SpurHunter
Well-known member
I know some will want to jump on the bashing-TX-train, but Id love to have a civil discussion about this.
As you can read, there were dozens of dead 3-7 lb bass the day after the weigh-in, which appears to have taken over 4 hours per anglers that actually fished the TX. Even anglers that fished it are furious about this resulting dead-loss.
Is it time to do something about the tremendous bass fishery we have in TN? If so , its going to take dedicated TX fishermen to lead the charge and say enough is enough and come up with solutions, not anti-TX anglers ranting for change. What side are you on?
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1006633822702935&set=o.81617829544&type=1&theater
Some excerpts from that thread:
David Stevens: I live on Lake Barkley and I am a semi Pro fisherman. This is an absolute disgrace to the sport of Bass Fishing. The weather hasn't been hot enough for this amount of fish to die. If this is the result of that tournament then someone needs to take a long hard look at allowing this to continue. Fish care should be the number 1 priority ! No question , handout G Juice, check live wells for proper operation and reduce the number of the tournament limit to 3 fish per team to reduce fish stress! As a Bass Fisherman I am ashamed to repost this but this kind of fish kill is unacceptable !
Tony Goff: I fished the tournament and was told personally that on day one, there was only one fish that was dead when it was weighed in. I don't know about day two. If you look at the standings, it might show the dead fish penalties for each team. I know my partner and I fished south of Paris on Saturday. We stopped 4 times in a 6 mile run, to check on our fish. I was and am, proud of the fact that our fish were in very good shape when we weighed them. As with everything in the outdoors, it starts with respect for the quarry, whether fishing or hunting. After seeing this, I'm not sure I want to fish this event next year.
James R Williams: Sorry guys. Im a tournament fisher myself and would defend it over anything and give anyone the benefit of the doubt to protect this great sport. But i guess there is just no defending this one. Sure you will always have a few fish die. But a 400 boat tournament? ? Lots of good ideas should have been used that could have saved a lot of those fish. Starting with several weigh in spots. Not sure if thats the best answer but a start. Several good suggestions in this article.
Bobby Kilzer: I realize how terrible this looks but considering the amount of fish caught these are not a drop in the bucket. These fish have floated up along the highway 79 Bridge right outside of Paris Landing. There is a deep channel leading out to the river along it. Most if the fish are released along thus channel so the release boats can get back in. The last 2 days there has been a north wind which would have pushed any fish that died up against the road.
If this tournament was held in the fall there would not be near the mortality rate because nowhere near this many fish would be caught.
If I am not mistaken ABA was in charge of the weighin. What should be done in a tournament this size at this time of year is someone from the organization needs to stay over for a couple days and pick up the inevitable dead carcasses.
Henry County pours alot of money into these organizations to get the tournaments to come here. The volunteers work hard trying to park boats, shuttling anglers and many other things. Maybe they could look into having a cleanup crew a couple days after a big tournament.
I don't have a dog in the race anymore. I am just a crappie guy.
John Hall: I fished this tourney and it is run very well. They have two release boats and holding tanks, they fizz the fish, limited weigh in bags, etc, etc,
The sheer number of boats your gonna get some of this. It was brutal conditions on Saturday and those that fished south took a beating
on the ride home. I'd say most of these fish got beat to death in the live wells on their ride home.....
Bryan Bullington: Our fish was alive and well till the 1 hr 20 min Lake Michigan ride back. Stop 8 times to put water in livewell. I think the rough river had more to do with it than the weigh in. 180 boats didnt even weigh in on Sat. Its still sad though, the fish in bad shape could have been cleaned and given to the needy.
Kade Smith: I fished the tournament and weighed in fish both days. from the time my fish left my live well til they were in one of the 2 release boats was maybe 15-20 min. Triton and the ABA had 3 large holding tanks in the weigh in line that were treated with G juice, aireated and iced. there were trained staff on the release boats fizzing fish. they only have 25 or so weigh bags to keep lines and wait times down. there were carts full of bags of ice at the dock to cool live wells down if there was a long line waiting for weigh bags. it was without a doubt the roughest water I have ever been in. not an excuse for this many fish to be dead but I can guarantee you that you will not find a better run tournament in the country. as for a solution to the problem, I don't have one. sure you could have a pic and release tournament if every angler was honest but that's not going to happen with that much prize money on the line.
