oxygen for bass

[dmd]

does anyone know what the best oxygen level is for bass.

[BassBest]

Under 4ppm is lethal, 7-10 is comfortable for a calm bass, after stress of catch and livewell indurance bass need twice their comfort amount to make up for the stress. Read more here:
www.oxyedge-chum.com/tournament_

mortality_bass,_crappie_&_walleye.htm - 23k

A bass will go into near lethal O2 levels if needed though, say around 3-5 ppm, and may stay a while.

Elijah Orr
Kentucky Lake Bass Club
Asst. TD
270-354-5285
[email protected]

[dmd]

hey bassbest-that was a very good article. It seems we are losing a lot more fish in tournaments than most people realize.

[BassBest]

Yes, we are losing more than we realize, I released the fish in the last Angler's Choice Ky Lake div., and we had a 6.89lb LM, and three others over 4lbs go on us. At first I wondered the kind of treatment they were or weren't getting from the people who caught them, this was our biggest loss this year, we assumed it was the swim bladder since the tx was early june, but when we went to give lessons on bleeding the bladder, we noticed the bladder was not the problem, so I assume it was an oxygen problem after that. I'm not sure if all dead fish came from the same boat but I will say that all fish were alive at the time of weighin except for the 6.89. Actually, the fish were alive when put in the holding tank after weighing them but did not have enough essentials to regain life even with the high O2 in the tank, we worked with them for 45 minutes I know.
That is just one circuit, think of all the other ones out there night and day and the numbers will rise. I do realize that some are very good at keeping fish alive, but accidents and bad days do happen. Also count in the gut hooks, we had two go in one tx for that problem, they were just over 2 lbs but that does not matter. If a fish is caught shallow to begin with, the swim bladder is not a problem, but O2 is, and as long as there is an aerator(spelling?) working properly all is ok, but the ledge fish need to be worked slowly to the top and bled when neccessary, maybe more than once. This is a problem that has been going on forever, but we will eventually overcome it for the most part, hopefully soon. When I saw that big momma slowly fall to her death, I devoted my time thereafter to ensure the safty of the bass as much as I could no matter what. I believe that teaching our younger kids to fish should be second to teaching them how to keep the fish alive.

Elijah Orr
Kentucky Lake Bass Club
Asst. TD
270-354-5285
[email protected]

[plowboy]

Your a good fellow BassBest. Keep up the good work.

[DJD]

I'll second that comment, good job BB. I know many guys who could care less about the fish and they fish all the time. Good to see someone else cares....

[dcbasser]

Anything other suggestions on making sure tournament fish survive afterwards. Hate to see a fish not survive especially when so many enjoy catching and work so hard to do so. How about all the chemicals they have come out with to put in livewells, have never used any just wondering do they help and which are best? I here a lot about it in the summer time.

[DJD]

I have used two types which most tackle shops carry i believe i have Please Release Me right now. I have used ice as well in the heat of summer but i don't have any proof the ice works. I have been told it does but i wonder how much ice?

[dcbasser]

When using ice i always just used a couple of 20 oz pop bottles frozen solid. Keeps the water nice and cool. One is usually enough to keep the livewell just right.

[plowboy]

1. All boats in a tournament must have a timer on the live well and leave it on at all times.

2.Larger penalties for dead fish

3. It would be great if one day bass boats had oxygen injectors for livewells. I know thats a long shot.

4. Educate anglers about keeping the fish alive (maybe at take off)

[BassBest]

Hey, that post about the frozen bottle thing is right on, buying bags of ice will help, but to help both of you, freeze coke bottles, milk jugs, or whatever, stays frozen longer and is cheaper, and you will also eventually have cold water to drink too. I believe that the cold water slows down the depletion of O2 since molecules move slower when cold and faster when hot.
We generally release fish by hand and not by boat. What we have had happen is some guy will release his fish and (in the warmer months) there may be a couple young boys and girls who like to take the fish out of the water before they swim off, or whatever, so in the hot days, release the fish and make sure it swims off before leaving, one day a girl (swimiing near ramp) grabbed a fish and held it out of water for several minutes, some of which I was calling out the winners and not paying attention, but whewn I saw that, I politely told her that we must put the fish in the water, a 2.79lb LM, she did, but it rolled on its side. I immediately took socks and shoes off and went in the water and spent 30 minutes working with the fish. It would jitter a little every now and then but it was out of the water too long and did not have enough essentials to sustain life. The fish was donated to the family who said they would grill the fillets that night. I was saying a few words in my mind but a kid doesn't know any better, it is our 3rd and largest loss this year in the club, (local club),
Also, If you have a holding tank don't let it get too full before releasing some bass.
When you are dealing with a gut hooked bass, try to cut the hook with pliers or something if possible to help remove hook(do this in the water), or at least take the plastic bait off the hook.
I hope someone else chimes in with more ideas, I'm sure we could use them.


Elijah Orr
Kentucky Lake Bass Club
Asst. TD
270-354-5285
[email protected]

[BassBest]

I like the part about larger penalties for dead fish, it wouldn't be too shabby to not weigh dead fish either. :)

Elijah Orr
Kentucky Lake Bass Club
Asst. TD
270-354-5285
[email protected]