I thought this video was interesting

[Quillback]

TPWD biologist talking about some observations that they made using telemetry to track largemouth in Toledo Bend.  I do see some parallels to TR.

 

[D squared]

Further proof all tournament events should be using technology to record then  catch and release in same locations 

there is no healthy reason to relocate the fish - use Bluetooth scales, smart devices and cameras - our fishier will be better off 

[fishinwrench]

They'd better be careful broadcasting their findings, or they'll blow tournament weigh-in fishing completely apart.  

One can only hope 😎 

You'll notice that they don't speak much about fish that are relocated, they only speak about fish that are released immediately back into their home area where they were initially captured.    The politics of tournament weigh-in fishing is exactly why .....they ain't goin' there. 🙄

[Quillback]

That would be the most interesting to me is to see a study on tourney released fish.  There are a series of 4 or 5 videos and this was number three.  I have seen the first two,  and I think in the first one the bio mentions that they inserted trackers in a group of fish when the water was warm, and I think he said that something like 24 out of the 26 fish they put trackers in died within a week.  He thinks it was because they just don't recover as well from all the handling they had to go through.  2nd group which are the ones they tracked in that video they trapped in cold water and they did a lot better.  To me that all hints at mortality is going to be higher for fish caught in warm water and go through a lot of handling.  Of course I think we all know that.

[fishinwrench]

Survival rate of tournament released fish seems to be pretty good, but where they go and how they readjust hasn't been confirmed.  

The only release site tracking I am aware of was done up north on a mediocre sized relatively shallow bowl shaped natural lake where the fish could just cruise the bank and end up back where they came from within a couple days.  That obviously isn't going to be the case on a highland reservoir. 

It's pretty obvious, and confirmed by the findings of THIS study that fish released where they were caught go right back to where they were caught from.  So there's no denying that they relate heavily to their home area.   On lakes with shad EVERYWHERE, a relocated fish is likely to just find another bass or two to hang out with, and just suspend out over open water. That theory is pretty well confirmed by crappie fishermen pulling crankbaits out in the middle of nowhere.....they catch 3-5 pound bass routinely within a few miles of the boat ramps that have sores on their jaws and along their sides.  No doubt they are tournament released fish that are just completely lost. 

Cruising around out there with the white bass and stripers is NOT typical LMB behavior....but they are adaptable and learn to make a living however they possibly can.

That's MY assessment, but so far there's been no study to confirm it. 

What I'd really like to know, but probably never will, is whether those relocated fish EVER establish a new home range and resume typical black bass behavior, or whether they just remain pelagic from that point on.  Because if a guy could just figure out a way to somehow pattern free roaming lost bass....he could 100% CLEAN UP on the tournament trails.   I'd quit my job and go back to full-time tournament fishing if I could figure it out.

[tjm]

56 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

Survival rate of tournament released fish seems to be pretty good, but where they go and how they readjust hasn't been confirmed.  

Until they study the released fish by tracking for a week or two after  being transported  many miles prior to release it's all speculation, those fish might starve over the next thirty days  or die from handling a week later.  Only long term tracking of actual tourney caught and hauled fish can answer  questions of survivabilty.

[fishinwrench]

2 hours ago, tjm said:

Until they study the released fish by tracking for a week or two after  being transported  many miles prior to release it's all speculation, those fish might starve over the next thirty days  or die from handling a week later.  Only long term tracking of actual tourney caught and hauled fish can answer  questions of survivabilty.

I think it is safe to assume that if they make it 14-16 days....then they are gonna be just fine as far as "living/dying" is concerned.   

I'm more concerned/curious about how their habits change after being relocated from their familiar home territory.   I expect that the majority of 2-3lbers would become less solitary and more likely to transform into schoolers that prowl open water in wolf packs.   I would expect the big girls to settle into the nearest available cover at the depth that suits them.... but the often reoccurring event of guys trolling for crappie & whites, catching TOAD BASS out in the middle of nowhere (6-10 ft. deep over 25-40 feet of featureless water) within a few miles of popular boat ramps, tells me that there are no rules after a fish has been relocated.   

 

[vernon]

20 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

Survival rate of tournament released fish seems to be pretty good, but where they go and how they readjust hasn't been confirmed.  

The only release site tracking I am aware of was done up north on a mediocre sized relatively shallow bowl shaped natural lake where the fish could just cruise the bank and end up back where they came from within a couple days.  That obviously isn't going to be the case on a highland reservoir. 

It's pretty obvious, and confirmed by the findings of THIS study that fish released where they were caught go right back to where they were caught from.  So there's no denying that they relate heavily to their home area.   On lakes with shad EVERYWHERE, a relocated fish is likely to just find another bass or two to hang out with, and just suspend out over open water. That theory is pretty well confirmed by crappie fishermen pulling crankbaits out in the middle of nowhere.....they catch 3-5 pound bass routinely within a few miles of the boat ramps that have sores on their jaws and along their sides.  No doubt they are tournament released fish that are just completely lost. 

Cruising around out there with the white bass and stripers is NOT typical LMB behavior....but they are adaptable and learn to make a living however they possibly can.

That's MY assessment, but so far there's been no study to confirm it. 

What I'd really like to know, but probably never will, is whether those relocated fish EVER establish a new home range and resume typical black bass behavior, or whether they just remain pelagic from that point on.  Because if a guy could just figure out a way to somehow pattern free roaming lost bass....he could 100% CLEAN UP on the tournament trails.   I'd quit my job and go back to full-time tournament fishing if I could figure it out.

Pelagic?

How can a guy not love a well read boat mechanic!

[fishinwrench]

2 hours ago, vernon said:

How can a guy not love a well read boat mechanic!

When he blows your cover as a supreme intellect, it's easy.  🤟