I agree with many of the above posts. The "trauma" bit I think can be summed up by deep catches, being played out, deep mouth/gill hooks, and fish handling (most of that was summed up above).

Stu can have one fish meal per trip. Good for him. When I go, I hope to eat fish every day. I don't keep everything I catch. Large fish go back in the lake regardless...there is just too much meat on a big fish for two guys.

I'm one of the people who think the smallies are taking over a lot of the northern lakes. I don't hesitate taking and eating smallmouth even if my paddling partner doesn't eat bass.

I know that pregnant women aren't supposed to eat fish due to contaminants. I get this and that sort of thing should not be risked regardless of location. That said, for the rest of us, the water up there is very pure, where the water is coming from is very pure. I don't think twice about drinking straight from some of the lakes up there, and as for fish contamination, it is a non-thought.

Fish regulations are in place for a reason. Follow them and the fish population should do just fine.