Culling

[Phil Lilley]

Another way to look at this - and I bet everyone would agree.  If you put it on a rope stringer, it's yours.  Don't pull one off for a bigger one because you know it's not going to survive if released.

So, the question is now - do you make culling ok for livewells and not stringers?  How about chain stringers?  They're better than rope.  And would an ice chest be considered a livewell?

You might see where I'm going with this.

If you allow culling outside of tournaments, then you'd have to figure out if and where to draw a line.  Surely you would not be allowed to pull fish off of a rope stringer to add a bigger fish.

Then there's enforcement and court cases.

I think it's better to draw a clear line and say "no culling".

[Ketchup]

Dissolved oxygen is the single most important factor for keeping bass alive, and an understanding of factors that affect oxygen levels will better enable anglers to keep their fish alive. There are several options on the market that allow a tournament angler to do everything within his power to provide for a healthy livewell while the fish are in his possession. Those options that Phil mentioned have none of that.  An ice chest is a sign that someone is going to be eating fish that evening.  I can remember loosing 1 fish while in a tournament in the past 10 years. That fish went home with some people fishing off of the dock. I try to do my best by making sure prior to tournament day, of making sure everything about the livewell is 100%.  I know a few of our guys use chemicals to help maintain health, oxygen, less stress, etc.  

I would say that the typical tournament angler "any species" is more in touch of what fish need than non tournament guys, as it's how they get paid t the end, by keeping the health of the fish priority.  

I know not everyone agrees with this, but just an insight from someone who has fished hundreds of tournaments from Pa. to Az.  

[J.M.]

The tournament guys do a good job as a whole I am sure. I said I don't believe in culling and I stand by that but if the tournament guys can do it everyone should be allow to cull it seems to that is the american way. I don't want to cull but I also don't want the next thing to be on a tournament day everyone must stay off the lake. I know that is an extreme example but rules should apply to everyone. IMHO  I won't comment again as I am not going change any ones mind and I probably won't change mine. That another great thing about america we can all have an opinion.

[Walleyedmike]

7 hours ago, Ketchup said:

 I would say that the typical tournament angler "any species" is more in touch of what fish need than non tournament guys, as it's how they get paid t the end, by keeping the health of the fish priority.  

I know not everyone agrees with this, but just an insight from someone who has fished hundreds of tournaments from Pa. to Az.  

I respect your position and insight on this Ketchup. I have never fished a tournament, but I have some good friends that have fished walleye tournaments all over the U.S. I've listened to them talk about the slot requirements in many of the northern states affecting strategy and how important that one keeper over the slot is, as well as finding fish that are at the top end of the slot. I could be wrong, but I don't think culling is allowed in most of these (walleye) tournaments. So my question is, since you have fished bass tournaments in many states, are there some that don't allow culling for tournaments? I'd think not allowing culling would make the tournament more exciting with the fisherman showing the confidence they're gonna put a solid pattern together and catch a solid bag of fish. Particularly the big tournaments that are televised. BTW, not picking on Ketchup here, any of you guys that fish a lot of bass tournaments  feel free to chime in! 

WM

[Ketchup]

25 minutes ago, Walleyedmike said:

I respect your position and insight on this Ketchup. I have never fished a tournament, but I have some good friends that have fished walleye tournaments all over the U.S. I've listened to them talk about the slot requirements in many of the northern states affecting strategy and how important that one keeper over the slot is, as well as finding fish that are at the top end of the slot. I could be wrong, but I don't think culling is allowed in most of these (walleye) tournaments. So my question is, since you have fished bass tournaments in many states, are there some that don't allow culling for tournaments? I'd think not allowing culling would make the tournament more exciting with the fisherman showing the confidence they're gonna put a solid pattern together and catch a solid bag of fish. Particularly the big tournaments that are televised. BTW, not picking on Ketchup here, any of you guys that fish a lot of bass tournaments  feel free to chime in! 

WM

Not that im aware of. Every tournament i have fished approved culling as a means to bring the best bag to the weighin as an angler can within the alloted time frame. I agree with the statement "if it goes in the livewell then it needs to be weighed in" scenario, not only with bass tournaments, but fishing in general.  That would force people to really consider what they want to weighin "or keep"  from the start of the first fish caught. 

 I have had this talk until everyone involved is red in the face with buddies i have fished with over 25 years. Some are string supporters of no cull, and other like myself are neutral.  I see the benifit of only allowing 5 fish to be placed in a livewell, but at the same time, i see with proper care that fish can be released alive and in great shape.  

With big money being placed in the fishing industry, this will never change on a wide scale. I read where Wi. or Minn. one did place new regulations on culling, and the big money companies were in an uproar. I choose to participate in tournaments, and also take responsibility to provide the best chance for those caught fish to be released again, to swim away to be caught again. I am installing an oxygenator in my livewell soon as an extra added step to do what i can. 

 I know my outlook on this subject may not set well with some, but like my other post, i see culling as no worse than guys fishing for food and throwing back fish after not catching a limit, but keeping them alive for most of the day. Most of the time without the needed steps taken by tournament guys.  

Love debates and reading others perspective on fishing issues. Its healthy and we as grown ups are mature enough to post without posturing up.  

 I would fish with ANY of you tournament hating fishermen, any day.  ?

[J.M.]

I said I would not ;post on this again so I lied. I don't thank I said anything about not liking tournament fishermen I have and would fish a tournament again if I wasn't so old, I just think rules should be the same for everyone. Now I going to go try to catch a fish see you on the water.

[top_dollar]

Random yet interesting fact, sort of relevent.  Last winter (february) i caught a mess of crappie, tossed em on ice and went home.  The following day i went to cut em up and low and behold they were all still alive.  Well, outta morbid curiosity i took em back up to the pond and released one.  It floated.....for a minute....then swam away! I couldnt believe it!  The rest in the cooler were not so lucky.  I just could not believe how long it survived outta water with a low metabolism. 

[fishinwrench]

It's white bass Jesus !   ?

There should be another Easter in February now

[Old plug]

12 hours ago, top_dollar said:

Random yet interesting fact, sort of relevent.  Last winter (february) i caught a mess of crappie, tossed em on ice and went home.  The following day i went to cut em up and low and behold they were all still alive.  Well, outta morbid curiosity i took em back up to the pond and released one.  It floated.....for a minute....then swam away! I couldnt believe it!  The rest in the cooler were not so lucky.  I just could not believe how long it survived outta water with a low metabolism. 

WOW I still cant believe it

 

[MOPanfisher]

It can happen with cold water/weather.  On the other end I have taken small crappie from cold lake water carried them happy and swimming around up to an aquarium and dumped them in only to watch them go belly up within 30 seconds of hitting the much warmer water.  I quickly learned to slowly acclimate them to the aquarium.  Have seen fish like mentioned above dumped into a cooler with some ice and water to clean the next day and still have some very lively ones, never tried to release one as I didn't have a pond big enough for that.