I think it was Amistad that I heard about--after a bass tournament there they had over 500 dead LMB floating in the lake.

That was at Falcon this past year... The folks of Laredo and Zapata are furious over that and it is a shame that it is getting all that attention. One of Texas' best kept secrets is out and it will become the new Lake Fork in no time. I grew up fishing that lake and I understand why folks get protective of their fishing areas.

Falcon Fish Kill

Miss Manners as for the Boga a game biologist told me it is the same for a fish as it would be to a human to be hoisted from your jaw.

I've been watching alot of WFN lately and the saltwater guys recommend using a boga grip to control the fish but then using a hand under the belly(just make sure you get it wet first) of the fish or grabbing the tail to hoist the fish on board. Wetting your hand helps to keep the slime coat on the fish. Just trying to pass on info--this is not intended to be directed at anyone in particular.

Jason you would never direct anything towards anyone... Come on man you are not like that.

So you mean to say I should not longer club fish with a 6 D-cell Mag-Lite to get them to lie still when I am removeing the hook?

I personnaly talk to them until fall silent, this I learned from my wife. Then i remove the hook while there still in the water. takes more time, and i tend to run out of things to say
Really, I never thought about it. I lip them and release. never saw a floater yet.

I think that if there were 500 dead bass it would be from some reason other than tournament bycatch...maybe the Mexicans are polluting their own fishing hole?

Oh my God this guy figured it out... We need to nominate him for a Nobel Peace Prize up there with Al Gore.

Yeah that must be it , the Mexicans are doing it!!! Or maybe it's just all the careless fisherman running amuck doing as they please and don't take good care of the quality fisheries that we have been given.. Get a clue!

This is getting good. Maybe we need a fence around the lake too.

The Bass guys are addressing it, you can see that over in the LMB section. They are always looking for better ways to hold livewell fish.

If I know the fish is going back in the water, we get a pic and get it back in the water quick.

It boils down to the fact that a hard fight, lactic acid buildup and warm water equal high mortality for fish. I really see this with BIG Hybrids.

When the water cools down they can fight hard but swim away ok, wore out, but they seem to recover.

Mexicans causing the kill? Come on...

there is a study that the Arkansas game & fish commission did several years back that talks about the catch and release and handling of striped & hybrid bass. The Mortality rates are also discussed. It is a great article. go to: www.agfc.com/ and go to the lake quachita management plan download. Just a thought, If anyone is interested. Clete

i didnt know they had stripers in arkansas? who gives them the money to buy the fish?

okay, guys, I have heard all the wrong ways. but now which is the "right" way to lift a fish....A boga and a wet hand behind the fish than lift? I think it has to do with the way you lift them up. Slow and steady, not hard a heavy fast jerk! I wouldn't want to be lifted by my jaw...SO how DO you DO this??? I have used a net and that seems to make the fish more stressed??what kind of net do you use? I have never had a big fish go belly up, as I do take care to see how its doing before I return it to the water...

I think all the dead fish was caused by folks that didn't take any care about removing a fish from the water or how they removed a barbed hook...which in my years of fishing seems to be the worse killer of fish. and that does happen, but not to often and even swallowed hooks can be removed with care and a steady hand.And if a fish isn't going to make it very long put it in the live well and bring it home and eat it! (that's if it is a legal fish) WHAT IS the best way...????

Using the treble hook is the worst thing we can do! And you guys are worried about netting fish?? You should alway cut 1 of the hooks off a treble hook(double hook)this will cut down at least half the fish you hurt.