Protecting The Bass Population?

[ryan]

Just to clear up the confusion lactic acid isn't what kills fish or what makes you sore the day after a work out, lactic acid build up is a short term process used to store energy. We all make lactic acid when we need to evoke fast twitch or fast oxidative muscles for work. Lactic acid may cause immediate discomfort but is quickly converted back to pyruvate by lactate dehydrogenase for Krebbs cycle and cellular respiration. Micro tears are what make you sore the day after you work out. The point is don't hug your bass or give them a message when you catch them because disturbing their slime coat does reduce their ability to fight off infections. Yeah im sure there are a few bass killed every once in awhile during a tournament but I think most tournament fisherman are great advocates of catch and release and would be furious if they new fish were being killed. If you wanna eat a fish then eat it but don't think that tournament fishing is gonna do more harm to a lake than a ton of people keeping fish, I mean come on lets be logical here.

I was not going to put the name out but since the moderator wants names to back up statements it was Bass Pro Company tournament 70 boats.

Plus if any of you think that all fish will live you do not know what lactic acid is here is an article

Whether we are speaking of Bass or the Freshwater/Saltwater fish in your aquarium all fish have what is called a Slime Coat that protects them from infections. This Slime Coat is vital for a fish to stay healthy. Unfortunately,among the many ways for a fish to lose their slime coat is by coming in contact with humans. Because of this how we handle our catch may be what determines whether or not they live. If a fish loses it's slime coat the effects are not immediately seen. The fish will begin to become stressed lowering it's ability to fight off infections which can be fatal.

When you catch a fish try to handle it with only one hand. And make sure your hand is wet. If you are going to pose for a picture only hold the fish by the mouth and release it back to the water as soon as possible. For Bass larger than 10lbs you can support the bass using a second hand around the tail, once again making sure your hand is wet. The use of gloves are acceptable but only if they are clean and relatively new. Laying a bass on the carpet of a boat is not recommended and in all cases can be avoided aside from the rare accident. For this reason using a net is not recommended as most often the bass is placed on the carpet in order to get it out of the net.

Previously, I mentioned that stress can be fatal to a fish. Stress is one way to describe how a fish becomes weak and starts to lose it's slime coat. The act of being caught is very stressful to a bass and raises it's lactic acid levels in their muscle tissues. Lactic acid is what races to muscle tissue to raise blood flow when a force is exerted. The lactic acid helps the muscle to fight off infection to heal but is also what causes you to feel pain the day after a workout. This lactic acid if raised too high is what leads to mortality. When you hook a bass try not to "horse" the fish out of the water. The more the bass fights, the higher the lactic acid levels will raise. Do not be in a hurry to get the bass into the boat but instead play the fish. The more you pull on the fish the more the fish will pull back

Basically the fish may swim off but latter might die.

Two more articles about bass mortality in tournaments.

GENE GILLILAND (Oklahoma Fishery Research Laboratory, 500 E. Constellation, Norman, Oklahoma 73072)

The Oklahoma Fishery Research Laboratory (OFRL) began a two-year project in spring 1995 to determine delayed mortality rates of largemouth bass following tournament release. Three tournaments in the spring and two in the summer were monitored. Fish were held in large live-nets placed in marina boat stalls after weigh-in. Up to 30 tournament bass per net were held for six days after each contest along with control fish collected by electroshocking. Dissolved oxygen and temperature were measured in the nets and in contestant’s boat live wells as they came to shore.

Spring tournament total mortality (initial + delayed) was less than 6%. Spring water temperatures average 63°F and live-well oxygen levels averaged 7.3 ppm. In the summer, we recorded less than 7% initial mortality. However, after six days we experienced an average of 39% delayed mortality. Most of the fish died between the third and sixth day after weigh-in. High water temperatures (average of 80°F) and low oxygen levels in boat live wells (minimums of 1.3 ppm) were measured. At one summer tournament fish were separated according to oxygen in boat live wells, one group from ‘‘low-oxygen’’ live wells (<6.0 ppm) and another from ‘‘high-oxygen’’ live wells (>6.0 ppm). Fish in the low oxygen group experience a 51% delayed mortality rate while the fish in the high-oxygen group had only a 35% delayed mortality rate. Boaters that ran their aerators continuously rather than relying on a timer had better oxygen levels in their live wells and 16% lower mortality.

