Boat flipping bass

[gim]

10 hours ago, Susky River Rat said:

They used to say that catching musky over 80 degree temps killed every single one.

 

I will respectfully disagree here.  Scientific mortality studies never stated that it killed every muskie in those bath tub warm water temps; it simply stated that the chances went up exponentially.  I'm sure plenty of muskies are caught in that warm water and survive.  But plenty do not either.  And when we're talking a fish that has the density of about 1 adult for every 40 acres here, losing one plays a big role.

 

There's a reason the PMTT (Pro Muskie Tournament Trail) cancels their events when the water temps reach this thresh hold.  They value the resource more than the opportunity to fish for them.

[Susky River Rat]

37 minutes ago, gim said:

I will respectfully disagree here

I have disagreed with this as well. Again I believe it was the university of West Virginia conducted studies to debunk the 80 degree delayed mortality that everyone goes by. It was conducted at stonewall Jackson where the fish were radio tracked recorded than went and checked to see if they were alive after a certain period of time. 

[Rucksack]

1 hour ago, Pat Brown said:

Even people who show up with a bucket and catch fish to eat - there's no evidence that this is bad for a fishery - on the contrary - it often leads to healthier fisheries and healthier fish - and now that no one keeps fish they catch to eat - many bass are struggling and the resource isn't doing so great in a lot of fisheries that used to produce giants back when bass was on the menu!  Customs change!  

I'm glad to see harvest happening more frequently again, and I think it would be great if more harvest oriented anglers were visible in the community to help change our hobby's culture around this. Seems like every conservation and management oriented podcast/Youtube channel these days is trying to get this message out too. Harvest frees up resources to grow bigger fish and bass are pretty tasty. 

 

In terms of boat flips and handling, I am 100% in the get the fish back in the water quickly camp. Delayed morality is a real thing and most of us won't ever really see it. It is best seen in research data and statistical analysis. It's a percentage game, which is why a lot of anglers don't know they're doing it. I was 100% guilty of accidental mishandling before I learned about what was up. I simply didn't know.

 

I'd like to be as humane as possible when harvesting fish as well. I actually don't know the research on how best to minimize suffering, but would like to be educated. I mostly aim for a swift clean dispatch.

[Pumpkin Lizard]

25 minutes ago, Susky River Rat said:

I have disagreed with this as well. Again I believe it was the university of West Virginia conducted studies to debunk the 80 degree delayed mortality that everyone goes by. It was conducted at stonewall Jackson where the fish were radio tracked recorded than went and checked to see if they were alive after a certain period of time. 

Tiger Muskies or pure Muskies? 
 

Tigers are far more tolerant of warm temps.

 

And I think even a pure Muskie in WV will be more tolerant of hot water temps than one in Minnesota.

[Mike L]

Live Long and Prosper 

 

 

 

 

Mike