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]
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