The second year of our mortality study (1996) will test procedures that have been recommend by other researchers to see what Tournament Directors and anglers can do to reduce summer mortality

One more

Dispersal, Stress Response and Delayed Mortality of Largemouth Bass

Caught in Live-Release Tournaments

Principal Investigator: P.W. Bettoli* and M. Redding

Funding Agency: Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency

Project Period: July 1, 2005-June 30, 2009

The high incidence of voluntary catch-and-release by bass fishermen and the

mandatory release of tournament-caught fish reflect the notion by most anglers

that released fish recover quickly and suffer low mortality rates. Under ideal

conditions, total mortality rates at bass tournaments can be kept low.

Conversely, poorly managed tournaments and high temperatures can result in

high (> 26%) mortality of released fish. Although many authors have reported

initial mortality rates (i.e., at weigh-in), that rate alone is not an indicator of

tournament-associated mortality because most bass are reported alive when

released after tournament weigh-ins.

In recent years Canadian researchers have investigated the physiological stress

response of largemouth bass captured during fishing tournaments. Suski et al.

(2003) documented large metabolic disturbances in tournament caught

largemouth bass. Suski et al. (2004) demonstrated that hypoxia due to transferbag

confinement can be more lethal than poor water quality and confinement in

livewells. Other researchers have also observed poor water quality in water-filled

transfer bags used during the traditional weigh-in process (Edwards et al. 2004).

Increased bass densities and elevated water temperatures in transfer bags can

rapidly cause hypoxia, resulting in mortality (Suski et al. 2004).

In collaboration with researchers at Queens University (Ontario, Canada) and the

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the fishing

tackle firm Shimano developed a Water Weigh-In System to alleviate stressors

associated with typical tournament weigh-in procedures. The system allows

bass to be kept in well oxygenated water in baskets (as opposed to bags) as

anglers queue to have their catch weighed, and the fish are weighed in water,

which has two benefits: air exposure is eliminated when fish are weighed, and

fish spend less time on the scales because they struggle less when held in water.

Research on the efficacy of water-weigh-ins in reducing metabolic disturbances

in largemouth bass has been restricted to Canadian waters, which do not

experience the high water temperatures typical of southern U.S. reservoirs in

summer.

Telemetry has been used to monitor hooking mortality of free-ranging striped

bass (Bettoli and Osborne 1998). Attaching transmitters to fish to measure

delayed tournament mortality would eliminate concerns over confinement,

artificially high fish densities in pens, or exposure to elevated temperatures.

Telemetry would also provide additional data such as the dispersal rate of

tournament caught bass. Most largemouth bass displaced in a Canadian lake

did not return to their original home ranges (Ridgway 2002). Tournament activity

that displaces significant numbers of bass could have ecological effects and

management implications for reservoir populations (Wilde 2003).

The objectives of this study are to (1) compare the physiological response of

largemouth bass that experience normal weigh-in procedures to those that

experience a water weigh-in procedure at temperatures typical of Tennessee

reservoirs in summer; (2) compare delayed mortality of largemouth basin

subjected to each weigh-in procedure; (3) relate physiological disturbances

experienced by tournament-caught largemouth bass to their long-term survival;

(4) monitor dispersal of largemouth bass from tournament weigh-in sites; and (5)

perform public outreach to demonstrate weigh-in procedures that reduce

tournament mortality.

References

Edwards, G. P. Jr., R. M. Neumann, R. P. Jacobs, and E. B. O’Donnell. 2004.

Factors related to mortality of black bass caught during small club tournaments in

Connecticut. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 24: 801-810.

Osborne, R. and P. W. Bettoli. 1995. A reusable ultrasonic tag and float

assembly for use with large pelagic fish. North American Journal of Fisheries

Management 15:512-514.

Ridgway, M. S. 2002. Movements, home range, and survival estimation of

largemouth bass following displacement. American Fisheries Society

Symposium 31:525-533.

Suski, C. D., S. S. Killen, S. J. Cooke, J. D. Kieffer, D. P. Philipp, and B. L. Tufts.

2004. Physiological significance of the weigh-in during live-release angling

tournaments for largemouth bass. Transactions of the American Fisheries

Society 133: 1291-1303.

