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Thinking about going out but water temps are dropping and I’m betting crappie holding is dropping deeper in the water column.
What or how do you keep small fish that are under legal length alive when catching deep?
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I've never caught a crappie deep enough so that it was a factor. Unhook, admire briefly, chuck back into lake. They zoom right back down.
If I know I’m not planning on keeping them I just play them and reel them up slowly and they usually don’t have a problem swimming away. I use to fish Lake Monticello in the winter (10” min.) and you would see a lot of dead crappie floating around. The game and fish finally changed the rules and you had to keep all crappie caught from Dec. through Feb. The game and fish were a little slow about it but they did the right thing. There is a way that you can puncture the swim bladder so that the fish can be returned to the lake. You might ask D10 on the Arkansas board about it.
I have had a few die below 25ft. all under legal length {10in} bringing up to fast Is the problem I think.
Often (especially in cold weather) when you bring them up from 20' or more, they have tendency to float on the surface of the water for sometime. Some die, some swim back down. We find the best way is to thrust them back into the water head first, right after unhooking and as quickly as possible. This head first forced dive gives them enough of a "burst" (for lack of a better term) to get them going on their way.
Yes, you see it quiet frequently in saltwater fishing for sea bass. In that case it is the air bladder and you shouldn’t bring them up too fast.
Bob
The best way I've found is to hold them by the tail and drop them straight down. I keep my net close to hand as it sometimes takes 3 or 4 drops. When they hit just right you'll see them expel some bubbles and then they take off like a shot straight down. It works for me about 80% of the time. I haven't had any luck with the fish that come up with their eyes popped out. I'm not even sure if the fish that go back down make it. The trauma and hemorrhaging may be to much to overcome.
Thanks all. I’m going to hit up d10 as mentioned.
I went today but went to small lake with no size restrictions just to be safe. Wouldn’t have matter anyways as I found them but couldn’t get them to bite well.
Holding at 18’-24’ Caught 2 crappie, 1 was swimming 1 was floating after catch.
2 white bass but both of them still released and swimming.
I guess the 2nd part to my original question is if you are on a size restriction water, what if you can’t get it to swim off?
I can’t leave them there floating. Just not in my dna. I’ll ask 10 as well.
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Not familiar with AR regulations....except maybe trout but then I just catch and release anyway. Here in TN TWRA will tell you that turtles have to eat too....let it go.Quote:
Originally Posted by Blackjeepjk
Regards
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Can't ya fizz em same as we do reef fish?
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I like to throw them in the air and let them hit the water, sort of hard. That knocks most of the locked in air out. This works. P.S - do not slam them.
I do like Crestliner. Would love to hear what D10 has to say!!!!
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From D10:
You can not keep short fish for any reason.
They recommend fizzing. Have needles at Agfc office that they give out.
Glad I asked as I would have kept anything that floated and then I’d be in hot water!
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Co-op or tractor supply also have needles for livestock that will do the job. Call and see what size the wildlife folks recommend.
Texas regulations are on some of the lakes where they ketch them extra deep first 25 MUST be kept .
that said I seen the head drop thing and the needle in the bladder thing as well .
one thing for certain if the birds are near they will feast on what don't go down .
Just by accident I had one floating and reached out with a net. I pulled it back to the boat and then pushed it down about five feet. When I turned the net just right he shot out of it. Since then I have had this work several times.
Flipping them high in the air letting them slap into the water is a great technique to use on any struggling fish..... Folks love gently laying fish back in the water but the toss in the air is actually the best way to release them if they're having issues goin back down......
I don't ever have to fish that deep for them but other issues arise at times and they need that wake up to get back down.....
I was told by a Minn DNR biologist once just because a deep water catch and release fish swims away doesn't mean it survives. One of our bigger lakes in Minn has been suspending walleye fishing (warmer water and deeper fish)mid summer because of poor survival rates of catch a release fish. I asked him about fizzing...he said that's makes a dead fish.
I've heard the same. Even the ocean charters I know that use the descending device on rockfish that can't be kept have doubt that the fish survives.Quote:
Originally Posted by Central Minn