Update:
Received about 3 inches of rain over the weekend and I thought this might be a good opportunity to test out the water quality theory I put forth earlier...i.e. with 3 inches of fresh water and reduced temps would the HSB still suffer angling mortality?
Result...hooked about a 3 pounder on the first cast, but it completely swallowed the lure in the gills/gut. No way to save the fish and/or get any data to test the theory from that fish. Made me sick/disgusted to kill the fish so I just quit fishing for them. I'm snakebit!
Can't say for sure, but I do believe that fish would have survived, if not for the hooking trama. It was very lively, contrary to all other 3 pound plus HSB caught this summer.
I still believe water quality may be a very significant variable in this question and may explain differences in angling mortality observed across different ponds and regions...just not eager to do more sampling yet.
