RCL Fish Release, "The Truth"

[redbone]

This is the truth.

All boats must have aerated live wells. Dead fish brought to the weight in, that person will lose 8 ozs. of weight for each dead fish the insentive to keep the fish alive is substantial. Look at the weight for this tournament. Some of the fish not returned are females but not all.

We could do it like the Ohio DNR and keep all fish in a tournament but in this tournament every chance to release them back to live another day is given to the fish.

The fish are held in a tank after weigh in to be judged for release. If they show signs that they are unable to swim they will be kept and given to the needy. Some fish will go back into the waters and will belly up. Those are picked up and kept if possible.

The thing that you have to consider is what about the big fish that are caught and KEPT at other times of the year?

People this isn't the place to pass judgement. Let your feelings be known if you must by contacting the Tournament Organization in person. The Anti's do not need to get a hold of this stuff.

But the Truth to this Tournament is the DWF members are doing the release and they are local fisherman and its to there benefit to make sure that all the fish are able to stay alive and swim another day. They are working very hard to do this lets give them some support. Thank them.

Bob Piette

[jimbos43]

Maybe they should learn some boating manners then?

[tkpolasek]

Great post Bob Piette. I can't believe all th tournament bashing going on. I have to believe that the money spent in the last 7-10 days by these fisherman was very much welcomed by your local buisnesses. If every boat brought in a limit on all 4 days of the tournament that would amount to 1800 fish and if you were able to release even only 50% of them that would only be alost of 900 fish, I sure can't believe that is going to have any affect on the river fishing in the Detroit River. Like anything elase I'm sure there is things that we can always improve on, but we have to learn this as we go.

Great job DWF members on all your hard work during this tournament..

GOOD FISHING
TIM

[redbone]

bump........

[trout]

Thanks for the post.
After thinking about this issue I have to agree many more fish ,perhaps even some that were released will find themselves food later in the yr. by sportspeople.
Heck I eat fish too.
I also thought about the other fish we keep, salmon and trout all full of eggs as well.
I'm sure wish some good PR and the facts we all will learn to respect those who fish and hunt a little different.
It is my wish that someday all sportspeople would honor each other with repect, be kind and work together.
It is not a dream, we can get along if we work together.
Thanks for telling the other side of the story.
Good fish'n

[Big Frank 25]

The harvest of a resource is great! Catch and release is fantastic, if that is the choice. Returning fish to the water when the survival of that fish is in question, is like leaving fish on the ice!

[walleyeman830]

Like Bob said, if the fish looked like they weren't going to make it, they were given to the needy. I spoke to a couple of friends that were part of the release program for fri and sat and they agreed that is indeed what happened.

[goosewa]

Redbone,

I have nothing against the DWF nor it's member's. I even considered joining at one time. I would really have to give that one some further thought.

Bob, you have obviously lived Downriver for a long time. May I ask you a question(s)?

Where do you think the prime location for a Tournament Weigh In should be located? Should it be at one of the Launches or Marina located on the River?

Or should it be located almost 6 to 10 miles from the River Edge? You know somewhere like the Wal-Mart on Telegraph Road in Taylor?

-Goosewa

[The Whale]

goosewa, I'm sorry to "butt" in on your question, but I have to believe there is NO-ONE that would choose to have their fished weighed anywhere other than at the waters edge where a quick release would be more likely to happen.

Whale :)

[Tattoo Mike]

Goosewa not to correct you but entering both addresses at mapquest.com says its 17.0 miles from Lake Erie Metropark to the Walmart in taylor and the drive will take aproximatly 26 mins. That really is a long time for those fish to be out of the river and in live wells. 52mins + the sitting time of I'll guess an hour for the weigh ins.

WHALE some pros did do the weigh in at walmart for tv purposes.

[Big Frank 25]

Under the right conditions, those fish could have been weighed in at Sam's place in AR.! What does matter is the condition at the point of release. If they go belly up, (as lead to believe) it's hard to believe that they will survive. Now I'm being told that was never the case. Sounds to me, that finding out the truth is like separating the pepper from the fly *****!

