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Originally posted by SHORTY:
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Good points but what makes you think no matter how careful you are with those bass there isn't a delayed mortality?
Absolutley there is small percentage of delayed mortality involved in any catch and release fishing, and this delayed mortality is not just limited to tournament anglers but to evey angler who practices catch and release on a regular basis. ;\)

BTW - it's not the pulling of LMB off the beds that concerns me, it is the hot summer months of late June, July, and August where delayed mortality is at it's highest from tournament angling that bothers me. Just so you know, Missouri does not allow live weighs in in July and August because of the high delayed mortality rates. \:\)

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I once saw a fellow put ALL THE BASS from one tournament into his livewell and take them out ot the lake to release them. Any idea how stressful putting what appeared to be 50 or 60 bass in one livewell can be?
That is simply bad practice from one tournament director, with NE Bass Federation tournaments that I occasionally fish the LMB are simply released back into the water next to the weigh in sight after they have been weighed. In most bigger money tournaments there is a specially designed boat that they use to release the fish back into the main lake.
Shorty thanks for not taking offense to my comments. Looking back they seemed rather harsh and I put everyone into one category which is not fair.

Yes, any catch and release had the potential to kill fish. I have found that out on my ponds. One reason I don't do it much anymore with a few exceptions.

I concur completely on the hot water temps. Even a fish farmer will tell you this is not a time to be handling fish. Sounds like your state is a little ahead in their thinking. Mine is always the last to do anything.

And the fact that you guys release your fish right way after measuring is impressive.

If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.