Super User slonezp Posted July 4, 2019 Super User Posted July 4, 2019 According to this article, the vulnerability of a fish being caught is an inherent trait passed down to a fishes offspring. https://theconversation.com/catch-me-if-you-can-how-anglers-are-changing-the-catchability-of-fish-117364 1 Quote
Super User MN Fisher Posted July 4, 2019 Super User Posted July 4, 2019 So those of use who practice selective harvest are increasing the average IQ of the lake and making it harder to catch the remainder? Quote
Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted July 4, 2019 Global Moderator Posted July 4, 2019 I tried to tell y'all Florida strain are several generations too smart ..... Quote
Super User the reel ess Posted July 4, 2019 Super User Posted July 4, 2019 Fish are neither smart nor dumb. They either bite or they don't and it's all instinct. They have no idea why they do anything. But I understand that some get big for a reason. 3 1 Quote
contium Posted July 4, 2019 Posted July 4, 2019 1 hour ago, MN Fisher said: So those of use who practice selective harvest are increasing the average IQ of the lake and making it harder to catch the remainder? Precisely. There have been a few studies that have come to the same conclusion. You're better off snagging the smart fish and keeping them 1 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted July 4, 2019 Super User Posted July 4, 2019 Just now, contium said: Precisely. There have been a few studies that have come to the same conclusion. You're better off snagging the smart fish and keeping them So Mr Long was really just attempting to help us all out. What a guy. A-Jay 10 Quote
Dirtyeggroll Posted July 4, 2019 Posted July 4, 2019 Original cited manuscript published in 2011. Old news Stephen Cooke the shared first author of the original manuscript still continues to publish solid research on salmoides related to angling vulnerability. Lots of interesting data out there related to it. Quote
Super User Sam Posted July 5, 2019 Super User Posted July 5, 2019 11 hours ago, the reel ess said: Fish are neither smart nor dumb. They either bite or they don't and it's all instinct. They have no idea why they do anything. But I understand that some get big for a reason. X2 Quote
Super User Deleted account Posted July 5, 2019 Super User Posted July 5, 2019 12 hours ago, the reel ess said: Fish are neither smart nor dumb. They either bite or they don't and it's all instinct. They have no idea why they do anything. But I understand that some get big for a reason. Yes, they are not smart nor dumb, that's just us assigning human characteristics to them, as we often do to animals, inanimate objects, and deities. There are however genetic differences that cause LMB (and other organisms) to be predisposed to be more or less aggressive, or more or less attracted to our presentations, no cognition, or anthropomorphism required. 2 2 Quote
Super User Catt Posted July 5, 2019 Super User Posted July 5, 2019 I agree they're not smart or dumb but on many occasions when I thought I had them figured out they prove to me I don't! 2 1 Quote
813basstard Posted July 5, 2019 Posted July 5, 2019 3 minutes ago, Catt said: I agree they're not smart or dumb but on many occasions when I thought I had them figured out they prove to me I don't! ^you ain’t kidding. Smart as in passing the SAT? No. But smart as in reacting in real time to their environment? Then yes, that’s a different kind of smart. Like Hackney says “the big ones don’t make many mistakes” Quote
OCdockskipper Posted July 5, 2019 Posted July 5, 2019 In the same way a beautiful woman can make a rocket scientist dumb, hunger can make the largest bass a bit dimwitted. 1 Quote
Super User Sam Posted July 5, 2019 Super User Posted July 5, 2019 3 hours ago, Catt said: I agree they're not smart or dumb but on many occasions when I thought I had them figured out they prove to me I don't! X2, and way too many times, too!!!! 1 Quote
FishingGeekTX Posted July 5, 2019 Posted July 5, 2019 Another good argument for catch and release bass fishing (or any sport fish). Quote
Super User Sam Posted July 5, 2019 Super User Posted July 5, 2019 To add to this thought, how about the tackle manufacturers and distributors, along with their pro staffs, hawking tackle and baits to us that we don't need and we are dumb enough to buy them for a number of reasons? Remember the carrot stick? Everyone just had to have at least one until they started to snap in cold weather. KVD's 1.5 and 2.5 crankbaits? We still have to have them when Bandits work just as well in the majority of situations. Woo Daves old hawks for his sponsors that he no longer represents. The Banjo Minnow? Guaranteed to catch everything, even Moby Dick and Nemo. How great the Alabama rig was going to be? Until we figured out that it was banned from tournaments and it will wear you out. And the list goes on and on. So we are on the same level as our little green friends when it comes to being dumb about buying certain baits and tackle that a pro says are wonderful when in reality the pro never caught one fish on them. Just listen carefully to the pros at the Bassmaster Classic weigh-ins talking about their sponsors' baits and tackle. They don't say they used them. The pros just talk about them. And we fall for it every time. 1 Quote
Super User WRB Posted July 5, 2019 Super User Posted July 5, 2019 Darwin's theory adapt or perish. Man is forcing animals of all kinds to adapt to their environment or perish including mankind. This isn't about IQ it's about survival instincts and the most aggressive are usually the first to perish, the meek shall inherit the earth. Tom 3 Quote
OCdockskipper Posted July 5, 2019 Posted July 5, 2019 I saw an interesting aspect to animal behavior last night, albeit it was with waterfowl, not fish. Our lake has some black Australian swans on it, the HOA bought a breeding pair and they have had many cygnets over the years. The swans don't mess with the ducks & coots, but they really dislike the Canada geese. They chase them off at every opportunity and harass them nonstop. Well last night, the HOA put on a fireworks show at the upper end of the lake. As usual, a huge throng of pontoon boats crowded up near that section, making it look like Lake Havasu during spring break. This trapped about 2 dozen Canada geese and a pair of black swans in a section of lake about 5 acres in size. There were the fireworks on one side, boats on the other and people along the sides of both shorelines. When the fireworks show began, the swans & geese panicked. When they realized they couldn't escape, they all huddled together in a tight group, as far from the fireworks as they could get without getting too close to people or the boats. These same swans who mercilessly bully the geese now sought refuge with them and none of the birds seem to care. In a situation of stress, they reacted in a way different then their normal behavior. I'll be curious to see if the bullying picks back up in the next couple of days. 1 1 Quote
Super User FishTank Posted July 5, 2019 Super User Posted July 5, 2019 I was taught as a kid to think of bass as sort of an under water cat. They are smart until predictable instinct kicks in. I compare it to a cat that won't come near you but will chase a laser pointer every time you get it out. 4 Quote
Armtx77 Posted July 6, 2019 Posted July 6, 2019 Im not ashamed to catch the stupid ones and I would appreciate the rest of you, leaving the dummies alone...me included. 2 Quote
Glaucus Posted July 6, 2019 Posted July 6, 2019 This makes complete sense. Living beings evolve over time to protect themselves from what harms them. Fish aren't excluded from this. Quote
Super User the reel ess Posted July 7, 2019 Super User Posted July 7, 2019 On 7/5/2019 at 10:57 AM, Catt said: I agree they're not smart or dumb but on many occasions when I thought I had them figured out they prove to me I don't! LOL. Yeah, pretty much every time you figure them out they change it up on you. 1 Quote
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