[Alex]

You guys ever been to Bass Pro Shops and admired the fish in the tank? Most (if not all) of the those fish were caught by anglers in St. Clair or the surronding waters. Some during the tournaments I've fished.

While I agree that fish should be cared for as much as possible, I don't think a 20min drive to Walmart is any worse than spending 6 hours pounding 4 footers in a livewell.

I've been to a few Walmart weigh-ins and the fish look healthier than some of the fish released at the ramp. Because they are cared for during transport. Some guys don't know to take proper care of their fish when they are in their possession. That's the real problem. Slow down, apply catch 'n release, monitor your water temp/level, run your aerators full-time, and there should be little problems.

I would care to bet that more fish transported to Walmart and back survived than the ones released at the ramp.

[Tattoo Mike]

Alex you will never and i repeat never convince me of what you just said. Unless in the unlikely event that you came up with some shred of evidence to prove what you jsut said. And if you do I'll hand deliver to the DNR so the recomend catch and keep in a live well for 5 hours and then release. I'll immideatly begin working on a slogan for that.

[Alex]

Let me re-phrase my thought.

Senario 1) I catch my limit of fish at 8:30am. The rest of the day I spend running around the lake at full throttle blowing through 4 foot waves at 60-70mph. I fill the livewell only once in the morning, don't apply catch n' release, and never once check on the fish. I weigh the fish in at the ramp at 3:00pm and release.

Senario 2) I catch my limit of fish at 8:30am. I do as I say in my previous post and make sure proper care is given. I allow extra time getting back to the ramp and don't pound waves on the way home. The fish are transported to Walmart all the time monitored by myself or a tournament staff member, weigh-in, and head back to the ramp for release at 5pm.

Which fish do think are more likely to survive, Senario 1 or 2? I contend senario 2. The bigger problem is lack of attention given in senario 1 as oppossed to transportation to Walmart.

Need proof. Come to a weigh on St. Clair and come see my fish and then I'll show another competitor's fish that were cared for in senario 1. Or just go to BPS and look at the fish in the tank.

[Tattoo Mike]

Originally posted by Alex
The rest of the day I spend running around the lake at full throttle blowing through 4 foot waves at 60-70mph.

That right there is what more of us have a problem with.

[Fish Factor]

The following are the weigh in stats for the RCL tournament as compiled and released by Walleye Central.

It looks to me like the drive to the Wal-mart is a non-issue.



Day One Total Weigh in location Lake Erie Metro Park
Total number of fish weighed in: 460
Total number of fish weighed in alive: 459
Total weight: 1,292 pounds 14 ounces
Percent alive: 99.7
Limits caught: 55

Day Two Weigh in Location Lake Erie Metro Park
Total number of fish weighed in: 572
Total number of fish weighed in alive: 497
Total weight: 1395 pounds
Percent alive: 86.8 percent
Limits caught: 64

Day Three Weigh In Location Wal-Mart Taylor MI
Total number of fish weighed in: 69
Total number of fish weighed in alive: 69
Total weight: 267 pounds
Percent alive:100 percent



Day Four Weigh In Location Wal-Mart Taylor MI
Total number of fish weighed in: 38
Total number of fish weighed in alive: 38
Total weight: 185 pounds
Percent alive:100 percent
Limits caught: six

[jimbos43]

Tattoo Mike, I'm sure you noticed some of the pros popping up defending their catch and release practices, but I haven't seen one defending their lousy, out of control, hazardous, boat handling practices.
Could it be that they know they can't defend it?
The only place they slow down in the Trenton Channel is at the free bridge and the marina on Grosse Ile just down stream of the free bridge.
Like I said before, some dad out with his kids in their 14 footer will get swamped, then they'll be sorry. The conditions are to tight and there's to many boats for their 60mph antics. It's not Saginaw bay.

