Feel Good Story

[T-RockJaws]

Since my partner and I did not have any keepers to weigh in at 11:00 when the tourney was over, we continued to fish for a while to avoid some of the congestion at the ramp. We finally came in to load out at about 11:45 with no one else around anywhere. Once we got the boat loaded and pulled out of the water, my partner said "looks like we can practice using those fizzing needles a little bit". There was a floater that had managed to get over on the edge of the ramp and she was still kicking a little. I figured it was probably just a small, barely legal fish when I heard my partner say "this is a nice fish". She had been laying there flopping around for at least 30 to 45 minutes so we did not want to stress her out any more by trying to weigh her, but I would say she had to go close to 6 pounds.

My partner grabbed her up, took her over by the courtesy dock where he could wade out a little to work on her. After about 15 minutes of trying to help her get right side up, we decided she was just too week and wasn't going to make it. We then went back to the boat to get it all strapped down and ready to go. Once we were done and ready to head home, my partner decided to give it one more try as the old girl was still trying to find some breath. He took her back out a little and gave it another go. just a few minutes later, she started bubbling and began to come around. Finally got her to stay right side up and snug to the bottom. She still wasn't in any hurry to go anywhere though. Once he got out of the water and we looked back in to see how she was doing, she was gone! Took him a good 20 minutes, but was able to get her revived so someone else might have a chance at her again some day.

It is really sad that some people simply do not care... Just chunk them back out in the water and if they make it good if not so be it. At least this one got another chance!

[Whack'emGood]

Way to go guys! Many thanks for what you did.

[techo]

Way to go guys! Many thanks for what you did.

+1

[eric1978]

+2

Thanks for doing that. Even if she ultimately doesn't make it, at least you put forth the effort. Wish there were more guys like you out there.

[Sam]

That you and your partner would take the trouble to try and save that big bass is great. I sure admire people who'd do that.

Not trying to start a fight here - but there's an underlying problem. What's with these summer tournaments, where we KNOW bass mortality is going to be high no matter how hard fishermen try to keep fish alive? I've seen dead bass floating lots of times after summer tournament weigh-ins. The worst I ever saw was a good 200+ POUNDS of dead bass after a night tournament at K Dock on Bull Shoals, including some 5 and 6 pounders! I know it's usually not that bad, but I'm sure every hot-water tournament kills fish.

Over on Bull Shoals last week the surface water temp was 93 going down to 89 at 2 a.m., the hottest I've ever seen. In those conditions if you're catching other species to eat that's fine, if you're catching and releasing bass that's fine, but you can't haul bass around the lake and release them all alive. It can't be done, in my opinion. I know I couldn't keep any fish alive in my live well that night - I ran the pump the whole time and I had dead walleyes and crappie.

I think organizations ought to rethink and reschedule these mid-summer tournaments, or take pictures and throw 'em back immediately, or something. Just sayin'.

[T-RockJaws]

Sam-

You made some very good and valid points. Some organizations do at least reduce the number of keepers you can weigh in to 4 during the hot summer months. I know that it is simply not possible to keep every fish alive and a few are going to die regardless of what you do. However, there are some very simple tricks or precautions you can take that greatly increase the odds of survival for the fish.

I believe the true underlying issue is the fact that many anglers simply do not care and/or they are not educated. My two best tips that I could give would be to:

1. Get some cold water in your live wells. Either use some well water (do not use "city" water as it has chemicals that could harm the fish) to fill your wells before you head to the lake, or use some ice to cool the lake water you put in. You must also turn your wells to recirculate and not add fresh, hot water in. Keep those aerators running a lot!

2. Learn how to "fizz" your fish. This needs to be done while still in the live well if possible. Check on your fish periodically and fizz them at the first sign of them floating on their side.

These two simple steps will greatly increase the chances of your tourney fish to survive!

[skeeter]

That you and your partner would take the trouble to try and save that big bass is great. I sure admire people who'd do that.

Not trying to start a fight here - but there's an underlying problem. What's with these summer tournaments, where we KNOW bass mortality is going to be high no matter how hard fishermen try to keep fish alive? I've seen dead bass floating lots of times after summer tournament weigh-ins. The worst I ever saw was a good 200+ POUNDS of dead bass after a night tournament at K Dock on Bull Shoals, including some 5 and 6 pounders! I know it's usually not that bad, but I'm sure every hot-water tournament kills fish.

Over on Bull Shoals last week the surface water temp was 93 going down to 89 at 2 a.m., the hottest I've ever seen. In those conditions if you're catching other species to eat that's fine, if you're catching and releasing bass that's fine, but you can't haul bass around the lake and release them all alive. It can't be done, in my opinion. I know I couldn't keep any fish alive in my live well that night - I ran the pump the whole time and I had dead walleyes and crappie.

I think organizations ought to rethink and reschedule these mid-summer tournaments, or take pictures and throw 'em back immediately, or something. Just sayin'.

No one should fight or remotely object to your statement Sam. You are dead on target.

It's going to happen some day, I hope, where MDC outlaws tournaments when the air, water or a combination of both exceed a certain number. That is the only way this foolish abuse of the fishery will end.

As you posted, there is no reason these tourneys can't do catch, measure and release and maybe photograph at the boat like one of the local clubs does. That, fellow anglers, is the way to go if you really care.

Also, kudos to the guy(s) who successfully fizzed and resuscitated the 6 lb. at the launch ramp. Wish there were more like you.

[Sam]

T-Rockjaws - It's obvious you're doing everything you can to keep your fish alive, with good success. I suspect that not too many fishermen put in as much effort, though.

How common are livewells with a recirculate feature? That would make a big difference and I didn't know about those, as my livewell just sucks in hot water from a few inches under the lake surface.

I've thought about rigging an extension on my livewell intake - a hose with a weight on the end, or maybe a piece of PVC (though I'd probably knock that off on a stump). If I could pull water from just 5 or 6 feet down I know it'd be a lot cooler, have a lot more oxygen content, and probably keep the fish alive.

[T-RockJaws]

Not real sure how common the recirculate feature is, my boat is an 04 Ranger. I think the most important thing here is to protect the fish. If you cannot keep them alive, don't keep them.

It would be nice to see a seminar put on that would focus on educating anglers on how to treat fish in the summer months.

[Andy & JoAnne]

I dont understand spring tourneys when the fish are on their beds. I would like to see catch-measure-release as well. Problem is, how do the tourney officials monitor this?

P.S.

Glad you guys revived her.