Suski, C.D., S. S. Killen, M. B. Morrissey, S. G. Lund and B. L. Tufts. 2003.

Physiological changes in largemouth bass caused by live-release angling

tournaments in southeastern Ontario. North American Journal of Fisheries

Management 23:760-769.

Thats all I have right know just more food for thought

[KCRIVERRAT]

I think I will butt out of this thread because clearly I am not a fisheries expert like you. I guess the MDC isn't very good at it either. Maybe you should get together a presentation and show them how it is done. Maybe you should try to convince the MDC to try to convince the fishermen that catch 99% of the bass (C&R bass fishermen) to start keeping and eating their catches... then we'll see how long bass remains even a sustainable species in TR. Good luck.

I'm done with this dead horse... haul him to the glue factory.

Have a great day.

Good job Whak'em. #*@% him, #*@% this thread, and let's either talk fishing or #*@% our loved one!

[Chief Grey Bear]

All I know is I just read all 144 post and my eyes are crossed. I should refrain from posting but I just wanted to say that I am glad for all the C&R guys. Bless you for what you do.

Every year there is a group of us, six total usually, that will go down to the Rock in spring, I think this year it is coming up in a couple of weeks, and we will fish for brownies exclusively. It is the geatest thing for all of us to catch our limit. That evening as we watch the sun go down we will slip those babies in a cast iron skillet of hot grease. To hear those babies sizzling and the fried taters crackling...oh the smeall and the taste! Right on the banks of the Rock.

Ok now put your eyeballs back in your head! I haven't fish the Rock in years. I haven't kept a bass let alone any fish in years. But I will say I do love to eat fish. Just haven't done it in years. I guess I just don't feel like messing with them. And really don't want to anymore.

If you are gonna keep bass, I would rather you do it from a lake than a river or creek. That is just a totally different type of fishery. And personally I would rather you keep a limit of 12 inchers as 15+ inchers. That is just my opinion and you are entitled to not agree with me. (Most people don't)

[Jon]

Ok, I have a question. We have all seen the posts about releasing ALL the bass caught. And just to be known, I release 90% of all bass caught, and all over 16" (when i ever get to catching them). BUT, I have a question about fishing and really about Tourneys during the spawn.

If our gorgeous lake is so delicate that keeping some fish is such a big deal, as it seems to some people, then how is it that so many people love to fish the tourneys during the spawn?

In my mind, when someone jerks a bass of the nest, even if the bass makes it throu the stress of being hauled around and then released, the clutch of eggs is of course toast. Now, multiply that by the numbers of fisherman in these touneys, then multiply that by the tourneys during the spawn, and add in some for the "just like to fish" guys that take a couple home and we are talking a huge dent in the fry that even get a chance at growing up in a few years to be targeted.

And how many times, even if directly after being caught they are released, do sows dump there eggs from the stress. I know of two guys that have told me they lost weight in their bag because of their livewell full of eggs at the weigh-in.

Wonder what the population of bass in the lake would be if for three years bass were left alone to all spawn.

I have heard so many people say to release all fish, but NEVER heard of anyone complaining about anything else.

Just wanted to know what everone else thinks.

Ok, lets start fresh here. I see and understand your opinion. Very valid and good points. Though I'm not in total agreement of catch and release of all LMBass, I see your point on spawning season fishing and tourniments during this period. Here is my take on your topic, ok go ahead and cancel fishing in what ever way demable to keep the female bass from being caught off thier nests or do this with canceling tourniments not the regular guy that just fishes, either catch and release or catch and keep. I mean at some point we have to be talking about a balance here. In my mind, if you do this for three years, what effect will this have on the ecosystem of that lake? From what I understand once water temps. reach a certain temp. LMbass go into thier growing and feeding periods, also governed by other circumstances, but if you boost the populations of these fish, at some point, you have to reach a saturation point in the population. Also with a boost in population after a few years of this, at what point do you think they would be starting to eat alot of thier own fry? Are they eating thier own fry now?

