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1/24/16 Big M


whiteley.matt

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Wrench, I have to agree with you on the relocation issue. I've fished a lot of tournaments in my life and still fish a few, so I'm as guilty as anyone. But it just can't be good for these fish to be hauled around every weekend and released in a new environment. At least that's my opinion. And when you have nearly every tournament out of the same location ... PB2 on LOZ, Prairie Creek on Beaver, for two examples ... it makes things even worse for other areas of the lake.

In a related matter, I would fully support a total ban on tournaments during the months of April and May. For every fish that gets plucked off a bed, thousands of eggs/fry are eliminated. And to claim that it's just 5-6 fish per boat or angler doesn't hold water. A single angler is liable to cull a dozen times or more during the day. So he catches a 2-pounder off a bed at 8:30 and puts it in the livewell for his fifth (limit) fish. Then at 8:45 he catches a 3-pounder and culls the 2-pounder. He certainly isn't going to take the 2-pounder back to its bed. And as this continues throughout the day among hundreds of anglers fishing multiple tournaments, think about how many bedding fish are displaced. It's mind-boggling.

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1 hour ago, Eric the awful fisherman said:

I heard that they find their way back to their territory in a few days. Not sure if that's true or not. Pretty talented if so 

20+ miles away on the opposite side of a big lake ?    

I just really doubt that.   Even if they do concentrate on getting back "home" that equals up to alot of fish wandering around trying to find their way, and NOT behaving in any kind of a normal/predictable manner.   

I just don't see the purpose of it anymore.  This is 2016 for Christ sake, we either need to find a better way to score tournaments, or stop allowing 200+ of them every year on every lake.

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I've read, like Eric stated, that some actually do make it back to where they were caught somehow. 

I know there aren't as many tournaments in July and August, but from what I've seen that kills quite a few fish as well. Either guys will bring in dead fish or the fish can't get back in their groove and die overnight/the next day. It bugs the tar out of me when I see that. Just a little preventive practice like carrying ice for the fish and using livewell treatment does wonders on those blazing hot summer days. 

I'm of the younger generation, in my 20's, and want to continue catching these fish for as long as I can. I know we can't stop people from bringing bass home but all of the recreational anglers who don't take them home and the tournament anglers taking precautions should help somewhat. The only good thing is that I've noticed the majority of the kids I've met/know are full C&R. 

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I especially agree on cutting down on the number of them. Used to be there was one pro circuit, a couple of decent regional circuits and then your club tournaments. Then someone decided they didn't like the way Joe Blow was running things, so they broke off and started their own chain of derbies. Then someone else followed suit, and so on.

Nowadays there are so many circuits that not only do the fish get hauled around practically every weekend of the year, the competitors are so split up between all of the circuits that none of them pay worth a tinker's dang anymore. It still costs just as much to fish (entry fee, room, gas, food, tackle, etc.) but the prize money is dilluted to the point that it's ridiculous.

Oh for the days when Central Pro-Am was drawing 200 boats.

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6 minutes ago, BearFisher10 said:

I've read, like Eric stated, that some actually do make it back to where they were caught somehow. 

I know there aren't as many tournaments in July and August, but from what I've seen that kills quite a few fish as well. Either guys will bring in dead fish or the fish can't get back in their groove and die overnight/the next day. It bugs the tar out of me when I see that. Just a little preventive practice like carrying ice for the fish and using livewell treatment does wonders on those blazing hot summer days. 

I'm of the younger generation, in my 20's, and want to continue catching these fish for as long as I can. I know we can't stop people from bringing bass home but all of the recreational anglers who don't take them home and the tournament anglers taking precautions should help somewhat. The only good thing is that I've noticed the majority of the kids I've met/know are full C&R. 

Thanks for carrying the torch, BearFisher10. Conservation-minded young folks like yourself will help keep our fisheries viable throughout your lifetimes and beyond.

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6 minutes ago, Eric the awful fisherman said:

The kayak tournaments I'm looking into fishing are CPR and scored on length. Just based on photos. I think it's a great idea for the fish's sake. 

I think it is a great idea too.   I hope that mindset catches on.

It is sad that just because tournament competitors worry about someone cheating we are going to relocate bass all the time.   Yet cheating can STILL happen.  

Think about how much better you could concentrate on your fishing if you didn't have livestock to care for all day.   Culling would be fast and easy. More storage and less weight in the boat.  So many benefits to operating that way. 

Seriously guys, this needs to change.  

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5 minutes ago, cheesemaster said:

How do you get 6 fish to lay side by side like that for a photo? I have a hard time holding one on the ruler to see if I can count it as a keeper. Just asking...

Toss em in the live well for the whole day and haul them around the lake for no good reason just to release them when you get back to the ramp...they tend to lose a little vigor after that.

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1 hour ago, cheesemaster said:

How do you get 6 fish to lay side by side like that for a photo? I have a hard time holding one on the ruler to see if I can count it as a keeper. Just asking...

Hahahaha.....truth

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