Fishing Report

[focused fishing]

Procraft,

Good idea but I don't think it would ever happen. Chamber, CVB and the rest at all of the tournament lakes in MO depend on the income (tax dollars) generated by tournament anglers when they come to town. Besides it is not just a Table Rock issue, BFL did the same thing at LOZ, Truman and every other pond in Missouri they visit. I'm not a fan of regulation either but something needs to be done to protect our fisheries in Missouri, they might as well fillet half of the fish they weigh-in at this rate. It will only get worse as the water temperatures rise and the fish are stressed. I don't have the answer but it was suggested that Minnesota has a very effective law (wildlife code) requiring tournaments over a certain size to have a release boat, it's the best idea I've heard so far. If anyone else has any suggestions I'm all ears.

Thanks,

EP

[S&M]

If anyone else has any suggestions I'm all ears.

Well, since 99% of all bass are caught using a bass boat, I would be looking at the bass boat industry to step up to the plate with there live well designs.

Here's a hint for the bass boat engineers.......I'm going to get a cold beverage from my thermostatically controlled refrigerator

With today's technology, the bass boat industry could design a thermostatically controlled live well system that would increase bass survival during the summer months.

[focused fishing]

S&M,

Good point, alot of manufactures are looking at live well design; Ranger livewells are insulated, Nitro has come up with a baffle system to help cool the water and so on. Refrigeration and oxygen infusion has made a big difference. The problem arrises when I pull my fish out of the cool, highly oxygenated water of my live well, put them in a bag, dunk them in air temperature water, weigh them in and then send them down an 8" PVC pipe into the lake. Release boats use cooled water with oxygen and additives to rebuild the fishes' slime coat. Plus most release boat opperators actually care about returning the fish alive and good condition to the lake. No matter how much a tournament angler cares for his catch if the tournament opperator doesn't do his job the fishery still suffers. Great idea though every little bit helps.

EP

[Ealy]

I think the best setup I've seen is at Lake Dardanelle, I believe at the State Park. They have an awesome pavilion/weigh in stage next to the boat ramp. They have holding tanks for the fish at the pavilion with rejuvenade or bassmedics. If I remember right, the AGFC maintains this facility and is present at major weigh-ins. Pretty sure they have their own release boat(s) run by the AGFC.

Imagine if Missouri had release boats present at each major lake. How big of an expense could that possibly be to purchase a few used pontoons to be kept at The Rock, Truman, LOZ, Bull Shoals?

If Arkansas can do it, hell we can too!