Summer Bass Need Special Care
By Vern Wagner
Conservation Director
Minnesota Bass Federation Nation
Organizers of summer bass tournaments – big and small – need to do a
better job of caring for the fish. Many mortality problems are based
on scale: The larger the tournament, the more fish to weigh, and the
more difficult it is to keep those fish alive. Small bass clubs that
bring 30 to 60 fish to a weigh-in present fewer problems, because
their catch can be weighed and released in a matter of minutes.
So, what needs to happen? Should the DNR have the authority to
modify tournament permits if weather conditions are that of extreme
heat? Should tournament organizers be required to supply ice and
livewell additives such as salt? What about the weigh-in equipment
and practices? How long can we keep bass in plastic bags without
fresh water or added oxygen?
The science and practices that support decreasing bass tournament
mortality is growing. So, when is it appropriate to hold tournament
organizers responsible for applying the science? And what should be
the official DNR responsibility in this? These are the questions
that myself and Ken Snow, conservation director of the Wisconsin
Bass Federation Nation, are asking.
As water temperature goes up, bass consume oxygen faster, and water
holds less oxygen. It takes more aeration to keep bass alive in warm
temperatures. Ten pounds of bass in a bag containing only one to two
gallons of water will reduce oxygen to lethal limits in two minutes.
The point? It’s vital (literally) to frequently exchange water while
handling fish in summer.
Here’s why: a bass’s temperature tolerance depends on the
temperature to which it is acclimated. This means that ice should be
added to livewells and holding tanks to maintain water within plus
or minus 5 degrees of the prevailing lake or river temperatures,
especially in warmer weather.
Anglers also must consider survivability in light of fish diseases
known to exist in certain areas. Largemouth bass virus has been
identified in many pools of the Mississippi. This disease first was
seen in southern waters in the early ’90s and has resulted in
significant post-tournament kills. Fortunately, LMBV has worked its
way through southern bass populations without any long-term
consequences and is likely to do so up north. But questions remain.
While LMBV is still a comparatively minor threat in the Mississippi,
is it appropriate to do DNR fish studies here? Recent research
studies in Wisconsin that held large concentrations of bass in trap
nets resulted in very high mortality. In light of recent
tournament-related fish kills, are these studies detrimental to the
overall population? Since bass aren’t routinely kept for dinner
plates, losing some fish may not be catastrophic. But in the eyes of
many, floating fish and large mortality rates create serious public
relations problems for tournament anglers.
Bass tournament mortality entails more than fish weighed in dead or
floaters found after a tournament. Survivability is an ongoing
process, influenced by age, disease, and injury. Water quality,
current flow in rivers, and dissolved oxygen levels also play a
part, as does stress caused by hooking, handling and release. Bass
anglers frequently are asked if catch-and-release tournaments harm
the fishery. In fact, most lakes with a history of frequent
tournaments don’t show signs of reduced density or lack of
recruitment. Habitat is key in determining fish populations.
Though all bass tournament anglers should take individual
responsibility for keeping summer fish in good condition, the real
need is for the large tournament circuits to lead the way. We can’t
put all the responsibility on our state DNRs to police tournament
ranks. Leadership should come from tournament organizers rather than
state mandates. Nationally known tours conducted by the FLW and BASS
– in league with their respective federations – already have a level
of influence and credibility with tournament participants that state
agencies may never approach. Organizers should make full use of
existing science to make decisions on tournament procedure, because
they are in the best position to experiment and quickly modify
techniques used for the weigh-in process.
For example, bass tournaments during periods of high heat may
require special modifications, such as perpetual weigh-in, and/or a
reduced bag limits for that day. Many good publications exist that
can help the tournament organizers cope with summer conditions.
Keeping Bass Alive is one example; using the Shimano Water Weigh-in
is another.
While tournament organizers have the credibility, state agencies
have the clout to mandate action and can move things along in a
positive direction. We see a need for these entities to work
together, perhaps by moving bass tournaments to periods when water
quality is optimal.
Individual bass anglers can also do their part to keep fish in prime
condition. Everyone can: Keep livewells well aerated; run the pumps
continuously, not just on a timer cycle; frequently exchange water;
monitor water temperatures; and add ice and salt as needed.
What about the future? We see the next best step as creation of a
tournament weighmaster certification program. Minnesota already has
taken a first step in developing a weighmaster training curriculum
for its clubs.
While summer bass tournament weigh-ins can present a challenge to
tournament organizers, the science, experience and techniques to
keep fish alive and successfully released already exist. We only
need to apply what we already know.
Written by,
Vern
Wagner
Conservation Director
Minnesota Bass Federation Nation
