Tried to save them but they gave up. SAD!

[JSV]

I feel this subject always gets blown out of proportion. You are always going to have the NON-TX folks complaining about the TX folks and the mortality rate (and so forth). The TX folks are going to get mad at the weekend warriors which may elect to take a Bass (trophy or simply a keeper) home from their lake. The good thing is we all have a common interest and that is we like to catch fish. I truly feel the majority of the people that fish are doing a good job and making every effort to make the lake a better fishery.
I think what Richard said earlier in his post sums things up,"FYI... creel limits are set based upon what biologists believe can be "harvested," not based upon what can be "caught and released." In other words, if you believe TWRA biologists, bass anglers could kill every one of their 5-fish limit and not hurt the fishery".
TWRA IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE PROACTIVE and set forth the creel limit which is best suitable for the lake. No matter the precautions some fish are going to die. Any time you rare back and set that hook , your taking a chance on killing a fish. I know the stress of being put in a live well may increase the mortality rate but how many of the weekend warriors have put a Crappie in the livewell and at the end of the day, tossed their catch back because they didn't catch enough to fool with cleaning. Or thought it's to late I don't want to clean these fish tonight. Wonder what the mortality rate was with those releases?

 

[drumking]

Richard, thank you for saying that it is ok to eat bass. Bass are one of my favorite fish to eat. I don't eat very many because I don't fish for bass anymore, but when I catch "spots", I keep them all. Since I don't fish for LM or SM on purpose, I usually don't catch very many in a year. I have only kept 1 SM in the past several years to eat. I usually release most of the bass that I do accidently catch while crappie fishing.

Much as they don't really want to admit it, Tx fishermen kill more bass that just ordinary fishermen. Delayed mortality is a fact. It doesn't matter how strongly a fish swims off, there is a greater chance than most realize that the fish could be dead within 3 or 4 days. Ordinary fishermen don't or can't catch nearly as many bass as Tx guys who are out there 4 or 5 days a week looking for bass while preparing for the next Tx. You have the big Tx's on the weekend and then the many dogfights during the week. I can think of several here on the Chick. Almost every night in the summer there is a 3-4 hour Tx. With all that pressure, bass fishermen shouldn't frown on someone who occasionally catches a bass and wants to take it home for supper.

I understand the attitudes and the thinking that is behind someone trying to shame another fisherman into throwing back his catch. Don't get me started on that subject.

Hope that I haven't offended anyone. My intention is not to offend, but to get people to examine their own hearts and minds.

 

[Rivermont Jeff]

Tournament fishermen's idea of eating bass...........It's like having an affair with your sister sure you could do it but it's just not morally right!emoDoh Just kidding!!

 

[Liveliner]

Liveliner - 2/10/2007 9:51 PM

For me to only find three fish makes it better knowing that there were 64 boats in that TX and most had fish brought to the ramp. Hundreds survived thanks to the cold water. In the summer temps I would hate to think how many bass would be floundering at the waters edge. Penelties for fish that do not survive sure would help the cause. An official of each TX should watch the release to insure that all fish are properly revived and swim away.
That act would help lower the mortality rate and leave a better impression of TX anglers to the community.

I am quoting myself to remind you folks what I said earlier. I feel that the TX anglers did an excellent job for the most part in protecting the fish. The other is that the water was cold and that saved many bass. I still think that if you plan to release the fish, you should know how to care for your livewell fish. If you are going to kill and eat your catch then no worries.

 

[flip1up]

Thanks for fixin it David. 2jigs it was all your fault, bad boy. Somehow I figured you had something to do with it emoPoke

 

[GOFNFSH]

WOW......WOW.....EAT MORE CHICKEN!!!!! NOBODY GOES CHICKEN HUNTING!!

 

[dec1]

I am like a few on here that believe it is ok to take a bass home to eat. I also don't believe Tx fishermen are any problem in damaging the fishery. Example, one of the best lakes in the South is Guntersville. The creel limit is 10, yes 10. This lake gets hammered way worse than Chick. From local Tx, large scale TX (FLW and BASS), to daily guiding etc. But yet this lake fishes better than any in the south. It also has way more gill netting which we all no kills its share (Jmax incident). Every year Tva does a survey (electr shocking I believe), results show Chick is doing better. You think maybe its because Tx anglers now are more knowledgeable taking better care of their catch? I am not gonna lie, there are still a few Tx fishermen that do not have the knowledge or understanding in managing their catch. Its WAY better than it used to be and its one reason the lakes are doing as good as they are.

 

[Guest]

JSV - 2/11/2007 2:00 PM
I feel this subject always gets blown out of proportion. You are always going to have the NON-TX folks complaining about the TX folks and the mortality rate (and so forth). The TX folks are going to get mad at the weekend warriors which may elect to take a Bass (trophy or simply a keeper) home from their lake.

I believe the creel surveys show that most (above 90%) of all bass fisherman practice catch and release. Also the same surveys say most bassfisherman would prefer catching fewer fish as long as the few they did catch were larger fish. TX mortality can (not necessary does) have an affect on the size structure of the bass. How come it is so hard on a lake that has a 15" size limit to catch a 15"+ but you can catch 14.75" all day. Yeah a TX-fisher might say its is people taking them home, but the state surveys are showing that 90%+ of the fish are going back into the water.

