I know nothing about tournaments, and I've always wondered about this. Do they all get released by where they're weighed in at? If so, I would think someone could really clean up on 'em in that spot for the next few days.

They are released back into the lake and most of them will not bite.

Yep ,sometimes the boatramp can produce some heavy stringers.

KVD started out his day fishing not far from the boat ramp during the Classic here this year if that tells you anything.

ABC fish.........Already Been Caught. I've won tournaments fishing for ABC fish.

35% of them die after release.

Did you do the research on that?

Ha

Sound strange to you,did it? What do YOU think happens to them?

Same thing that happens to them after they are caught and released by a recreational fisherman.

Go hug a tree.

Higher percent if I'm there. I keep all the 5lb plus ones.

It depends on the size of the touranment and whether there is any dead fish.

Small club tourneys, you weigh in then walk over to the bank and release your live fish back in the lake.

Bigger tourneys, i.e. skeeter owners tourney, the fish are kept in a tank by the weigh-in traler then transferred to a live release boat and taken farther out in the lake and released.

Dead fish are kept by the angler, to do with as the please, I would imagine most filet them and put them in the freezer.

I would LOVE to see the research conducted by the guy that thinks 35% of all tournament fish die. NOBODY knows that number! But, those of us that fish tournaments and fish alot in general know how resiliant fish are. And, we also know that the folks fishing in tournaments care more about the future of the sport and the safety of fish than most others. You're killing me!!

Regardless, I'm pretty sure that the survival rate of our bass in tournaments is MUCH higher than the deer that are taken in deer camps, birds in bird camps, and most other creatures that we sportsman go after for sport.