Question:

tracker  bass fishing boat for saleOne important thing you mentioned…MASSACHUSETTS…is very critical to C&R statistics.  Here in Texas, the surface water temp in the summer always gets up into the low 90’s.  Last summer on one of the power plant lakes, my friend’s X70A topped out at 99.9, cause that’s as high as it goes. It never came down below that in the entire lake.   When you take surface water at 90 degrees to fill your livewell, it can surely stress fish. tracker  bass fishing boat for sale  Warm water holds much less oxygen than cool water.  Ideally, C&R statistics should only be valid for certain water temperatures. Good

An excellent point,tracker  bass fishing boat for sale That’s significantly warmer than we generally get up here in New England! In a situation like this that poses a considerable risk of increased post-tournament C & R mortality perhaps ‘paper weigh-ins’ should become the rule rather than the exception. I think that it would be interesting to see comparative figures re

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This is where I have a problem with your numbers.tracker  bass fishing boat for sale  You started off by telling everyone “stats show average mortality around 85 percent.”  And yes, you did state that it was during warm water conditions.  However, now that you have responded, you are talking about an article that is lots less broad than your original posting. First, the article dealt, according to your later post, with walleye fishing on a specific lake in Wisconsin.tracker  bass fishing boat for sale  The original post sounded like it included all species in warm water in any place you might fish.

Yes, the info I responded back with was just one of the bits and pieces that I’ve picked up.  I did say that the info I found on mortality rate was as high as 85%.  However, the article that I referred to came up with an 85% average mortality rate over not just one tournament but rather several that were held durning warm water conditions. tracker  bass fishing boat for sale If I recall correctly, the info came from more than one lake across a few states.  (I’ll have to go back and check though.) Second, you go on to confirm that the 85% mortality was at one tournament.   Sure, any mortality rate is something to be looked at and made better, whether it is one fish or 85% at a tournament.  We all need to work to get those numbers lower.  But making a statement of “85% in warm water” is just giving cannon fodder to the PETA yahoos.

I agree that 85% sounds bad and it is.  I also share your thoughts on it being material to hand over to PETA.tracker  bass fishing boat for sale  However, as responsible sportsmen, the problem was resolved by not scheduling tournaments during warm water periods. I am sure that you simply meant to improve our awareness of the way people handle their fish, and for that I applaud your efforts.  You obviously just abridged some of the information that you already knew when you typed in your post.

Thats correct.  I was just trying to summarize the worst of it which is what you seemed concerned about.  Personally, I have a hard time believing the whole 85% mortality.  Yes, the study was done in conjunction with the WDNR and In-Fisherman tournament personel. However, I think some of it could have to do with the handling of the fish from the time they leave the boats to when they get put into release tanks.  I’ve seen fish at these tournaments kept out of the water in release bags for a long period of time.  Additionally, drums of water are used to let fishermen keep their catch in while waiting in line at the scales.  I was told by someone that at the last summer tournament they went to (a few years ago), the water in these drums was hot from not being recirculated. I would say that these factors would make for a much higher mortality rate than expected.  If my theory is correct, then it’s the tournaments fault along with the DNR for not addressing the potential problems. And yes, I’m on a bass fishing newsgroup talking about mortality rate at a Walleye tournament.  However, I think the info is still relevant that we all understand that there is such a thing as catch and release mortality and that their are a lot of factors that contribute to fish mortality.  A few would be: handling of the fish, imediate release or later, live well water temp, lake water temp, live well airation, live well chemical residue, depth of water caught in, how long the fish was played, how the fish was hooked, and the fact that some species are more tollerant to these conditions than others. I think that it’s important to be aware of factors that contribute to fish mortality and deal appropriately with it.  I do think that this issue has gotten way out of hand and that too many people are making a big fuss over catch and release mortality. Good Fishin’ Don Mutsch

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Richard, I don’t have solid statistics on delayed mortality rate of post-tournament catch & release bass but after considering the current strength of the bass population in Massachusetts lakes despite considerable tournament C & R coupled with non-existent bass stocking I must humbly disagree that “even though the fish show up alive at the weigh-in, a large percentage of them die within a week from the stress.” I have no doubt that SOME delayed mortality occurs but it is my gut feeling that, with proper care and handling of the bass, in MOST tournaments the percentage is small. Tight Lines!!

