Your Fastest Derby Limit

[ozark trout fisher]

This is a good one, even by OAF standards. All the rivers are unfishable, so this might be just the reading material I need.

[Gilly]

My wife and I are for the most part, catch and release. Our children however like to eat what they catch. A few weeks ago we went out with a Stockton Lake guide and did very well in the 'catch' department. The large fish of the evening was a good size bass (it was the only bass caught) that my oldest boy caught. Our guide didn't say much but I could tell he wasn't happy with the bass going into the livewell. Being that there are so many diverse thoughts on c&r it might behoove the guides to state their preference beforehand.

But to repeat someone's thought from above, when we got back to the house everyone pitched in to get dinner ready. From cleaning the fish, prepping potatoes and veggies, to dropping the fish into the fryer, our 4 1/2 year old grandson was right in the middle of everything. He wanted his chair put on the tailgate of my pickup (beautiful evening so we did everything in the garage) so that he could be close to the cooker and sample the food. It did my heart good just to see another generation having fun with the whole process.......including eating the fish. I will not condemn my grandson if someday he too decides to keep a big one.

[Flysmallie]

it might behoove the guides to state their preference beforehand.

I think most of them do this. But some may not say anything just to make their customer happy. I know my customer's do things that make me upset, but they are the customer and the customer is "always" right.

[focused fishing]

I would be interested in seeing the data and how it was arrived at. Was it that 98.4% of them swam away at the end of the day? Or they were held and it is positively known that 98.4% survived longer than a week?

Chief,

That is a live release statistic. According to Gene Gilliland of the OK Fish and Game (A national authority on bass mortality and tournaments) on average delayed mortality is three times the number dead at weigh in. With that in mind 4.8% of those caught thoughout the season would have been victims of delayed mortality vs. 100% of those breaded and thrown into hot oil.

[Phil Lilley]

Chief,

That is a live release statistic. According to Gene Gilliland of the OK Fish and Game (A national authority on bass mortality and tournaments) on average delayed mortality is three times the number dead at weigh in. With that in mind 4.8% of those caught thoughout the season would have been victims of delayed mortality vs. 100% of those breaded and thrown into hot oil.

This lines up with MDC mortality rates for trout - 5% on artificial lures and flies - according to their studies. I didn't think that pertained to bass... may be all fish.

I can get the study from Mike Kruse if interested... I think.

[stock jockey]

one last comment from me:

* Genesis 9:3

Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.

[Okiedog]

Dont stress Bill because it didnt happen. It is good ole BS

[Sam]

This lines up with MDC mortality rates for trout - 5% on artificial lures and flies - according to their studies. I didn't think that pertained to bass... may be all fish.

Bass are a lot tougher and easier to keep alive than trout. There's a whole range - trout croak if you look at 'em funny, while you can't hardly kill a catfish. Bass are in the middle somewhere, so their mortality rate might be less than 5%. I bet such a low mortality rate refers to immediate release though, not to being hauled around all day.

[Chief Grey Bear]

Chief,

That is a live release statistic. According to Gene Gilliland of the OK Fish and Game (A national authority on bass mortality and tournaments) on average delayed mortality is three times the number dead at weigh in. With that in mind 4.8% of those caught thoughout the season would have been victims of delayed mortality vs. 100% of those breaded and thrown into hot oil.

Do you have a link for that information? I would be very interested in reading that. It just doesn't seam to be inline with all the other research that is currently available.

Are culled bass included in this?

[ColdWaterFshr]

Hey Gene Gilliland, whats the mortality rate for all those fish fry left unattended, during spring tournies, at their nests while their parents are taken captive in a livewell and then released at some dock miles away and many hours later? You can't quantify this stuff, I don't care who you got studying it.

I imagine TR would fish a LOT better, and the whole darn local economy would be better off without the darn things because they are really a false economy. Almost like riverboat casinos.

Eric1978's post almost brought a tear to my eye. The boy has grown so much.