pregnant fish

Question
What is the etiquette for keeping pregnant fish.  Should I always throw them back? (river)

Answer
Hi Brandon,

I can only offer my personal opinion on this.  A spawning fish full of eggs is your future to that fishery.  I would normally release all of them if I could see that the fish was full of eggs.  There are times that you cant tell and may keep one here or there.  For panfish, it makes less difference than a gamefish.  There would be no way that I would keep a Bass, Pike, or Walleye that was clearly full of eggs.  Here in my state the gamefish season is closed for much of the spawning season of the gamefish.  This is done to protect these fish and future populations.  

Good fishing,

Marc