Where do tournament released bass go?

[Bill kizer]

I got in a discussion with a fishing partner about what happens to released bass after a tournament. Based on what I have read or heard on fishing programs, I argued the majority of released bass return to the general vicinity of where they were caught.
He argued that the fish just dispersed and went wherever their hearts desire took them.
Any thoughts or knowledge on this matter?

[Saechao]

ya i was wonderin the same thing...not tryin to talk bad about anyone but i saw a tourny once where they just released the fish right there at the ramp. i was too wonderin if all those fish make the run back to there spots or what..?

[Rich hamilton]

Bill,

Some studies have been completed, Jerry McGuiness (sp) on the Bassmaster elite's has been running a tracking program for bass caught prior to the tournament. It is amazing how much time these fish spend suspended in deep water away from actual catch and release area's.

In my opinion on spotted bass lakes they will move from the release site as soon as the food source in the area is gone. Just an observation from experience. RR

[Blue_R70]

I've read a few studies of tournament released fish and the results are all over the place. Some fish make new homes very close to where they were released. Of the fish that actually returned to the spot they were caught, some made it back in a very short period while others took months and months.

In the Delta, unless the fish were caught very close to the release area, I doubt they migrate back to their original haunts since anglers cross many river and slough systems to reach their weigh in location...

[Gene Bowen]

*NM*

[Gene Bowen]

IF YOU HAVE FISHED SHASTA LAKE MUCH AND KNOW WHERE SILVERTHORN RESORT IS AND HOLIDAY HARBOR IS ON THE MC CLOUD THEN YOU CAN UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BETTER WHERE A LARGE MOUTH BASS WILL GO IN A YEARS TIME. I CAUGHT A LARGEMOUTH AT HOLIDAY HARBOR THAT HAD A FISH AND GAME TAG ON IT. I SEND THE TAG IN AND GOT THE INFO BACK WHERE IT WAS TAGGED. IT WAS TAGGED AT SILVERTHORN ONE YEAR PRIOR IN A TOURMENT AT SILVERTHORN. IT TOOK IT A YEAR TO GET TO HOLLIDAY HARBOR, AND IT ONLY GAINED ABOUT 6 OZ IN THAT YEAR. IN THOSE DAY I NEVER SEEN A RELEASE BOAT , THEY JUST RELEASED THEM A THE WEIGH IN SITE, SO THE FISH MUST HAVE TRAVELED THERE AND WAS NOT RELEASED OVER IN THAT AREA.

[snapitoff2002]

If they are released at Shasta, they go Belly UP!... I have seen so many fish not taken care of in the last 2 months... really sucks, even though there are a zillion clones in there. Last week my buddy and I tried to pop one that was floating off a main point.... very healthy looking fish that someone threw out in a tournament probably because it looked like it wasn't going to make it, and didn't. A fish close to 3 lbs is not one you want to have die on you anyhow.

[Vince E]

I have been wondering about this for a while. I have read that some tournaments send release boats out to distibute the fish around the fishery but there's no way of insuring that any given fish "makes it home".
I doubt that it matters what "home" a bass finds for itself as long as it can quickly find a source of food and some sort of cover/structure and adapt to it.
I have this vision of upwards of 100 boats with full livewells taking up to 1000 bass for a bumpy afternoon ride to a central point only to be redistibuted about the lake-- like shuffling cards.
I also wonder just how this effects the bite in any given area considering the most aggressive fish have probably been taken. Does the next fish in line move up to assume a dominant position?
I've been wondering more but I've rambled enough

[nipples]

I've seen shows and I've read a few articles on where released fish go. According to what they say, 60% will make the trip home and 40% will find a new home. But they don't give any numbers on mortality.

I personally use a product called "Catch and Release". Bass Pro sells it.

http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catalog. ... rchResults

Every weigh-in, I always hear the same comments from the guys at the scales... "these are the liveliest fish I have ever seen". I wouldn't fish a tournament without catch and release and will never go back to the other brands (Rejuvinade and Sure-Life). If you care about keeping your fish extremely healthy and happy, try some of this stuff. A little goes along way and it's worth every penny. Your fish will thank you.