John, One important thing you mentioned…MASSACHUSETTS…is very critical to C&R statistics.  Here in Texas, the surface water temp in the summer always gets up into the low 90’s.  Last summer on one of the power plant lakes, my friend’s X70A topped out at 99.9, cause that’s as high as it goes. It never came down below that in the entire lake.   When you take surface water at 90 degrees to fill your livewell, it can surely stress fish.   Warm water holds much less oxygen than cool water.  Ideally, C&R statistics should only be valid for certain water temperatures. Good fishing, Joe

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<BR<I</I <BR<I </I <BR<I I think they penalize the contestants if they show up with a dead fish.</I <BR<I This probably motivates the anglers to take care of their catch.</I <BR<I</I <BR<I &lt;SNIP</I <BR<I</I <BR<I Also keep in mind, that even though the fish show up alive</I <BR<I at the weigh-in, a large percentage of them die within a week from the</I <BR<I stress.</I <BR<I </I <BR<I Richard</I <BR<I – Alice4Mac 2.4.4 E QWK Eval:27Jan96</I <BR<I </I <BR<I</I <BR<I Richard,</I <BR<I(snip)&nbsp; it is my gut feeling that, with proper care and handling</I <BR<I of the bass, in MOST tournaments the percentage is small.</I <BR<I</I <BR<I Tight Lines!!</I <BR<I</I <BR <BRLast year I caught a nice largemouth in the 2 – 3 lb range.&nbsp; I had built <BRa small pnd in my back yard and decided to bring him home alive to give <BRmy other bass a new buddy.&nbsp; I threw him in a cooler, drove 45 miles home <BRon a hot afternoon and, after dropping him on the concrete (he wriggled) <BRtossed him in the pond. <BR <BR5 minutes after he hit the pond I tossed an eight inch garter snake in <BRafter.&nbsp; The snake never made it across the pond.&nbsp; The newest arrival <BRfreight trained across the pond and inhaled the snake.&nbsp; If a fish could <BRsmile, that fish was smiling….for sure, he wasn’t too stressed to eat. <BR <BROver the course of two years, I have One Hundred percent survival rate. <BRI find it a little hard to believe there is any significant mortality <BRrate on bass in tournaments. <BR <BRSteve </BLOCKQUOTE &nbsp;It’s easy to say there’s a high rate, but in my experience that’s not true, where’s the facts, man.&nbsp; Don’t believe anybody on the net (me included) just because someone’s good with words. <BRDanno </BODY </HTML

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I think they penalize the contestants if they show up with a dead fish. This probably motivates the anglers to take care of their catch.

<SNIP Also keep in mind, that even though the fish show up alive at the weigh-in, a large percentage of them die within a week from the stress. Richard – Alice4Mac 2.4.4 E QWK Eval:27Jan96

Richard, I don’t have solid statistics on delayed mortality rate of post-tournament catch & release bass but after considering the current strength of the bass population in Massachusetts lakes despite considerable tournament C & R coupled with non-existent bass stocking I must humbly disagree that “even though the fish show up alive at the weigh-in, a large percentage of them die within a week from the stress.” I have no doubt that SOME delayed mortality occurs but it is my gut feeling that, with proper care and handling of the bass, in MOST tournaments the percentage is small. Tight Lines!!

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WRONG!!!! There are products on the market like “Catch and Release” that Is “Catch and Release” intended for any freshwater species? Cheers, Mike — Mike Marler                          Information Technology, Georgia Tech

Actually it is, although most folks think of it as just for bass.  How many people catch anything else that they release?  Most fish caught are used as food for those catching them. If you want more information on Catch and Release they have an 800 number.  I have used their products for many years and are extremely satisfied.  Professional Sporting Goods  800-835-2248.

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I think they penalize the contestants if they show up with a dead fish. This probably motivates the anglers to take care of their catch. <SNIP Also keep in mind, that even though the fish show up alive at the weigh-in, a large percentage of them die within a week from the stress. Richard – Alice4Mac 2.4.4 E QWK Eval:27Jan96 Richard, (snip)  it is my gut feeling that, with proper care and handling of the bass, in MOST tournaments the percentage is small. Tight Lines!!