As you can read, there were dozens of dead 3-7 lb bass the day after the weigh-in, which appears to have taken over 4 hours per anglers that actually fished the TX. Even anglers that fished it are furious about this resulting dead-loss.
Is it time to do something about the tremendous bass fishery we have in TN? If so , its going to take dedicated TX fishermen to lead the charge and say enough is enough and come up with solutions, not anti-TX anglers ranting for change. What side are you on?
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1006633822702935&set=o.81617829544&type=1&theater
Some excerpts from that thread:
David Stevens: I live on Lake Barkley and I am a semi Pro fisherman. This is an absolute disgrace to the sport of Bass Fishing. The weather hasn't been hot enough for this amount of fish to die. If this is the result of that tournament then someone needs to take a long hard look at allowing this to continue. Fish care should be the number 1 priority ! No question , handout G Juice, check live wells for proper operation and reduce the number of the tournament limit to 3 fish per team to reduce fish stress! As a Bass Fisherman I am ashamed to repost this but this kind of fish kill is unacceptable !
Tony Goff: I fished the tournament and was told personally that on day one, there was only one fish that was dead when it was weighed in. I don't know about day two. If you look at the standings, it might show the dead fish penalties for each team. I know my partner and I fished south of Paris on Saturday. We stopped 4 times in a 6 mile run, to check on our fish. I was and am, proud of the fact that our fish were in very good shape when we weighed them. As with everything in the outdoors, it starts with respect for the quarry, whether fishing or hunting. After seeing this, I'm not sure I want to fish this event next year.
James R Williams: Sorry guys. Im a tournament fisher myself and would defend it over anything and give anyone the benefit of the doubt to protect this great sport. But i guess there is just no defending this one. Sure you will always have a few fish die. But a 400 boat tournament? ? Lots of good ideas should have been used that could have saved a lot of those fish. Starting with several weigh in spots. Not sure if thats the best answer but a start. Several good suggestions in this article.
Bobby Kilzer: I realize how terrible this looks but considering the amount of fish caught these are not a drop in the bucket. These fish have floated up along the highway 79 Bridge right outside of Paris Landing. There is a deep channel leading out to the river along it. Most if the fish are released along thus channel so the release boats can get back in. The last 2 days there has been a north wind which would have pushed any fish that died up against the road.
If this tournament was held in the fall there would not be near the mortality rate because nowhere near this many fish would be caught.
If I am not mistaken ABA was in charge of the weighin. What should be done in a tournament this size at this time of year is someone from the organization needs to stay over for a couple days and pick up the inevitable dead carcasses.
Henry County pours alot of money into these organizations to get the tournaments to come here. The volunteers work hard trying to park boats, shuttling anglers and many other things. Maybe they could look into having a cleanup crew a couple days after a big tournament.
I don't have a dog in the race anymore. I am just a crappie guy.
John Hall: I fished this tourney and it is run very well. They have two release boats and holding tanks, they fizz the fish, limited weigh in bags, etc, etc,
The sheer number of boats your gonna get some of this. It was brutal conditions on Saturday and those that fished south took a beating
on the ride home. I'd say most of these fish got beat to death in the live wells on their ride home.....
Bryan Bullington: Our fish was alive and well till the 1 hr 20 min Lake Michigan ride back. Stop 8 times to put water in livewell. I think the rough river had more to do with it than the weigh in. 180 boats didnt even weigh in on Sat. Its still sad though, the fish in bad shape could have been cleaned and given to the needy.
Kade Smith: I fished the tournament and weighed in fish both days. from the time my fish left my live well til they were in one of the 2 release boats was maybe 15-20 min. Triton and the ABA had 3 large holding tanks in the weigh in line that were treated with G juice, aireated and iced. there were trained staff on the release boats fizzing fish. they only have 25 or so weigh bags to keep lines and wait times down. there were carts full of bags of ice at the dock to cool live wells down if there was a long line waiting for weigh bags. it was without a doubt the roughest water I have ever been in. not an excuse for this many fish to be dead but I can guarantee you that you will not find a better run tournament in the country. as for a solution to the problem, I don't have one. sure you could have a pic and release tournament if every angler was honest but that's not going to happen with that much prize money on the line.
