Freeze Your Bass Blast

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Tag Watson on January 15, 2009 at 7:11am

Regardless whether there is a 3 fish limit or 5 fish limit, having a tournament this early is a great way to thin out the smallmouth population a little. Smallmouth are ferocious predators and eat ALL the salmon smolt. Just kidding...Potentially, up to 20% or more of the smallmouth that are weighed in could be dead. Unfortunately, a large percentage of the smallies that are released alive will have delayed mortality. There have been some extensive studies done on winter tournaments in the Northeast and the mortality at these events is huge. So huge, in fact, that a large majority of these early tournaments are no longer in existence.

There are a couple reasons for this: 1) Most anglers do not know how to properly fizz and care for deep caught fish. 2) The stress is so substantial on these fish, yanking them out of deep, cold water, poking them with the needle and hauling them around in your livewell all day. This leads to high fish mortality and even greater delayed mortality. However, this does not apply to winter fishing in general. Typically, during winter, you catch your fish and release it immediately to swim straight back down. A perfect example is Deuce and C-Ride's vid clips. They land the fish, perhaps snap a quick pic and the fish goes back in the water quickly. They understand the importance of getting these deep caught winter fish back in the water as soon as possible. I really commend them for setting such a great example. Optimum fish care is just not possible in a tournament situation this time of year. That being said, I think it is a great event and the fishing in February can be lights out. In my opinion, I think it is just a little too early to hold a tournament if the well being of the bass is truly a consideration.

I say make it a two day event. More dead smallies means more food for the largemouth! Please keep in mind, these are strictly my opinions. I am not a fisheries biologist so other than last years results, conversations I've had with people more knowledgeable on the subject than myself, and the reading I have done, I understand I am not too qualified to speak on this topic. Heck, I will probably be there if I can find a babysitter!

Permalink Reply by Troy Pattillo on January 15, 2009 at 5:21pm

Who has a back seat? I may as well get killing fish unnecessarily off my to do list. Besides I need to learn how to fizz these bastards anyway so why not in a higher than normal stress environment. If the person I am fishing with keeps screaming at me long enough I will eventually get it...get it?

Permalink Reply by troy kelly on January 15, 2009 at 6:00pm

thinking about fishing this event and i dont like the change at all.

troy

Permalink Reply by Chris Howell on January 15, 2009 at 10:30pm

I agree that the 3 fish limit is a crock as well. If I could fish like some of you guys do in the winter I'd be all over this tourney (but I can't so I'll cry later).

February is tough (for the average mortal) to get out and fish a tourney that you've got to catch fish 40+ feet deep, fizz 'em, keep them alive, and not freeze your @ss off while doing it. I think this move was for that and for attendance. Evergreen just wants to make sure there's a feild of 20-25 boats. The $1k big fish creates more boats and a bigger pot size. The 3 fish limit helps make sure those boats that can't seem to catch more than 2 or 3 fish are coming back for another try.

Guys like Jordan, Tag, Hobbs, Wolski, Marcantonio, and a few more have a serious chance at taking down the freeze your bass tourney and with that said...the competition between you guys will make for a great tourney. You will have to really be on your game to bring in the winning bag. Instead of being a 3 or 4 boat race out of 22...it will be an 8 or 9 boat race out of 28, maybe more...and that creates intrest and more boats in the water for next year. And don't forget, every tourney needs it's "fishies" to make it worth showin' up.

I think this tourney will have a great turnout, it will be run better than last year, and Evergreen will listen to every suggestion you have about how to make their tourney better. I would highly suggest you start with a 5 fish limit...but what do I know? I can't catch 5 in Feb.

Permalink Reply by Nick Berto on January 18, 2009 at 11:26am

I don't really agree with the 5 fish either. People who put in the time will find fish even in hard conditions...

Crumb- Those are the big dawgs! It will take a lot to beat those 5... My g/f dad got the $1000 big fish last year at the tournament and hopefully they can do a little better this year!

Anyone need a partner?! (: Up for a lot of pre-fishing!

