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Bass tourney release thoughts
Posted on 4/2/26 at 6:46 am
Posted on 4/2/26 at 6:46 am
Been thinking on this question for some time and haven’t come across any DNR data on the subject.
Grew up fishing Lake Eufaula (Al). One major tournament hosting site (Lakepoint Marina). Every big tourny group that comes into town (B.A.S.S. Etc) has their release tank/trailer on site, get’s hundreds of the best quality bass each day of the tourney and then probably release them in the same spot as always ( Cowikee Creek)
Through the years this has absolutely ruined the balance of the river system in the area. Up river, which formerly was the land of hawgs, rarely accounts for anything over 4 lbs anymore. For 30-40 years quality fish caught there are moved ( many before/during the spawn) down to the lake 30 miles away, never to return.
I guess I’m asking if you fellas have seen similiar results in other lakes/ river systems and if there is any way to get DNR involved in forcing the biggies to document where the fish are released ( varying each drop off point to different areas of the lake/river systems) to help revitalize once great areas to their former glory instead of merely taking the easy ( i.e. lazy) way out and releasing them all at the tourney site every day.
I’ll shut up and listen now…
Grew up fishing Lake Eufaula (Al). One major tournament hosting site (Lakepoint Marina). Every big tourny group that comes into town (B.A.S.S. Etc) has their release tank/trailer on site, get’s hundreds of the best quality bass each day of the tourney and then probably release them in the same spot as always ( Cowikee Creek)
Through the years this has absolutely ruined the balance of the river system in the area. Up river, which formerly was the land of hawgs, rarely accounts for anything over 4 lbs anymore. For 30-40 years quality fish caught there are moved ( many before/during the spawn) down to the lake 30 miles away, never to return.
I guess I’m asking if you fellas have seen similiar results in other lakes/ river systems and if there is any way to get DNR involved in forcing the biggies to document where the fish are released ( varying each drop off point to different areas of the lake/river systems) to help revitalize once great areas to their former glory instead of merely taking the easy ( i.e. lazy) way out and releasing them all at the tourney site every day.
I’ll shut up and listen now…
4
Posted on 4/2/26 at 7:02 am to AUTimbo
Caught twice
Aside from all the other craziness of the story, micky mouse reel, same guy, same dock...
The fish was taken, the eggs were harvested, it was released 3.3 miles from where she was caught and was caught again from the same dock 2 years later.
There is another story I read years back about a bass doing same thing on Toledo Bend. Caught at Indian Mounds, entered the lunker program, released at the bridge, caught again at Indian Mounds.
Aside from all the other craziness of the story, micky mouse reel, same guy, same dock...
The fish was taken, the eggs were harvested, it was released 3.3 miles from where she was caught and was caught again from the same dock 2 years later.
quote:
The fish spawned 33,649 fingerlings on its first trip to the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center (TFFC) and when it was returned following the spawn, she was released at a location approximately 3.3 miles from the dock. One way or another, she made her way back to the same spot for Gomez to catch her again.
There is another story I read years back about a bass doing same thing on Toledo Bend. Caught at Indian Mounds, entered the lunker program, released at the bridge, caught again at Indian Mounds.
Posted on 4/2/26 at 7:57 am to AUTimbo
Youtube discussing several studies on this topic
The short answer is: yes it has an immediate impact on the fish caught but the fish caught in tournaments represents a small fraction of the overall bass population. I dont know of any studies that have looked at long term trends of bass size in different parts of a lake and my guess is that too many other more important variables would make this information nearly impossible to track.
Overall lake health, shifting vegetation patterns, forage base, water levels, etc... are going to impact bass numbers and size waaaaay more than fishing pressure.
The short answer is: yes it has an immediate impact on the fish caught but the fish caught in tournaments represents a small fraction of the overall bass population. I dont know of any studies that have looked at long term trends of bass size in different parts of a lake and my guess is that too many other more important variables would make this information nearly impossible to track.
Overall lake health, shifting vegetation patterns, forage base, water levels, etc... are going to impact bass numbers and size waaaaay more than fishing pressure.
Posted on 4/2/26 at 8:38 am to The Last Coco
Extremely interesting vid there Coco
Pretty shocked with those Sam Rayburn numbers but facts are facts. ;)
Pretty shocked with those Sam Rayburn numbers but facts are facts. ;)
This post was edited on 4/2/26 at 11:00 am
Posted on 4/2/26 at 9:10 am to AUTimbo
If it can be done with trout why not bass? Surely a phd guy/gal could leverage a state agency/private money + bass org to complete a study.
LSU, in partnership with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), conducted acoustic telemetry studies on speckled trout in Lake Charles/Calcasieu Lake to track movement, habitat use, and migration patterns using implanted transmitters. Studies showed fish often utilize ship channel ledges, deep water areas, and
LSU, in partnership with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), conducted acoustic telemetry studies on speckled trout in Lake Charles/Calcasieu Lake to track movement, habitat use, and migration patterns using implanted transmitters. Studies showed fish often utilize ship channel ledges, deep water areas, and
Posted on 4/2/26 at 9:32 am to AUTimbo
Weighing in fish has to be done away with. The delayed mortality of realesed fish is huge. Even w all the
Modern improvements to live well management. The technology for Catch weight/photo release is good enough for the professional events. It’ll never happen w BASS because they want the peeps in the parking lots every afternoon . It’s archaic to me it’s still being done. MLF has the right idea
Modern improvements to live well management. The technology for Catch weight/photo release is good enough for the professional events. It’ll never happen w BASS because they want the peeps in the parking lots every afternoon . It’s archaic to me it’s still being done. MLF has the right idea
Posted on 4/2/26 at 10:08 am to redfish99
Not saying this doesn’t happen but why are we not seeing thousands of dead bass around?
One of the areas I fish there are a ton of fish being released right at the dock and it’s basically in a subdivision, I’d assume residents of subdivision would complain to someone about all the dead bass after a weekend of tournaments. I know that’s not scientific but just an observation.
One of the areas I fish there are a ton of fish being released right at the dock and it’s basically in a subdivision, I’d assume residents of subdivision would complain to someone about all the dead bass after a weekend of tournaments. I know that’s not scientific but just an observation.
Posted on 4/2/26 at 10:10 am to AUTimbo
quote:
to help revitalize once great areas to their former glory instead of merely taking the easy ( i.e. lazy) way out and releasing them all at the
BASS used to do this. They had a party barge they'd modified where they would go out and release fish. Not sure how far they went though.
Posted on 4/2/26 at 12:24 pm to geauxbrown
I know some of the guys who release red fish for the Star Tournament. Pretty much where they drop a tagged red is where it’s caught. They don’t move very far from the drop site for some reason.
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