[Tattoo Mike]

well thats at weigh-in time not release time. Nice try though.

jimbos43 I've noticed and your right. Really you pros does getting to your hole so fast really matter in the long run. Seriouslt I do fine in my little boat until one of you guys comes motoring up to me and swamps me. "The Locals" dont do that to each other. Well a few have and I talked to them at the launch and they understand now.

I've also noticed most of thier defense are hypothetical not factual.

I'll say it again you pros are right and we're wrong so lead by exapmle and dont schedule your tournament durring peak spawning times. Lead by eaxmple!!!! You great gus you!!!

[Alex]

Mike,

"The rest of the day I spend running around the lake at full throttle blowing through 4 foot waves at 60-70mph. " - This is what I have a problem with too. Maybe I'm not saying it correctly or being mis-interpeted. This does more damage than Walmart. This is the main cause of fish kills. Improper treatment by anglers on the water.

I think Fish Factors stats further emphasis this point. Check out Day 2's numbers. 13.2% of the fish were DEAD at the time of weigh-in and I'm sure another 20% were on the edge or died later. If you recall Day 2 was brutal on the water and proper precautions were probably not taken by all.

Day 4 at Walmart showed 0% kills at the time of weigh-in. This is after the fish had made at least one drive to Walmart. Of course we will never now what the actual release numbers or the causulities two days down the road were in either senario. I'm not saying the trip to Walmart is good for the fish. I'm saying improper care on the water is worse and is the major cause of fish mortality. We should be spending more time talking about this.

Your right that some pro's do not respect other fisherman on the water. But your wrong to state that locals do not do this as well. I have had it happen to me from both. Everyone should show respect to others.

[Fish Factor]

Tattoo Mike
Exactly How many fish were released dead Friday and Saturday?

[goosewa]

Alex,

What is this Catch N' Release stuff that you mention? Since I am not a tournament fisherman I have not heard of it. I tried to find something on the WWW about it and could not located anything.
What does the stuff do? Are fly fisherman using it?

-Goosewa

[lead bouncer]

Catch and Release stuff is a water conditioner that adds electrolytes and other stuff that helps the fish to produce the protective slime cover and
keep them healthy.

I get some stuff from the local tropical fish store and put a couple of drops into the minnow bucket. Really seems to help with the mortality rate of the bait during transport and keeping them alive after a day on the river. I put a bubbler in the six gallon bucket when I get back home, feed 'em gold fish food and basically look after 'em till it's time to go back out. Change the water when needed. A "dozen" minnows (more like 3 doz) can go a loooooooonnng way if ya care for 'em.

As far as adding the stuff to a live well that recirculates or discharges the contents regularly, I don't know, seems like you'd be going through quite a bit of that juice.

But if it's tourney money and prizes you are after, then anything to help the fish is worth it, right? Yeh.

-LB :)

[lead bouncer]

Oh, by the way, NO fish were realesed dead on Friday, 4/5/02.

I was at the Wayandotte launch with a number of other folks when they released the RCL fish. Only one was belly up (and kicking). That fish was netted and taken home (in a live well) only to recover fully by the next morning and live for a couple more hours before succumbing to the fillet knife and fry pan.

All of the other fish released were healthy and thriving. IF they died later I can't say. BUT they sure were vibrant at the time of release.

Stop yer bit%%ing and get on the water already.

-LB :)

[Alex]

Lead Bouncer has it pretty well nailed down. I wish I could find a bottle of it to get the exact name, but is packed away in my boat for an upcoming move. Once I find it I'll try to post a website for it.

Catch N' Release or Please Release Me are to two grainular products that when added you your livewell do the following.

1) Replenish the fishes slime coat
2) Kills bateria on open wounds to prevent infection
3) Calms fish so they are not bouncing off the walls

When used properly it is very effective. I wish more people would use it. Lead Bouncer is right, I go through quite a bit on tournament day, because I feel it is my duty to keep my fish heathly while they are in my care.