It's sad about all those floaters on Shasta and it really pisses me off. If someone is going to take some clones home for dinner that is fine, but wasting fish like that, it’s totally unnecessary. There are some bozos that deserve a really good *** kicking. I swear, if I ever catch someone releasing a floater, I will kick some lazy, dumb ***, all up and down the lake.

I think fishermen should have to prove they know how to properly deflate a fish (and have a needle) in order to be able to fish a tournament. I seriously want to see that in the rules and require they successfully demonstrate the ability to save a deep caught bass before they are allowed to catch one. I have a needle in my bag at all times and I have taught a lot of guys how to deflate. The info is out there and there is no excuse for not knowing how to deflate. So for any of you TDs or club directors, this might be something to integrate into your requirements or curriculum.

[Larry Hemphill]

Has anyone ever seen a release boat around the Rattlesnake Island area at Clear Lake? They seemed to be released up (north) and down (south), but never sideways - occasional at Konocti Resort and Spa. Anybody want to guess how many bass have been given free rides from the Rattlesnake area to opposite ends of the lake in the past 20 years? Sad.

[ronwolf]

or Rodman slough for that matter. which brings us back to an earlier post about meat walls on the delta. i fished a tourney on the delta a couple years back. tough bite that day so we decided to pick up and head in a little early and stop at the meat wall on the way in by lauritzens. within 15 minutes we had a couple limits. which tells me maybe they dont go too far after release. but then again maybe they were holding to readjust before makeing there treck back. if not then how does rodman replenish itself with huge fish so fast. i thought i saw something on BASS the other day that said the fish they were tracking had travelled something like 5 miles in a day. but then again i was in and out of conciousness....napping. he he

[BASSK9]

As far as Shasta and the spot lakes go the fish should be released in China town to feed the needy. Needles should be outlawed! I hope some day O'Sama gets his head right and declares a Holy war on Spotted Bass. He could send his suicide bombers to all the Spot lakes and get on the right side of the Lord. Spot's are the Islamic terrorists of the fishery- over populating and destroying the Largemouth and Smallmouth residents. Tournament results on Spot lakes should be based on total number of Spots killed per boat. Penalty for live fish! The guy catching and killing the most wins it. Another option is to transplant a bunch of Sea Lions into Spot lakes and let them harvest those trash fish to complete extinction. Take the Lions out and replant with trout, Florida's, and Smallies. Spots have no right to be on the planet. They are suitable for the rivers and lakes of Iraq and Iran. Donate all the spot gentic stock to the Arab's and they will all commit suicide and solve our Islamic terrorist problem right away. In such a way the Spot's could redeem themselves for killing all the baby SM and LM Bass in our fisheries. I hear all this whine about a few dead Spots? Correct response would be applause because that Spot can't be killing LM and SM fry anymore? Kill them all before they take over the Delta and Clear Lake too. I hope all will join me in a declaration of war on Spotted Bass! Kill on sight! Stand tall and fight back against this criminal element of the aquatic world now!
BASSK9

[Mike]

K9, How do you feel about stotted bass??

[R Marxmiller]

I am not sure how he feels about stotted bass, but I pretty sure he has issues with spots! I used to hate them too, but I have to say they are ten times more fun to catch than largemouth, and theytaste better too!!

[MGJR]

Fellas,

There is a decent amount of information in the primary scientific literature pertaining to this subject. There have even studies on Lake Shasta.

There are factors like temperature than can influence how far fish will travel, and temparature and stress are interrelated and interdependent. The patterns of redistribution often vary between season and species of black bass.

For Shasta, tournament organizers are required to minimize the potential for mortality and most of this responsibility falls on our shoulders as anglers, we need to know how to properly deflate gas bladders if we are taking fish out of deep water. I've even caught fish in relatively shallow water that needed to be deflated. This applies not only in tournaments, but in leisure fishing as well.

In short, if the fish are released healthy they can migrate a substantial distance in a short time. Take care of your fish.

Smart alec answer: they go to the bar to mend their wounds!

Mike