Who has had tournament crappie die and lost money in summer tournaments?

This question came up in a meeting last week where a number of tournament weigh-masters attended, tournament officials and fishermen attended.

Summer tournament mortality and fishery conservation was 1 issue discussed.
I was absolutely shocked at how many tournament fishermen have experienced 1^st hand the stress and livewell death of tournament fish this past summer.

I was also shocked at the number of tournament fishermen that have experience high stress about losing tournaments because a crappie died in their livewell, batteries failing, water pumps, aerators, livewell equipment failures and many other potential problems that kills tournament fish in boat livewells in summer tournaments.

The attending weigh-masters, tournament officials as well as fishermen all acknowledged that summer tournament mortality insures additional stress for fisherman and tournament officials. Everyone acknowledged and confirmed that livewell mortality is of little or no concern when tournaments are held in the in the spring and fall. And a total non-issue, non-stressor for C&R tournaments held in winter months.

B.A.S.S. demonstrated the real ”Proof is now in the Pudding” for everyone to see: Regarding fishery conservation and summer tournament mortality. It was also discussed how B.A.S.S. solved their high summer mortality problems by simply changing the Classic tournament dates for the BassMaster Classic tournament. All B.A.S.S. did was change the tournament date to the coldest time of winter, end of February-beginning of March. This simple change in dates from (The Dog Days of Summer) to the coldest time of winter that totally eliminated tournament mortality to -0-.

his date change was a major advancement that all C&R fishing tournament directors and fishermen that are really concerned with fishery conservation.

It is now easy to actually see and discern which fishing clubs, tournament circuits, tournament officials and fishermen tournament are really concerned and willing to actually practice these proven fishery conservation measures. Fishery conservation has been a # 1 talking point promoted by all C&R fishing tournament for decades. B.A.S.S. raised the bar, making it easy for everyone to discern the difference between the real conservation minded vs. those that are really less interested in fishery conservation.

The all-day boat ride in bass boat livewells in summer tournament played a substantial part in summer tournament mortality. Tournament officials took possession of the tournament catch
Real tournament fishing conservation is a real choice now that is made by tournament officials and contestants at every fishing tournament.

Again, B.A.S.S. clearly demonstrated the conservation truth it easy for everyone to see now regarding tournament bass [fish] conservation. They totally eliminated summer tournament mortality. This also totally eliminated the stress that tournament fishermen experience.
Opinion:

Tournament fish conservation are no longer just popular, meaningless catch words parroted by tournament officials and fishermen for PR purposes.

I don't fish tournaments at all . I know if you cool the water and add oxygen the fish will live much better . Don't lower temp too much because a fast change can shock them . When limblining we use Bream for bait and they do great using oxygen over just bubbler in hot weather . Some people try adding chemicals . Some ice is good but beware of ice made from water with cholorine .

I think Bass vs. Crappie is an unfair comparison as it relates to mortality due to tournaments. The main reason for that is because, Bass or Crappie, fishermen pre-fish for days ahead of the tournaments, some for several weeks. The difference is that most Bass fishermen release all that they catch, fun fishing or pre fishing. Crappie fishermen on average keep limits every time they get a chance. This is starting to change in the Crappie world and we are starting to see more Crappie fishermen practice catch and release. My point is, one or two days of fishing a tournament and killing a few fish isn't that significant, as is the case in the Bass world since most are released during practice. Whereas the practice of keeping Crappie during prefishing is much more impactful than losing a few fish in a tournament. Just my opinion. I hope to see more Crappie fishermen practice catch and release in the future as the sport grows.

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Nice PR release, but....
I guess all the B.A.S.S. tournaments in June, July, August and September don't count?
And I am not a B.A.S.S. basher, as I have been a Lifetime member since 1978.
They have done great things to help invent an industry, but why not say that seeing a bunch of dead fish floating in the water next to the weigh-in site is bad PR.
They used to proudly display the fish on stringers when Ray first started. I thought it was a brilliant move to load all the days weighd in fish onto a pontoon and dump them back far away from the site. Keeps the dead floaters out of sight, all in the name of "fairly" redistribution of the catch back to far areas of the lake.
If you handle fish, disturbe their slime coat, keep them in warm water, and ride them around all day in a confined space that moves at 60 mph, you're going to have some dead fish. Perhaps not immediately, but some will die. That is fishing. They do make more every year.
But again, nice PR release.

