texasfishingforum.com logo
Main Menu
Advertisement
Affiliates
Advertisement
Newest Members
TraeMartin, Power-Pole CS, T-Rigger, JoeGoes, EcKo
119150 Registered Users
Top Posters(All Time)
hopalong 120,571
TexDawg 119,516
Bigbob_FTW 94,879
John175☮ 85,892
Pilothawk 83,260
Bob Davis 81,480
Mark Perry 72,282
Derek 🐝 68,311
JDavis7873 67,416
Forum Statistics
Forums59
Topics1,037,822
Posts13,935,129
Members144,150
Most Online39,925
Dec 30th, 2023
Print Thread
Meadowlark and other fish raisers. #13596827 06/16/20 03:46 PM
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 11,106
9094 Online Content OP
TFF Guru
OP Online Content
TFF Guru
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 11,106
Hoping you guys could shed some light on a debate over in bass fishing section on releasing fish.
many of us put ice in our livewells to coolthe water down. Lots of guys cool it down to lower than 70 degrees. Most just put in a few cubes and try to keep it in the low 80s and keep our livewells pumping all day.
Anyway if one takes a mature bass out of 60 degree livewell water and just tosses it back into 90 degree water will it hurt the fish?
I ask this because when I have bought fish to stock in my ponds I am always told to slowly temper them to the warmer water of the pond.

You guys are the experts on this so what say you?

Re: Meadowlark and other fish raisers. [Re: 9094] #13596928 06/16/20 05:22 PM
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 4,724
F
Flippin-Out Offline
TFF Team Angler
Offline
TFF Team Angler
F
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 4,724
How about considering a TPWD fisheries biologist as the expert? I watched an in-depth interview about livewell management, and the topic of temperature was brought up. He gave two basic rules to go by:

1) Do not cool the livewell water more than 30 degrees cooler than the lake surface temperature.
2) Regardless of the 30 degree gap rule, the lowest temperature you should shoot for is 70 degrees absolute.

So, by the rules the fisheries biologist gave, if the lake is 90 degrees, do not cool the livewell below 70 degrees.
He clarified that the 30 degree differential was to manage shock. The curve isn't linear, with no real advantage of going below 70 other than you're just shocking fish worse.
I think he suggested what I did years ago; I bought a floating pool thermometer to keep in my livewell to monitor the need for ice. He recommended frozen water bottles, swapped out as needed. I use 2 liter bottles. Leave the cap on them so you don't melt the ice into the lakewater.

Re: Meadowlark and other fish raisers. [Re: 9094] #13597226 06/16/20 09:07 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,128
S
salex Online Content
Extreme Angler
Online Content
Extreme Angler
S
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,128
We haul 10's of thousands of pounds of bass, shad, tilapia, bluegill, shiners ect each year. Each species handles differently. Moreover, the size (bigger fish handle better) of the fish makes a difference, how crowded you have the tank, the right amount of oxygen, and water temp are the major factors to consider.. So, lots of factors to consider when moving a fish from one environment to another environment. All other factors being equal fish do much better (less stress) in water that is 75 degrees or less. I do not like handling fish once water temps get above 80/85.

But, to answer your specific question about water temperature. Yes, it plays a role. As a general rule we try and maintain a difference of 5 degrees with most fish we sell. We accomplish this by tempering the fish (slowly bring up or down the water temp to match the temp of the environment they are moving to) In the case of moving fish from a colder environment (live well that has had ice to keep it cool and is now 60 or 70 degrees) and moving it to a 90 degree water temp could cause enough stress to cause mortality. The fish may swim away just fine, but later become a floater. While our rule of 5 degrees is conservative, I personally would not cool my live well less than 75 if I was going to release the fish into 90 degree water. As weigh in comes close, I would begin to raise the temp 5 to 10 degrees.


Steve Alexander
salexander@privatewaterfishing.com
www.privatewaterfishing.com

Re: Meadowlark and other fish raisers. [Re: salex] #13597600 06/17/20 02:19 AM
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 11,106
9094 Online Content OP
TFF Guru
OP Online Content
TFF Guru
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 11,106
Thanks for both replies guys. If it’s ok I will put on bass fishing section.
I don’t know how many guys I have heard of saying they cool below 70.
I know I killed a big fish several years just turning it lose from 65 degree water to a 90+ degree lake.

Re: Meadowlark and other fish raisers. [Re: 9094] #13598032 06/17/20 01:30 PM
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,326
M
Meadowlark Offline
TFF Team Angler
Offline
TFF Team Angler
M
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,326
"Anyway if one takes a mature bass out of 60 degree livewell water and just tosses it back into 90 degree water will it hurt the fish?"


Yes, its likely, IMO, that a mature bass will die in that circumstance. I haven't done a probability study, but based on experience I'd say the chances are not good for success. As mentioned a lot of factors go into it, not the least of which is how much stress was the fish under during the capture but all thing being equal, 60 deg to 90 deg is just too much of a shock. I wouldn't do it. By the way, the death may not be immediate but delayed hours/days.

Re: Meadowlark and other fish raisers. [Re: 9094] #13600978 06/19/20 04:43 PM
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 3,777
O
Osbornfishing Offline
TFF Team Angler
Offline
TFF Team Angler
O
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 3,777
Great discussion and remember that it works both ways. If you catch a fish and drop it in 60 degree water from 90 degree water it has the same effect.

Re: Meadowlark and other fish raisers. [Re: 9094] #13654063 08/02/20 11:24 PM
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,853
D
Dr JL Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
D
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,853
Great question and info. Thanks to all.

Re: Meadowlark and other fish raisers. [Re: 9094] #13655602 08/04/20 03:30 AM
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,520
banker-always fishing Online Content
Pumpkin Head
Online Content
Pumpkin Head
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,520
Awesome thread! thumb


[Linked Image][Linked Image]

IGFA World Record Rio Grande Cichlid. Lake Dunlap.

John 3:16

Sinner's Prayer. God forgive me a sinner. I accept Jesus Christ as my Savior !
Re: Meadowlark and other fish raisers. [Re: 9094] #13657177 08/05/20 12:26 PM
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 662
D
Dave Davidson Offline
Pro Angler
Offline
Pro Angler
D
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 662
It is my observation that fish caught out of 90 degree water have a good chance of not making it. At this time of year, I don't fish my ponds.

Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

© 1998-2022 OUTDOOR SITES NETWORK all rights reserved USA and Worldwide
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.3