to select the five fish that are supposed to be kept because, statistically speaking, they are going to die; what criteria should one use?
Which of the five out of 25 fish does one destroy? Which ones and in what quantity would one need to destroy in order to satisfy those (seal and phool) against the bait fisherman who catch and release their fish? How does one choose the correct fish and in what quantity?
I can't use the severely damaged criteria (there were none), I can't use the severity of gut-hook (some of those also survived for three weeks and probably longer, but they unfortunately died for the study).
I could flip a coin... that doesn't seem fair, after all, that "unlucky" coin-flip fish may have actually survived. And the coin flip method would in the long run bring the death rate to, at least!, the invalid 50/50 ratio anyway.
Please remember, of the 25 fish I landed: None were overly damaged (by my rudimentary standards). They all seemed minimally damaged and they were all strong enough to swim away.
Maybe I should kill the smallest ones, nah I would rather eat the bigger ones.
Or, maybe I can just evaluate by their minimal blood loss and ability to swim away, which ones live and which ones just will not survive? (I do keep the severely damaged, large or small, cook 'em up and enjoy a great meal!) Honestly, I would like to release the strong back into the wild to hopefully survive. I can live with the fact that each fish gets a fair chance at survival providing they prove their ability to do so.
Ultimately, this is my point, if I take the fish home, they are dead. If I let them go under their own power, they may live. Those five "may" die but that is just a probability, there is no guarantee of eminent death unless I take 'em home with me and again, which ones and how do I select?
Can't I just leave the my seemingly healthy fish seal and phool think I should kill and hope it lives so some kid or that senior citizen can catch them another day?
Heck, maybe even seal and phool can catch my surviving trout ... hopefully when I am not around...
Btw, I ALWAYS pack out others left-behind line, leaders and trash. I cart it away in a zip lock bag that I always carry solely for that reason. I look for and keep all swivels and sinkers left behind and reuse them. I always leave it cleaner than when I arrived.