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Originally Posted by Cmj

I think Bass vs. Crappie is an unfair comparison as it relates to mortality due to tournaments. The main reason for that is because, Bass or Crappie, fishermen pre-fish for days ahead of the tournaments, some for several weeks. The difference is that most Bass fishermen release all that they catch, fun fishing or pre fishing. Crappie fishermen on average keep limits every time they get a chance. This is starting to change in the Crappie world and we are starting to see more Crappie fishermen practice catch and release. My point is, one or two days of fishing a tournament and killing a few fish isn't that significant, as is the case in the Bass world since most are released during practice. Whereas the practice of keeping Crappie during prefishing is much more impactful than losing a few fish in a tournament. Just my opinion. I hope to see more Crappie fishermen practice catch and release in the future as the sport grows.

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Do you remember or miss those post tournament crappie fish frys when the contestants and their famlies feasted fried crappie fillets, the tournament catch?

I can certainly understand why people don't, won't eat bass. Especially after that bass has probably been soaking in unknown chemicals all day in bass boat livewells and released alive. They really taste bad to eat anyway. You would have to be very, very hungry to eat bass, just my opinion of bass.

Have you ever lost a crappie tournament prize because a fish died in your livewell in a summer tournament?

You've never eaten 1-1.5 pounders out of black river fileted and fried in Nona Belle's

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Originally Posted by bob331

Do you remember or miss those post tournament crappie fish frys when the contestants and their famlies feasted fried crappie fillets, the tournament catch?

I can certainly understand why people don't, won't eat bass. Especially after that bass has probably been soaking in unknown chemicals all day in bass boat livewells and released alive. They really taste bad to eat anyway. You would have to be very, very hungry to eat bass, just my opinion of bass.

Have you ever lost a crappie tournament prize because a fish died in your livewell in a summer tournament?

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Many years ago I never ate them and still don't if they are over 3 lb or so. But back then I scaled them along with everything else I caught. I started filleting them cutting the skin off and it made all the difference in the world.

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Originally Posted by bob331

Do you remember or miss those post tournament crappie fish frys when the contestants and their famlies feasted fried crappie fillets, the tournament catch?

I can certainly understand why people don't, won't eat bass. Especially after that bass has probably been soaking in unknown chemicals all day in bass boat livewells and released alive. They really taste bad to eat anyway. You would have to be very, very hungry to eat bass, just my opinion of bass.

Have you ever lost a crappie tournament prize because a fish died in your livewell in a summer tournament?

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Yes I do and yes I have. Still I think you missed my point that there are MANY more fish killed in the days leading up to a tournament due to guys keeping their fish during prefishing. That has more impact than a few fish lost on one day. And as Gomer mentioned, most of those fish that are released don't survive, so why not have a fish fry. And have you ever eaten a Bass? I actually prefer them over Crappie. Having said that, I release 98 percent of what I catch of any species because I believe in conservation, which is what I am suggesting is the real solution to the problem that you are presenting.

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I tournament fish and it's been quite a while since I lost a fish in the live well. I cool my water and add chemicals that 1) take the chlorine out of the water and 2) reduce stress and help fish replace slime. In July at the scales, my fish are bouncing the weigh plate. I don't keep any tournament fish prior to a tournament during prefishing. If I keep a 2 lb fish, there's zero chance I can catch him on tournament day/days. Livewell care and keeping fish alive is part of the requirements so that we can release as many healthy fish as possible back into the fishery.

the pre fish tournament crappie people i know carefully release the fish back in the exact same spot they found them . crappie are dumb as box of rocks and often times bite really soon after they are captured yet again .
as far as mortality goes i would think keeping them alive in really hot weather is a challenge ,especially black crappie , they seem really fragile and I often see them float or struggle to swim away after a photo in the summer months and put right back in the water when its hot outside .
just saw that 2 weeks ago with a bud in shallow water and that fish didnt even get a photo and came floating back up after it was lip hooked . i prodded it and it went on its way though .
most of the time its about impossible on most lakes for crappie anglers to actually impact the population . mother nature takes care of the ups and downs on crappie populations on her own .

Some flood control lakes have a high recuritment rate and unless lots harvested you will see stunting . Crappie are real prolific and overpopulate sometimes . Some lakes fish have so many Crappie 8 to 10'' they should be thinned out . The only lakes that are of concern right now are the small lakes like AGFC lakes IMO . I think AGFC does a fair job overall but need to look at tighter length and limits on smaller lakes than the statewide regulations . I know several small lakes that get pounded and it could be better . Some big lakes like Daranelle are cyclic populations that peak and fall every several years whether we keep them or not .:twocents