To me, we catch and keep guys have aplace in fishing society. I think we keep some things in balance. This is just how I see it. No one told me this, I have no names ,dates or anything else. You can take it for what it's worth. If it's worth nothing to you, so be it, if it makes sense to you fine. So who really knows. Like Whackem stated, 90 sum percent of LMbass anglers practice catch and release on that lake. According to a Bass angling book I have, an average LMbass can average a lifespan of 16yrs. But what costs do catch and release guys have verses the tourniment guys on released fish. asking a fisheries biologist of this state, they feel the mortality rate is very low on released fish if handled properly which means limited handling and released ASAP. Tourniment guys are in a different catagory as release fishermen. I was told there is a big difference between releasing right back to the water and keeping fish in a livewell all day and then releasing. Of course there's the tourniment guys who sware by the additives, so I don't know for sure. I think if your going to release, it's just better to do it right away instead of waiting. Just me. It does seem hypocritical to tout catch and release and still angle for fish off of spawning beds.

Me? I still believe in catch and keep for the most part. I have released LMbass back before myself, not often but I do now and again. I also still stand by what I've said in my posts. What may have happened on TB lake is one thing I can't say honestly, but I've confirmed some of what I've said in my posts with talking to a fisheries biologist. I still agree that Bill has good points and am sure he has vast knowledge of TB lake. Oh and Bill, I'm sorry but I'm not devulging a name, my idea not his. Take the remarks for what they are worth which to you is worth nothing without a name to back up the claims, but I know for sure now in my own mind of the facts with what was in my posts for the most part. Still having an ongoing exchange with him.

In finishing, I have learned one thing that I will take away from this topic and discussion about some folks in this forum. That is the fact that if you don't agree with the majorities outlook on things around here, you will get chastised and picked apart by some people. While some have a good knowledge of things, they forget that people can formulate an opinion on thier own without having someone else tell them how it is, and should'nt be ran through the gauntlet for doing so. Nor should select people be the only ones to be asked to validate and give names to back up thier opinions just because they don't conform to the majorities view of things or does'nt fall in line with anothers experience. Oh and I don't think stock jockey realised he was in court when he made a simple reply to a topic. If your constantly asking for proof of someones statments, I see that as a sad way to go through life. Also if everyone had to back up everything they said or had an opinion on, I don't think there would be awhole lot of dialog between people. If you don't believe the statement, state your own opinion as fact and go down the road. If so many people know you and know your stating the truth, fine, don't call people liars because they have different outlook and opinions on how things work. We all know money makes the world go around, thats no mystery.

[ryan]

Once again I don't think anyone is saying don't ever keep a fish for the table, yes god put fish here for our enjoyment and I enjoy eating them as much as the next person. If I want to eat fish I usually target walleye and crappie, I will keep a few kentuckys once in awhile but not often, why, because I enjoy catching them so much. Any person that calls themself an angler should know the importance of catch and release. Now I will say that the only kentuckys I keep are from greers ferry lake where the department of conservation has asked that you take small kentuckys for the table 12-14 inch fish. I don't keep bass from TR but Im not gonna bash the fact that you do, its your legal right. What I am gonna say, is that Table Rock is the fishery that it is because of catch and release anglers and the use of good judgment by those who do keep fish. Most tournament fisherman are great conservationist and do everything in their power to protect the fish as they enjoy them so much. I have fished the OMTT and couple of other tournaments and have been impressed with the care that goes into keeping fish healthy. If even half of the anglers that fish TR on a regular basis kept bass I assure you the fishery would suffer. My point is if you must keep bass please don't keep 3-4lbs or fish that are full of eggs, let em swim and there will be more for you to enjoy in the future.

[Chris Tetrick]

I think I will butt out of this thread because clearly I am not a fisheries expert like you. I guess the MDC isn't very good at it either. Maybe you should get together a presentation and show them how it is done. Maybe you should try to convince the MDC to try to convince the fishermen that catch 99% of the bass (C&R bass fishermen) to start keeping and eating their catches... then we'll see how long bass remains even a sustainable species in TR. Good luck.

I'm done with this dead horse... haul him to the glue factory.

Have a great day.

That's right Dude. You've got some of the best info. output I've seen here. Let's all keep everything and see how good the fishing's in a few year's.

[Fly_Guy]

here he goes

[Whack'emGood]

here he goes

There it is!

[snagged in outlet 3]

$20 says they drag out another one!