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Please Don't Livewell Summer Bass on Lake Whatcom if Possible

I hit the lake on Sunday and found another floater right by the ramp. I was able to fizz it and it swam away but it wasn't in great shape. I hope it survived, no guarantees though. I saw a tracker I didn't recognize pulling out around the same time so I'm pretty sure they livewelled the fish for a while just to get pictures. It was a nice fish around 3.5 lbs but not a fish of a lifetime by any means. I wish I could say this is the first time I've seen this out there but it's not. Not even the first time this year. Killing fish this size and bigger on a regular basis couldn't be good for a fishery. Most of the fish that you catch in the summer on Lake Whatcom WILL need to be fizzed if kept in a livewell. Even if you catch them in shallower water, those fish spend lots of time out deeper and move up for brief feeding stints. If you aren't in a tournament, there is no reason to livewell bass out there this time of year. Please get a quick photo and weight if needed and get the fish back in the water as quickly as possible. If you are going to livewell a fish out there, understand that you more than likely WILL need to fizz it. Be prepared! Just a friendly FYI to keep this fishery healthy. Thanks!

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Russ Kroeker on August 12, 2014 at 9:17am

Good thoughts. I'll keep that in mind for all my lakes. I caught a shallow SM in like 5ft this weekend in E. Wa and it was having some issues after taking photos. I couldn't get it back in the net to fizz it, but it eventually went down. Thought it was a bit weird.

Permalink Reply by Ronald Hobbs, Jr. on August 21, 2014 at 8:34pm

Thanks Parnicky, why live well any fish it's just rediculous. Guys taking pictures of multiple fish when not in a tournament is a big pet peave of mine, do they not know they are breaking the law, there is a slot limit, you are not allowed to possess more than 1 fish over like 15 or 16". Game Warden should come on here and write tickets! Tournament guys are allowed to go over this that is why only in washington you have to have contest banners displayed on your motors.

Permalink Reply by Sparkles on August 22, 2014 at 4:20pm

I like to catch 15 or 20 to fill my livewell up.

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