917 Wing Airman proves catch-and-release sport fishing works

  • Published
  • By Staff writer
  • 917th Public Affairs
Barksdale AFB, La. --  For the preservation of America's fish population, and the sport itself, the catch and-release approach to sport fishing has been proven to work.

Jeff Walston, a public affairs technician with the 917th Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., has been practicing catch and release for most of his life, thanks to a lesson learned more than 40 years ago from his grandfather. But, he could never say he'd ever caught a fish again, after he had personally released it, until now.

"As a kid, I would go fishing with my Grandpa Wilson and he'd always say to me 'I'll tell you something, but, it'll cost you a dollar.' Of course I never could pay. I was a kid ... I didn't have any money," said Walston. "On every trip to the lake he would repeat, 'if it's not big enough to eat or put on the wall, throw it back and we'll catch it next time.' I never thought I would be able to prove I'd caught a fish I released."

Since moving to Shreveport last year, for relaxation, Walston has taken up the sport of fishing again. Fortunately, he lives near a lake, and says every couple of days he hits the lake right after work to relax, because he needs a lot of relaxing after a day at work.

"Last week I caught a bass, took a picture like I normally do, then I threw it back," Walston said. "Two days later I caught three more bass and took the standard pictures. It wasn't until I started looking at them that I realized I'd caught one of the fish two days before."

After checking a wound the fish in both pictures had, as well as the markings on the body, it was confirmed that it was the same fish.

"I couldn't believe it. This is no small lake. It never crossed my mind that I would ever catch the same fish twice. My Grandpa Wilson was right," Walston said. "I did exactly what he told me and 40 years later it paid off."

As increasing number s of anglers fish Louisiana waterways and the remote areas of the state, making a conscious decision to catch and release is more important today than ever before. Helping to protect the sport as well as the food supply is every fisherman's responsibility, Walston said.

Unfortunately, Walston's grandfather passed away several years ago and was unable to see the fruits of his advice.

The bass was released to be caught another day.

"I really miss all the advice I got from my grandpa," Walston said. "When I see him again ... I hope I have a dollar on me."