Catch/weigh/release thread

[Al Agnew]

I've advocated for using length rather than weight for a long time.  It eliminates a LOT of the problems with weight, including making sure all scales used are perfectly calibrated and accurate.  And in so many ways, it's a truer measure of the skill of the angler.  With weight, you're depending upon the luck of such things as how healthy the fish is, what it just ate, etc.  The 20 inch fish you just caught might weigh 4 pounds if you caught it during the spring or after it had just eaten a 10 inch redhorse, but that SAME fish might weigh 3.5 pounds at the end of August without having eaten anything for a few days.  Same fish.  Didn't take any more skill to catch it when it weighed 4 pounds than it did when it weighed 3.5.  AND, if you measure and immediately release, you aren't constrained by limits.  What if I can go out and catch 30 fish over 12 inches in a day, including a best five or six that were all over 17 inches, but some other guy beats me out having caught 6 fish all day, but one of them just happened to be 21 inches and and his other best four were all slightly over 17 inches?  Who is the better angler, me who put 30 in the boat, or the guy who put 6 in the boat but lucked into one really big one and beat my best five by a quarter inch because of it?  So why not allow every fish over 12 inches or 14 inches or whatever to count, no matter how many you caught, since you are quickly releasing them anyway?

 

[fishinwrench]

None of this was even an issue to be concerned about 20 years ago because there were less than 5 tournaments per month on the lake.   

Take a look NOW!

https://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/WP04Web/app/searchRegattaWeb?action=Search+Again 

 

87 regatta permits issued for June alone, here on LO. 

 I mean, Holy Mother of God !!!!!   😳 

 

I'll ask everyone again......If it isn't excessively out of control now, then at what point would you agree that it was? 

 

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8 hours ago, Al Agnew said:

I've advocated for using length rather than weight for a long time.  It eliminates a LOT of the problems with weight, including making sure all scales used are perfectly calibrated and accurate.  And in so many ways, it's a truer measure of the skill of the angler.  With weight, you're depending upon the luck of such things as how healthy the fish is, what it just ate, etc.  The 20 inch fish you just caught might weigh 4 pounds if you caught it during the spring or after it had just eaten a 10 inch redhorse, but that SAME fish might weigh 3.5 pounds at the end of August without having eaten anything for a few days.  Same fish.  Didn't take any more skill to catch it when it weighed 4 pounds than it did when it weighed 3.5.  AND, if you measure and immediately release, you aren't constrained by limits.  What if I can go out and catch 30 fish over 12 inches in a day, including a best five or six that were all over 17 inches, but some other guy beats me out having caught 6 fish all day, but one of them just happened to be 21 inches and and his other best four were all slightly over 17 inches?  Who is the better angler, me who put 30 in the boat, or the guy who put 6 in the boat but lucked into one really big one and beat my best five by a quarter inch because of it?  So why not allow every fish over 12 inches or 14 inches or whatever to count, no matter how many you caught, since you are quickly releasing them anyway?

 

I think you’re right on.    I was wondering why weight is such a big deal in release tournament.   SPure takes a lot of the complications out of it.  

[Ketchup]

8 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

None of this was even an issue to be concerned about 20 years ago because there were less than 5 tournaments per month on the lake.   

Take a look NOW!

https://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/WP04Web/app/searchRegattaWeb?action=Search+Again 

 

87 regatta permits issued for June alone, here on LO. 

 I mean, Holy Mother of God !!!!!   😳 

 

I'll ask everyone again......If it isn't excessively out of control now, then at what point would you agree that it was? 

 

I believe every angler will agree, there are lots of tournaments on every body of boatable water. Do i think it’s excessive currently from a tournament standpoint? Naw, as the reports show a very healthy fish catchable population, no matter the species. One thing that is in favor of the fish is they are adaptive and do change with pressure. When that happens, it leaves guys like me scratching my head and coming to the scales with few if any fish. Don’t underestimate these fine creatures. 
 

BUT, before it does get excessive, if it does, our club will take a small step forward to ease some, if any of the stress from not only the fish, but doing the work of a weighin. 
 