Last year I caught a nice largemouth in the 2 – 3 lb range.  I had built a small pnd in my back yard and decided to bring him home alive to give my other bass a new buddy.  I threw him in a cooler, drove 45 miles home on a hot afternoon and, after dropping him on the concrete (he wriggled) tossed him in the pond.   5 minutes after he hit the pond I tossed an eight inch garter snake in after.  The snake never made it across the pond.  The newest arrival freight trained across the pond and inhaled the snake.  If a fish could smile, that fish was smiling….for sure, he wasn’t too stressed to eat. Over the course of two years, I have One Hundred percent survival rate. I find it a little hard to believe there is any significant mortality rate on bass in tournaments. Steve

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WRONG!!!! There are products on the market like “Catch and Release” that

Is “Catch and Release” intended for any freshwater species? Cheers, Mike — Mike Marler                          Information Technology, Georgia Tech

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I’ve seen stats that show average mortality around 85 percent in warm water conditions.  In cooler water, I’ve seen stats average around 5 to 15 percent. Have you got sources for any of this?  I would like to see the sources for both the percentages and the average number of hours in a live well.  I am not doubting you, just would like to have the references for myself, because the topic does come up (did today in fact).  Nothing like an article in a reputable magazine to quiet dissent.  :-) Thanks, Barry W. Doyle

Yes I do.  This info has been accumulated by bits and peices over the last couple of years.  However, back an issue or two of In-Fisherman, they had a short article on mortality rate on walleyes after Wisconsin walleye tournaments and Lake Winnebago.  On e of the tournies held during warm water conditions was the one that had the 85% mortality rate.  It was noted in the article that fishing tournaments had since been moved to cooler water periods. Good Fishin’ Don Mutsch

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I’ve seen stats that show average mortality around 85 percent in warm water conditions.  In cooler water, I’ve seen stats average around 5 to 15 percent. Yes I do.  This info has been accumulated by bits and peices over the last couple of years.  However, back an issue or two of In-Fisherman, they had a short article on mortality rate on walleyes after Wisconsin walleye tournaments and Lake Winnebago.  On e of the tournies held during warm water conditions was the one that had the 85% mortality rate.  It was noted in the article that fishing tournaments had since been moved to cooler water periods.

This is where I have a problem with your numbers.  You started off by telling everyone “stats show average mortality around 85 percent.”  And yes, you did state that it was during warm water conditions.  However, now that you have responded, you are talking about an article that is lots less broad than your original posting. First, the article dealt, according to your later post, with walleye fishing on a specific lake in Wisconsin.  The original post sounded like it included all species in warm water in any place you might fish. Second, you go on to confirm that the 85% mortality was at one tournament.   Sure, any mortality rate is something to be looked at and made better, whether it is one fish or 85% at a tournament.  We all need to work to get those numbers lower.  But making a statement of “85% in warm water” is just giving cannon fodder to the PETA yahoos. I am sure that you simply meant to improve our awareness of the way people handle their fish, and for that I applaud your efforts.  You obviously just abridged some of the information that you already knew when you typed in your post. Thanks for responding with the extra info. Barry W. Doyle

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I’m always amazed that the bass caught in tournaments and put into livewells are still mostly alive at weigh-in

the fish that show up for weigh-in average about 2 1/2 hours in the live- well before they are set free.  Also keep in mind, that even though the fish show up alive at the weigh-in, a large percentage of them die within a week from the stress.

WRONG!!!! There are products on the market like “Catch and Release” that anyone and everyone should be using in thier livewells. These products when added to the livewell turn the water a dark blue, and the contain a stress coat and agents that help the fish. First when you place the bass in the blue stained water it makes it very difficult to see for the bass, this is one thing that helps lessen the stress on the fish. The second is the anti bacterial agents and the stress coat it gives the fish. Fish have a protective slime on thier body naturally which serves to protect them from harmful bacteria in the water. When a fish is stressed it will loose this slime layer for a little while making it vunerable to disease and bacterial infections shortly after release. A stress coat is a enzime that literally coats the fish to protect it when released. Another factor is proper handling of the fish. you should avoid touching the body of the fish if possible. If you take proper care of the fish there should be a zero fatality rate unless a fish is severly injured. I caught a Bass in a private lake that was injurred pretty bad. I had hooked her in the gill and she was bleeding. I wasn’t using the livewell that day but decided to put the fish in there for observation. I turned on the pump and added some Catch and Release as I always do. I kept the bass in there for about 9 hours and released her at the end of the day before leaving. I felt really bad for the little bass because not only did I injure her, she was already injured before and had a very bad split lip. When I released her at the end of the day she seemed pretty lively and happy to go. I caught her again 2 years later, only this time she was alot bigger and fatter, all  ready to spawn. It was definatly a good feeling to see her alive and looking very Give a man a fish and he will have dinner. Teach a man to fish and he will be late for dinner.