Permalink Reply by Thayne on January 19, 2009 at 2:26pm

There is one point that no one has stressed and I know anyone who has caught a fish out of 40 plus feet of water has come accross and that is there are time were the fish will come up fast even when you are trying to bring them up slow. When this takes place there is really nothing you can do excpet to fizz them and check on them every 20 min or so. Wolsky and I had a fish last year in this toruney that came up so fast that there was nothing we could do. I fizzed the fish put it in the livewell checked on it about 5min later and it was dead. I'm not sure if there is a correct answer for this toruney except for trying to take care of your fish the best you can and if you dont know how to fizz a fish and plan on fishing in the winter make sure you take the time to learn how to fizz.

Thayne

Permalink Reply by Tag Watson on January 19, 2009 at 2:43pm

Ripalip said:

There is one point that no one has stressed and I know anyone who has caught a fish out of 40 plus feet of water has come accross and that is there are time were the fish will come up fast even when you are trying to bring them up slow. When this takes place there is really nothing you can do excpet to fizz them and check on them every 20 min or so. Wolsky and I had a fish last year in this toruney that came up so fast that there was nothing we could do. I fizzed the fish put it in the livewell checked on it about 5min later and it was dead. I'm not sure if there is a correct answer for this toruney except for trying to take care of your fish the best you can and if you dont know how to fizz a fish and plan on fishing in the winter make sure you take the time to learn how to fizz.

Thayne

Great post, Thayne. You are definitely an expert in winter fishing and fish care. Thank you for the insight. On occasion those winter fish will expire even with perfect handling and fizzing procedures.

Permalink Reply by Mark Maderos on January 19, 2009 at 4:27pm

I have purposely not fished this tourney for this reason. I love winter fishing and have only lost one fish in 5 yrs of pulling smallies from Washington and Sammamish. ( at least that I know of ) I brought a fish up from 45ft and it died while I was unhooking it. Just happens sometimes. But bringing fish up, and doing a quick release and seeing them go back down on the graph is one thing. Bringing them up and driving them around all day in a livewell and seeing the mortality rates @ this tourney, it's just not worth it. Also, bringing the limit down to 3 is just a way to try and get more people to fish it. Most people aren't good enuf to catch 5 on that lake at that time of the year. Those that are good enuf know who they are, and aren't the guys that really need to prove anything, other than to fatten their wallet. :-)
I just wish they would hold this tourney on Washington instead of Sammamish.

Permalink Reply by Brian Walters on January 19, 2009 at 8:06pm

HMM I dont like at all. Not sure what the reason is but I know alot of us spend ALOT of time on the water getting it all figured out so 3 fish kinda sucks. But I guess 3 fish really doesnt make much of a diffrence if ya catch 5 you still get your 3 biggest. I think it will be fine either way but do like the traditional 5 fish limit. Just my 2 cents.


Hope to see you all out there. Just put in your time and you will be fine

Permalink Reply by Jordan Doucet on February 1, 2009 at 10:33pm

Hi Brian,
I'm excited to fish the tourney. It sounds like you'll have a good turnout. I can only hope to win the bucket of love... I think my GF would kick my ass if i brought that home though LOL!

I hope the water cleans up a little. I was out today 2/1, and the vis was still limited less than 2 feet i would say. I'll see you there man.

-J

Permalink Reply by Thayne on February 2, 2009 at 2:24pm

Jordan. By the videos from Washington I think you already got your bucket of love! Nice day on the water.



Thayne

Permalink Reply by Jordan Doucet on February 2, 2009 at 6:16pm

Panic Minnow said:

Jordan Doucet said:

Hi Brian,
I'm excited to fish the tourney. It sounds like you'll have a good turnout. I can only hope to win the bucket of love... I think my GF would kick my ass if i brought that home though LOL!

I hope the water cleans up a little. I was out today 2/1, and the vis was still limited less than 2 feet i would say. I'll see you there man.

-J

I am sure that you had better say that Jordon, for your girlfriends sake....but I am not so sure that she wouldn't like it......Just kidding man!!
I am sure that the water will clear up a bit by the 21st....

HAHA!!! I wish that was the case Brian! Thats too funny

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