I have been reading the good and bad of both weight VS length for over a year, to prepare for our club changeover from a buddy bass club, to a solo and to a C/W/R  format for 2023. It appears that the length advocates do chat about the challenges of getting the fish to stay on a board long enough to photograph, while most fish flop all about more than once while trying to get that legal photo, causing potential injuries. Whereas to land a fish, hold it in your hand or net, clip the jaws and get a quick weight, then release without ever touching carpet, appears to be easier on most fish, according to comments i read on many different platforms. 
 

I have 6 months before our 23’ schedule cones out, along with the new rules, so i will continue to read and learn. 
 There are positive with both styles of recording your catch, one has to be easier/less stress/damage to the fish. 

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27 minutes ago, Ketchup said:

I believe every angler will agree, there are lots of tournaments on every body of boatable water. Do i think it’s excessive currently from a tournament standpoint? Naw, as the reports show a very healthy fish catchable population, no matter the species. One thing that is in favor of the fish is they are adaptive and do change with pressure. When that happens, it leaves guys like me scratching my head and coming to the scales with few if any fish. Don’t underestimate these fine creatures. 
 

BUT, before it does get excessive, if it does, our club will take a small step forward to ease some, if any of the stress from not only the fish, but doing the work of a weighin. 
 

I have been reading the good and bad of both weight VS length for over a year, to prepare for our club changeover from a buddy bass club, to a solo and to a C/W/R  format for 2023. It appears that the length advocates do chat about the challenges of getting the fish to stay on a board long enough to photograph, while most fish flop all about more than once while trying to get that legal photo, causing potential injuries. Whereas to land a fish, hold it in your hand or net, clip the jaws and get a quick weight, then release without ever touching carpet, appears to be easier on most fish, according to comments i read on many different platforms. 
 

I have 6 months before our 23’ schedule cones out, along with the new rules, so i will continue to read and learn. 
 There are positive with both styles of recording your catch, one has to be easier/less stress/damage to the fish. 

Kudos for at least trying👍

[Terrierman]

Somebody needs to make a calibrated weigh the fish in the net unit.  Or at least have a scale with a tare feature where the fish can be weighed right there in the net , use the tare to deduct the weight of the net and then release the fish.  Bass lives matter.

[aarchdale@coresleep.com]

I dont think catch weigh release is an option for a solo series. No way to keep it honest. Someone comes in with a mega bag and people will get into arguments. Even if you have to take a pic, who says there isnt a couple 1 ounce weights in its mouth you dont see. Or weigh the fish with a a pic turn it to the other side weight it again with a few sinkers in its mouth. The inches thing would work but most people that have bass boats would have bought kayaks if they wanted to tournament fish that way.

3 fish limit in the hot months and no dead fish can be weighed, it takes care of fish care issues for the most part. Also most guys i know that tournament fish are not really into the MLF style events, makes me wonder about participation. I know lots of people like it and i like watching it too, just not sure if its feasible without a judge dressed up like a football Ref riding around with ya. 

Jerry, i would have fished your tournaments this year but ive literally been on the road working during every single one. Just bad timing!

[grizwilson]

2 hours ago, Terrierman said:

Somebody needs to make a calibrated weigh the fish in the net unit.  Or at least have a scale with a tare feature where the fish can be weighed right there in the net , use the tare to deduct the weight of the net and then release the fish.  Bass lives matter.

Good lord how old are you?  They have apps to measure everything simple fix.  I have Jimmy working on an app for that, yes I know he does not stand very close to a razor......will make sure you get credit for invention.  LOL

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1 hour ago, grizwilson said:

Good lord how old are you? 

OLD!!   😂

[snagged in outlet 3]

5 hours ago, Terrierman said:

Somebody needs to make a calibrated weigh the fish in the net unit.  Or at least have a scale with a tare feature where the fish can be weighed right there in the net , use the tare to deduct the weight of the net and then release the fish.  Bass lives matter.

My scale has a tare feature.   They also make nets with scales in the handle.   They weren’t big enough for me but would be fine for @JestersHK, @Sethand those guys😁