That is truly a hard way to learn a good lesson, Salt. Your wife is absolutely right, but even with catch and release, family will mistreat your pond by injuring fish, leaving stripped line for your mower as well as wildlife to become entangled, leaving trash on the bank and a number of other thoughtless offences. I would be more upset than you seem to be although you probably can't believe that. The best policy is to let nobody fish (say that the fish are spawning). Thinking up a dozen or so ways to get even is expected and maybe even healthy but seldom beneficial if acted upon.