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I’m always amazed that the bass caught in tournaments and put into livewells are still mostly alive at weigh-in time. I mostly fish salt water and I know not very many salt water fish I catch would survive for five hours in a livewell, even one with a good pump bringing in water from the ocean. So…are the bass more tolerant? Is this a “by-product” of fresh water fish, that they can survive in livewells? — P.O. Box 7575  Jacksonville, Florida 32238 – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - It’s 10:00pm.  Do you know where your daughter is?

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Harry,   I’m always amazed that the bass caught in tournaments and put into   livewells are still mostly alive at weigh-in time. I think they penalize the contestants if they show up with a dead fish. This probably motivates the anglers to take care of their catch.  From what I understand, a little ice in the water keeps the fish alive a little longer.  There are also chemicals that can be added to the live- well to relieve some of the stress on the fish.  Another thing to keep in mind is the time the fish spend in the live-well averages much less than five hours.  Some fish are caught early and some fish are caught late and some of the late ones bump some of the early ones, so the fish that show up for weigh-in average about 2 1/2 hours in the live-well before they are set free.  Also keep in mind, that even though the fish show up alive at the weigh-in, a large percentage of them die within a week from the stress. Richard  - Alice4Mac 2.4.4 E QWK Eval:27Jan96

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Harry,   I’m always amazed that the bass caught in tournaments and put into   livewells are still mostly alive at weigh-in time. I think they penalize the contestants if they show up with a dead fish. [SNIP] so the fish that show up for weigh-in average about 2 1/2 hours in the live-well before they are set free.  Also keep in mind, that even though the fish show up alive  at the weigh-in, a large percentage of them die within a week from the stress. Richard  - Alice4Mac 2.4.4 E QWK Eval:27Jan96

Richard, et al, I would like to add my .02c here. First, there are several good products on the market that help the fish to survive the live well. (Catch and Release is the most prevalent, but there are others!)   These put a mild sedative in the water (to calm the fish), kill any chlorine, and add a slime enhancing chemical to the water to protect the fish.  In addition, the technology of the live wells today is greatly enhanced from the past with separate aerators and extra recirculating pumps in addition to the standard inflow pumps. As to the percentage that die after weigh-in, I’m not sure what your idea of “large” is, but statistics in Texas (at least) show that less than 5% do NOT survive (IE 95% DO survive), and I don’t think that is really “large” when compared to 100% mortality on catch and keep!! IMHO!!! — Sincerely,      Bob

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I’d have to echo the comments made below by Richard. In addition, Richard mentions that many fish die off some time after being released. I’ve seen some survey information recently that shows that this is true.  Especially when tournaments are held during warm water conditions. I’ve seen stats that show average mortality around 85 percent in warm water conditions.  In cooler water, I’ve seen stats average around 5 to 15 percent. This is why may tournaments are now being held in spring and fall only. Good Fishin’ Don Mutsch – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I think they penalize the contestants if they show up with a dead fish. This probably motivates the anglers to take care of their catch.  From what I understand, a little ice in the water keeps the fish alive a little longer.  There are also chemicals that can be added to the live- well to relieve some of the stress on the fish.  Another thing to keep in mind is the time the fish spend in the live-well averages much less than five hours.  Some fish are caught early and some fish are caught late and some of the late ones bump some of the early ones, so the fish that show up for weigh-in average about 2 1/2 hours in the live-well before they are set free.  Also keep in mind, that even though the fish show up alive at the weigh-in, a large percentage of them die within a week from the stress. Richard

Response:

I’ve seen stats that show average mortality around 85 percent in warm water conditions.  In cooler water, I’ve seen stats average around 5 to 15 percent.

so the fish that show up for weigh-in average about 2 1/2 hours in the live-well before they are set free.  Also keep in mind, that even though the fish show up alive at the weigh-in, a large percentage of them die within a week from the stress.

Have you got sources for any of this?  I would like to see the sources for both the percentages and the average number of hours in a live well.  I am not doubting you, just would like to have the references for myself, because the topic does come up (did today in fact).  Nothing like an article in a reputable magazine to quiet dissent.  :-) Thanks, Barry W. Doyle

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