Keeping bass alive in hot weather...

[Mike jones]

Whether your out here on Beaver...or fishing the Bassmaster Elite on the Potomac River this past week or the FLW championship at Wheeler lake a couple

weeks ago in Alabama, proper fish care will keep bass alive. Water temps across most of the country are in the low 90's and they were using the same techniques as we do here. #1..ice the water down. #2...Add G-Juice with the Oxygenator running. Don't have a Oxygenator?  Use a local product, Rejuvenade.

And guess what?  More bass were on a couple Hispanic guys stringer at Hickory creek last night than what has died in tournaments at Beaver all month...and don't get me started on those bass eating stripers!!??

[J-Doc]

Funny, I heard there were tons of dead bass floating around PC a few weeks ago after a tournament.   I also know first hand that someone will not be fishing the Everett series anymore because of fishing handling. No rejuvenation tank to put the bass into before releasing.  Just dump them in the lake after weigh in.  I know, I've done it myself at an Everett event.  Not knowing better. 

I think this issue is bigger than some may think.  We ALL need to baby the fish a bit better and preserve the idea of catch and release so that they are there later. 

 

Obviously you fish tournaments and I do not but I've heard lots of stories of dead bass floating.  I have personally witnesses several 4+lb bass floating on Beaver ......dead. Been dead for a couple days. 

[RyanG]

I'm not sure what you mean in reference to the Everrett tourneys, they have a massive tank that all fish go to immediately following weigh-in. As a matter of fact, the Everett this year did some of the best jobs handling fish I have seen even when compared to the college FLW, BASS, and boat us tourneys I have fished. It's always gonna come down to the individual, and I respect everyone's opinion. However, it absolutely does not hurt to keep bring it up. The information needs to be circulated and this is just one of many great places to do just that. I learn things all the time from this site from tips and tricks to keeping fish alive. The only tournament that I have personally seen fish die off in large numbers has been one of the Friday nighters and to my understanding that was brought up to the organizers. There will always be fish loss no matter the precautions. But the Everett boys have done an amazing job this year and I think if we bring this information to more anglers it can only do good. End rant. lol 

[J-Doc]

Ryan I certainly hope you're right. I really do. 

[RyanG]

And I'm meant to clarify I'm not dismissing anything anyone may have told you. I just am speaking from my own experience this year. I worked several of the weighins and personally moved the fish to the tank. So that's why I was a little confused. 

[Mike jones]

20 minutes ago, J-Doc said:

Funny, I heard there were tons of dead bass floating around PC a few weeks ago after a tournament.   I also know first hand that someone will not be fishing the Everett series anymore because of fishing handling. No rejuvenation tank to put the bass into before releasing.  Just dump them in the lake after weigh in.  I know, I've done it myself at an Everett event.  Not knowing better. 

I think this issue is bigger than some may think.  We ALL need to baby the fish a bit better and preserve the idea of catch and release so that they are there later. 

 

Obviously you fish tournaments and I do not but I've heard lots of stories of dead bass floating.  I have personally witnesses several 4+lb bass floating on Beaver ......dead. Been dead for a couple days. 

I don't know who gave you the info about the Everett tourney fish handling but it's waaaay off!  I will try to get the TD Mike Webb to come on here and confirm their process after the fish are weighed. 

I don't know how many 'tons' of dead bass are, but I was there a few Friday's ago when the issue with dead bass was brought up. 

Tournament fishing overall take better care today than they did 5, 10, 15 years ago. Technology and education has played a major role in this...and like Ryan said, there will always be a few die no matter what time of the year. 

[Stump bumper]

I think the nightly jackpots are the real fish wasters and Friday night was the worst but has been cleaning up. I don't know if that was because of education or the fish just harder to catch. I have no problem with people taking five fish home every time they go, not everyone is catch and release and I respect that, I eat fish at restaurants that came from someone's fishing hole.

It is the waste that bothers me, fish are going to die weather pulled up from the deep to fast or deep hooked or sometimes just fought to long. It is important to have a plan B and if you don't eat the fish at least clean them right and give them to someone who will appreciate the gift. It is the waste not the death of a fish, any fish not only bass that bothers me.

I have not seen any dead bass floating in weeks, so good job to those who got that cleaned up. Also I am not too worried about the bass population, there are plenty of shad to keep those stripers well feed.

 

[jdmidwest]

The best way I have seen is to remove the hook gently and let them back in the water.

I know you have to drag them around for tournament purposes.  But if you put one in the boat, you might as well eat it and not let it go to waste.

[ness]

7 hours ago, jdmidwest said:

The best way I have seen is to remove the hook gently and let them back in the water.

I know you have to drag them around for tournament purposes.  But if you put one in the boat, you might as well eat it and not let it go to waste.

And be sure to bring it inside and cook it ?

[Quillback]

11 hours ago, ness said:

And be sure to bring it inside and cook it ?

Nah, let them age in the livewell for a week. ..