http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jul/12/mueller-big-tournaments-big-problem/

A look at how a delayed fish kill has soured the locals on tournament fishing, here on the Potomac.

"As far as I'm concerned, professional bass tournaments are little more than "look how great I am" contests. They are no more related to true recreational fishing than commercial fish netting. Since it's all about making money, the participants should be made to purchase commercial fishing licenses and the organizers should have to put up high-dollar revokable deposits in the event of fish kills such as the one experienced after the recent debacle. " Lou Reimer - local angler

Nut

Scary article. Amazing how they seem to forget that the pro anglers have the right to retain those same fish and eat them the same as any person who bought a Maryland fishing licscence. Whats missing from the story is how many fish that were legally taken that did live to bite another day, not the ones that died. All of the fish could have been harvested and none return to the water. Guess you can't fix stupid

we are fortunate here in texas to some of the most educated TD's and anglers when it comes to proper fish care in tournaments. Tourney fish kills can and will lead to govt interaction/restrictions if they arent ran properly as we have been seeing over the last decade up north. a 10% delayed mortality rate is not that hard to do as long as the anglers and td's work together.

Here is another article about the same thing happening in another area but they are not blaming the tournament... They are actually mentioning that there may have been some sort of spillage.

http://www.herald-mail.com/?cmd=displaystory&story_id=226412&format=html Written by � Marlo Barnhart



It appears as if the Potomac River has had a history of such things occuring...Makes a person wonder doesn't it? Their history of high fish deaths go back to 2002 or before.

Quote from Marlo Barnhart :
Officials said area rivers and streams have bounced back and forth with fish-health issues over the last several years.

I agree Nate. Breaded and on a plate with some hush puppies and fries looks a lot more appealing than floatin belly up in a river lane.

Nut

I am amazed the liberal rag WashingtonTimes even has an Outdoor section.

I suspect there are more articles written for PETA than BASS.

One more good argument to Go out, Catch a limit, Fillet them and be happy and full(if you a good fisherman)

That articles is way too much one sided all he is doing is trying to make every tournament angler seem like a terrible person.

Thanks for posting this Nut ! And people wonder why I am so passionate about this issue. Take a nice long look at the future with the press. THAT is one of the many reasons why I am involved with what I am and conservation and have done what I have done to a certain tournament organization. Is why I have said all along....... If we don't start policing ourselves, then someone else will. The government intervention ? Enough voters get mad about this and tell these politicians you either do something about it or I won't vote for you.. Guess what . We lose. That one pic in the article says a thousand words. For those of you tournament anglers who sent me the hate PM's about this subject (27 of you)........ Take a nice LONG time reading that article.
And welcome to the future..........................

Carl wasn't an FLW tourney you got in such a heated battle with on their fish care on Amistad?

AL,
I totally agree with you...One day tournaments we'll be regulated if we don�t do as you say. Tournaments in July and August really put a hurting on these fish too.

Happy b-day Carl.

Carl I agree we need to do something ASAP or we will all be staying home in the summer months. It is my opinion that the boat makers need to start working on adding insulation & a cool well to the new rigs so it will be easier to keep these fish healthy. We already have more storage than we need in these rigs it would be very easy to use one of the storage compartments in the back as a cool well & start insulating the live wells.

My bass boat has insulated live wells and dual air jets in each box along with some catch and release formula and proper water recirculation during the day will help ensure a high level of healthy release.

What some are not aware of is this Lou guy is a local Guide on the Potomic & has ALWAYS been against tourneys on "His" Waters..