Do tournament bass return to catch area after released

Pacific NW Ron · May 09, 2021, 06:54:17 PM

What are your thoughts on this.?
I saw this on my local group post today. I hadn't seen this before but found it interesting.

Bassinkorea · May 09, 2021, 07:02:31 PM

I watched this a few weeks ago and it was also discussed on a couple of podcasts I listen to.
It is very interesting for sure. In Korean tournaments we do not have any release boats whatsoever, so every single LM Bass gets released right at the one and only boat ramp.

Oldfart9999 · May 10, 2021, 06:05:50 AM

It depends on distance and ease of getting there. Bass have been found to travel several miles at times. BASS has done studies if you're interested, including tracking certain during a tournament.
Rodney

Mike Cork · May 10, 2021, 10:41:54 AM

I think this guy is putting out a lot of assumptions and I am starting to question his data. He's got another video out that is absolutely wrong, it's about mortality...

Here are a couple things I do know. The Red River (a river if that matters) had one launch for tournaments for the longest time, the best place to fish on the the Red River was the slough the launch was in. Hands down, if you needed a quick limit, launch the boat and put the trolling motor down. Now they would have holes in their lips but you could catch five quick.

A lake I fished frequently in California called San Antonio was the same way, one launch for tournaments, the first ledge out from the launch was money. You could stop their on the way out, if you were first, and catch a limit, or stop on the way in to catch one.

There are studies of bass traveling many miles to get back to their "home" area. However these are so few, an angler has to wonder if it wasn't just a traveling fish. Bass have been proven to be either school fish or loners. Loners look for cover (older fish are more prone to be loaners) and don't spend a lot of energy. School fish, younger fish, obviously follow the food source. One note: all bass are born school fish, it's a genetic survival instinct as fry. Then if the food stays good, bass will continue schooling to aid in feeding.

There is more documentation out there proving if a bass has shelter and food it will stay put, no matter where it is. If either of these change it will move. Just like water temps, O2 levels, even PH, if the water a bass is in becomes uncomfortable it will move, but if all is good it will hang feed and get fat.

But I'm just one guy with a degree in Aerospace Technologies not biology. I did stay in a comfort inn last month....

Deadeye · May 11, 2021, 04:16:38 AM

Quote from: Oldfart9999 on May 10, 2021, 06:05:50 AM
It depends on distance and ease of getting there. Bass have been found to travel several miles at times. BASS has done studies if you're interested, including tracking certain during a tournament.
Rodney

Not to sound Crude but, would you expect BASS to find anything different?

What I mean is their livelihood depends on people believing that their tournaments do not harm the Fish that they catch, ride around for hours, then release miles away from where they were caught.

While it rarely gets reported, at least enough to get noticed, there are many many Fishermen that claim there is a Huge Bass Die-Off after a Major Tournament Trail leaves an area. Bass found floating days after everyone leaves.

I know from the Elite Event that gets held in Palatka about every 2-3 years, they had a Big Holding Tank where all the fish get put into, then it gets floated down to Lake George (at least that's what they claim) and all the fish released after the Event is over. The Average Public is not allowed behind the Stage Area where the Tank is held, yet when I was there (the day Chris Lane weighed in a 39 lb bag on his way to the Win) there was talk circulating through the Crowd that there were a BUNCH of Dead Fish in the Holding Tank.

No matter what the Tour or Local Club Event, I have a Hard Time Believing that all those Big Females that are jerked off of the Bed then hauled 5-50 miles away in a Livewell for who knows how many hours, then released there actually survive and make it back to their Beds. With the Technology available today there is no reason to still do this. Catch-Weigh-Release. Put them right back in.

Bigbass201 · May 14, 2021, 11:16:22 PM

Quote from: Mike Cork on May 10, 2021, 10:41:54 AM
I think this guy is putting out a lot of assumptions and I am starting to question his data. He's got another video out that is absolutely wrong, it's about mortality...

Here are a couple things I do know. The Red River (a river if that matters) had one launch for tournaments for the longest time, the best place to fish on the the Red River was the slough the launch was in. Hands down, if you needed a quick limit, launch the boat and put the trolling motor down. Now they would have holes in their lips but you could catch five quick.

A lake I fished frequently in California called San Antonio was the same way, one launch for tournaments, the first ledge out from the launch was money. You could stop their on the way out, if you were first, and catch a limit, or stop on the way in to catch one.

There are studies of bass traveling many miles to get back to their "home" area. However these are so few, an angler has to wonder if it wasn't just a traveling fish. Bass have been proven to be either school fish or loners. Loners look for cover (older fish are more prone to be loaners) and don't spend a lot of energy. School fish, younger fish, obviously follow the food source. One note: all bass are born school fish, it's a genetic survival instinct as fry. Then if the food stays good, bass will continue schooling to aid in feeding.

There is more documentation out there proving if a bass has shelter and food it will stay put, no matter where it is. If either of these change it will move. Just like water temps, O2 levels, even PH, if the water a bass is in becomes uncomfortable it will move, but if all is good it will hang feed and get fat.

But I'm just one guy with a degree in Aerospace Technologies not biology. I did stay in a comfort inn last month....

I agree with Mike. We call them retreds. Spelling probably wrong. lol

jocko · May 22, 2021, 04:48:32 PM

The BASS weigh in show used to put trackers in released tournament fish at the ramp, most hung around the weigh in release site. A few swam down the creek to the main lake. But none swam the many miles back to their catch site.

I think over the years, they've learned how to reduce mortality. The release boats are effective, Weigh and release on the boat is best, however.

Oldfart9999 · May 24, 2021, 07:14:47 AM

I question some of what is being said, a BASS or FLW tournament would release several thousand bass at a launch, local tournaments will release bass by the hundreds over the summer at a launch, while you may be able to fill a quick limit by the launch the ability to hold all of these bass is way to limited, just not enough food and cover the bass, over time will move, maybe not to where they were caught but will move to areas where there is plenty of room, food and cover.
Rodney