The good thing is we all have a common interest and that is we like to catch fish. I truly feel the majority of the people that fish are doing a good job and making every effort to make the lake a better fishery.

Same feeling here and I believe that knowledge is the key.

I think what Richard said earlier in his post sums things up,"FYI... creel limits are set based upon what biologists believe can be "harvested," not based upon what can be "caught and released." In other words, if you believe TWRA biologists, bass anglers could kill every one of their 5-fish limit and not hurt the fishery".

That is the way the creel limits use to be set up, but maximum sustain yield models do not apply anymore when 90%+ of the bass fisherman practice catch and release.

TWRA IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE PROACTIVE and set forth the creel limit which is best suitable for the lake.

Actually the Commissioners would rather have one general law and apply it statewide; good for some but poor for others lakes. The TWRA biologist have to balance the will of the Commissioners against the good of resource, unfortunately poltics does play a role, and it ain't a minor one.

No matter the precautions some fish are going to die. Any time you rare back and set that hook , your taking a chance on killing a fish.

Yup, good reason to use a sweep set instead or even circle hooks, but that is a bit extreme. we should all be good stewards of the resource.

I know the stress of being put in a live well may increase the mortality rate but how many of the weekend warriors have put a Crappie in the livewell and at the end of the day, tossed their catch back because they didn't catch enough to fool with cleaning. Or thought it's to late I don't want to clean these fish tonight. Wonder what the mortality rate was with those releases?

I am sure that mortality rate was low and with a little education those fish survival rates would be increased. Of course most crappie are caught in the window around the spawn, water temperatures tend to be cool then, which helps some.

By the way, I am a non-tx angler, but I prefer large fish (as in true trophy not every day large). Also I ocasionally eat bass, preferable smaller ones (less impact to the resource).

 

[Guest]

R14 - 2/12/2007 11:52 PM
.....I am sure that mortality rate was low and with ....

OOPS meant to say high. Also TWRA still models crappie with the maxiumum sustain yield because their creel data shows most people filet keepers. (so the throw backs mortality is somewhat accounted for in the population models).

 

[Liveliner]

Good post there R14.

 

[TNRIVERGUIDE]

THE BEST WAY TO KEEP YOUR CATCH ALIVE WHEN THE WATER TEMP IS BELOW 75 DEGREES IS TO PUMP IN FRESH WATER CONTINUOUSLY (NOT TIMED).

 

[Liveliner]

emoWelcome to CFF rogie

What about when the temps get above ~~~><{{{(*> J

 

[rrigsby]

This is what I posted last summer.

We all know the impacts of catching deep bass in the hot summer. Their air bladders expand due to the rapid decrease in pressure so they are not able to swim back down. I watched Rogne save about 10 or so bass with the bends that would have been destined to a floating death after a CBA tournament. The technique he used was different than I have ever read or seen, but it appeared to be successful as all the fish were immediately able to swim back down. I researched 3 other techniques on this issue. And it seems they are all controversial, but doing one of the 4 is better than doing nothing. You can easily find out how to do one or all by surfing the internet, but I think it is best to get someone to show you how because there are a few negative impacts using these techniques if done incorrectly. For example, you can release to much air and the fish will just sink to the bottom or you can puncture an organ such as a kidney.

Rogne also showed me how he takes care of his fish in the livewell. He fills his livewell up to full capacity then dumps in a premeasured amount of non-iodized salt , he adds one 2 liter frozen bottle of water, and he turns his live on to recirculate making sure NOT to bringing in fresh lake. (Rule for adding non-iodized salt) for every 5 gallons of water in the livewell add 1/3 cups of non-iodized salt. Rogne uses premeasured small juice drink bottles that he has marked with the proper amount of salt for his own livewell. The salt helps to do two things. It kills bacteria and fungus and it stimulates the slime producing cells of the fish. The ice obviously cools the water, it cools it by about 10 degrees for a few hours. Every 3 hours Rogne changes out the water in the livewell with fresh lake water, adds another premeasured amount of non-iodized salt, and another frozen 2 liter bottle. He said do this in a tournament and your fish will be well come weigh in.

After my discussion with Rogne he let me have three of his 2 liter bottles and three of his premeasured salt bottles in hopes I would take just as much care of the fish as he does. He is definitely a class act when it comes to caring for our bass. He does everything he can to insure their survival at the many dog fights and tournaments on our lake. And, he is more than happy to share his knowledge on this subject with anyone. Now if we could just get him to share his knowledge on how to catch a 20 lb. bag from Chickamauga!!! LOL

 

[SeqBass]

emoToast Different strokes !!!!!! Makes life interesting, don't it?

 

[TNRIVERGUIDE]

THANKS FOR THE WELCOME LIVELINER, GREAT POST. RRIGSBY'S POST IS THE BEST WAY TO TAKE CARE OF FISH IN THE SUMMER.

 

[shsimons]

Everyone talks about these spotted bass, and most have no problems keeping them. I have caught them pretty easily above the dam, so I was wondering what the limit was on the spots? Size and number? Now I don't really believe in keeping a lot of fish, just enough to eat. If these spots are a nuisance to largemouth and smallmouth, I would like to keep a few for some summer dinners this year.

Also, what is the best way to cook the spots? Fried?

I know this is off topic, but all the keeping fish talk got me thinking about it.

thanks,
Shsimons