Some interesting thoughts on catch and release.

[Quillback]

You'd think that caught and released fish would get smarter, but maybe not.

Miscounted Fish May Be Skewing Population Sizes | Hakai Magazine

[Al Agnew]

I've always had the idea that some individual fish are genetically more susceptible to being caught.  They are more attracted to fishing lures, which to be honest are NOT perfect imitations of natural food.  I suspect that other individual fish are genetically NOT programmed to attack most of the lures we use.  In other words, there are probably fish that are basically uncatchable, except under extraordinary circumstances.  Some of the biggest bass I've seen and caught were seen or caught when they tried to take the lure away from a smaller bass.  It's possible that was the only way they'd be interested in that lure.  

Studies have shown that bass learn to avoid lures.  One study I remember used several lures, and one of them was a Rattletrap.  They learned to avoid the Rattletrap more quickly than any other lure in the study, probably because of the loud rattle being distinctive--as I remember, none of the other lures had loud rattles.  Maybe the reason that certain lures are hot for a year or two after they first come onto the scene and then go cold is that most of the fish that were genetically programmed to attack those lures were caught enough times that they either died, were eaten, or finally learned to avoid them.

[ColdWaterFshr]

23 minutes ago, Al Agnew said:

I've always had the idea that some individual fish are genetically more susceptible to being caught.  They are more attracted to fishing lures, which to be honest are NOT perfect imitations of natural food.  I suspect that other individual fish are genetically NOT programmed to attack most of the lures we use.  In other words, there are probably fish that are basically uncatchable, except under extraordinary circumstances.  Some of the biggest bass I've seen and caught were seen or caught when they tried to take the lure away from a smaller bass.  It's possible that was the only way they'd be interested in that lure.  

Studies have shown that bass learn to avoid lures.  One study I remember used several lures, and one of them was a Rattletrap.  They learned to avoid the Rattletrap more quickly than any other lure in the study, probably because of the loud rattle being distinctive--as I remember, none of the other lures had loud rattles.  Maybe the reason that certain lures are hot for a year or two after they first come onto the scene and then go cold is that most of the fish that were genetically programmed to attack those lures were caught enough times that they either died, were eaten, or finally learned to avoid them.

I would agree with that.  Individual fish and not necessarily their whole genus.  There are "impulsive" fish, if under the right conditions, are more inclined to be susceptible to whatever we throw at them than maybe their step-cousins of the same species.  But I also think, without stating the obvious, that it is very easy to recognize a generalized scale of susceptibility between species under a whole range of conditions.  

I've had baits barely touch the water and consumed in that instance - pure impulse.  Smart, educated fish, but foolish for that moment in time.  I'm sure they saw it flying in the air well before it hit water.  Genetically programmed to react quickly.  Same fish, under slightly different conditions . . . I don't know . . . .less cloud cover, more cloud cover, a temp swing 1 or 2 degrees moving up or down, maybe not as dumb?  Its an endless mix of variables and that is what keeps me fascinated

[fishinwrench]

A study done long ago, allegedly by fisheries biologists, concluded that bass could not be conditioned to avoid biting plastic worms.   After a days rest they would forget about them being fake and would bite them again and again.     But a plastic lizard or plastic crawdad allegedly had "elements" that stayed engrained in their memory....and therefore fish could be "conditioned" to avoid them.   

So there's that. 🙄

[ColdWaterFshr]

13 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

A study done long ago, allegedly by fisheries biologists, concluded that bass could not be conditioned to avoid biting plastic worms.   After a days rest they would forget about them being fake and would bite them again and again.     But a plastic lizard or plastic crawdad allegedly had "elements" that stayed engrained in their memory....and therefore fish could be "conditioned" to avoid them.   

So there's that. 🙄

You had me skeptical at "a study done long ago".  Tom Mann gulp bait study??  🤣  

 

[fishinwrench]

21 minutes ago, ColdWaterFshr said:

You had me skeptical at "a study done long ago".  Tom Mann gulp bait study??  🤣  

 

The only reason I can think of for you to be skeptical would be if you were 20 years younger than me and never read fishing books and magazines. 

Unless something in the fish behavior study world has changed, the plastic worm is supposed to be the only known lure that bass can't be conditioned to avoid.   

It's been written/repeated 100 times.  That's how BS that a biologist says miraculously becomes written in stone and accepted as "solid fact". 

[fishinwrench]

Oh, and I don't think Tom Mann had anything to do with "Gulp" technology.   That was somebody else.

Do you remember when banana scent was discovered to be irresistible to bass?  Wonder what ever happened to that?    It was much more pleasant than garlic. 😅

[fshndoug]

I love bananas

[snagged in outlet 3]

15 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

The only reason I can think of for you to be skeptical would be if you were 20 years younger than me and never read fishing books and magazines. 

Unless something in the fish behavior study world has changed, the plastic worm is supposed to be the only known lure that bass can't be conditioned to avoid.   

It's been written/repeated 100 times.  That's how BS that a biologist says miraculously becomes written in stone and accepted as "solid fact". 

I've mentioned this study before and I think it was a university study at some school in Ohio.   They stocked a pond with fish and started fishing for them.  When the fish was caught it was put into an adjacent pond.  They fished the first pond until they couldn't catch anymore.  They could not catch the remaining fish in the first pond no matter what, but they could catch the fish in the 2nd pond over and over again.  I have got to find that study again.  It was fascinating....

[Quillback]

22 minutes ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

I've mentioned this study before and I think it was a university study at some school in Ohio.   They stocked a pond with fish and started fishing for them.  When the fish was caught it was put into an adjacent pond.  They fished the first pond until they couldn't catch anymore.  They could not catch the remaining fish in the first pond no matter what, but they could catch the fish in the 2nd pond over and over again.  I have got to find that study again.  It was fascinating....

I always said that I'm good at catching the stupid ones, now science has confirmed it.  😜