Looking for imput

[Bassin]

After a wiegh-in of 100+ boats and bass are released in and around a Marina, What do you think happens with those bass? Do they stick around that area? Do they scatter? Do you think that area would be good for fishing the morning after?

Just one of those questions that pop into my head on an 45 min. commute

[mac (Doyle McEwen)]

There have been studies done on this subject, you might be able to find some on the internet or by contacting various fis and game departments..From what I have heard and read, some bass will stay in the general area and others will move out, some even going back to where they were caught..On any lake that has numerous tournaments you will normally here of an area called the "meat wall", refering to an area where a good many of the released fish congregate after being released..

mac

[Steve]

You wont find any information on this subject on any fish and game website. What you want to do is go to google.com and do as many searches as possible, and if you know how to do a *pdf search, that will be your best bet to find publicly available research papers.

[Gene Bowen]

I CAUGHT A LARGEMOUTH BASS IN A TOURMENT ON SHASTA LAKE OVER AT THE HOLIDAY HARBOR MARINIA THAT WAS CAUGHT IN A TOURMENT AT SILVERTHORN MARINIA A YEAR BEFORE I CAUGHT IT. IT WAS RELEASED OVER THERE ACCORDING TO FISH AND GAME AND IT TOOK A YEAR TO GET TO HOLIDAY HARBOR. I KNOW SPOTS MOVE ALOT BUT I ALWAYS THOUGHT THE LARGEMOUTH STAYED PRETTY MUCH IN ONE AREA. I GUESS THIS ONE LIKED TO TRAVEL LOL.THE FISH ONLY GAINED ABOUT 4 OUNCES IN A YEAR WHICH SEEMED A LITTLE ODD WITH ALL THE BAIT FISH IN SHASTA. GENE

[Cooch]

I have no doubt in my mind, that no matter where, in this country, that ya have a lake or River that holds tournaments, where those fish caught are released in the general vacinity of the host Marina, a large number of those fish released will remain and re-adapt themselves to that new area.

This was huge for me when I first started fishing the BASS tour in 1998, especially when I went to new lakes like Powell, Elephant Butte, Mohave, Havasu, Columbia River. And I've experienced this all my fishing life when on ponds like TableRock, Toho, Rayburn, Pickwick and Cumberland to name just a few. I always started out fishing the local marina areas, and I always managed to catch fish, develope patterns and build confidence in attacking the rest of the lake from there.

Marinas in general are big time bass magnets! Multiply that by 10 if they hold tournaments out of that marina! Will they bite the very next day? Possibly a few, but not too many. But certainly 3-5 days later they will recover from their transport and be back ta normal in their new area. Largemouth bass are less likely to travel far. Smallies and spots will move long distances away from their release points most of the time.

I don't need no stinkin agency studies, I've been doin my own studies fer 35 years! HAR! HAR! HAR!

[Ron C]

First the "Sort of" part: A number of years ago, I fished the U.S. Open at Lake Mead and did pretty good. Because of this, I decided to fish a Western Bass tournament (the old ones) held two weeks later. I ended up catching a tagged fish (from the U.S. Open) about a mile from where it had been released.

And then five years ago, I caught a tagged four pounder in Whiskey Slough during a WON BASS Delta Pro-Am. I sent the tag into DFG and they sent me back a detail report on that fish (and a hundred bucks!). It had been caught during a BASSMASTER Open held four weeks earlier (you know, the one that Robert Lee won - Har Har!). According to the report, the fish had been released in the San Joaquin at the mouth of Turner Cut, which meant that it, too, had traveled about a mile, but in four weeks.

And now the "I agree" part: Like Cooch, whenever I go to a lake for the first time (or one that I am not very familiar with), I always try to find out where most of the tournaments go out of. Once I have that information, I will frequently start and end each of my tournament days fishing around that/those marina(s).

Damn...I'm surprised that Cooch gave up one of my (our) better kept secrets! Oh well, that's what this forum is all about - Right Buddy?

[Tom Proffitt]

*NM*

[Cooch]

There really is no right or wrong way, toss the kitchen sink at em till ya figure out what it takes ta catch them. Somewhere in and around those marina's you are going to develope a pattern that works.

[Cooch]

we agree completely and is still in shock that I detailed our secrete pattern, but was very vague when I said, "a large number of those fish released will remain and re-adapt themselves to that new area" and did not further expand on MY experiences with fish that do migrate away from the host marinas! THere's a secrete there I ain't givin' up! HAR! HAR! HAR!

Cooch

[Ron C]

...around a marina piling once...oops....hush Ron!

[Mike]

There was a article about this in the last FLW magazine. This guy (dont remember his name) was putting radio transmiters in trophy pass, all over 10 pounds. Over the years he tracked them,and found they lived in the same area (with in a 200 yard stretch) all of their lives. Even if they were caught in a tournament, they would go back to their favorite bank. He said one even went 18 miles to get home! Anyone else read this?

[Tobe]

What a great read, if I remember correct he was a fishing guide in the state of Texas.

I'm sure we read the same article Mike and I believe it's a fact.

I think the larger more established fish will go back to their favorite haunts but the younger smaller bass may take up home close to where they were released.

If a salmon can travel thousands of miles to spawn in the same waters they were born I'm sure a bass can find his way back a couple of miles from where she was caught.

[BassTraveler]

Funny you mention it.
Mike and Tobe are correct. The latest issue of FLW Outdoors Magazine...December 2005
Bass that Beep...By Matt Williams
Quote: "The Sam Rayburn fish - all 6 and 7 pounders - were caught north of the State highway 147 Bridge and taken 18 miles south to Twin Dikes marina for weigh in. That's where Hope planted the transmitters and released the fish.
Hope relocated his study fish a week later. Amazingly, all but one of them had made the 18 mile journey back home. They were postioned in the same areas where they were caught a week earlier.
Hope assunes the transmitter fouled on the lost bass, or it got caught by another angler."

It really is a great article.
I remember Bobby Barrack and I staying up for hours one night about seven years ago talking about this one subject. We both felt Bass return to there homes, if moved.
The book sells for $20.00...check or money order to John Hope 4499 S. Highway 19, Palestine, Texas 75801
I sent off for the book two days ago.

[Mike]

I believe it too, If not Sherman Lake would have been fished out years ago!!