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| LA CROSSE, Wis. - Hundreds of dead bass have been collected from La Crosse-area river waters, days after a major fishing tournament was held in the region, a state official said.
This is the second year that higher-than-normal fish deaths were reported in the area following the Wal-Mart FLW Stren Series Bass Fishing Tournament, which attracted 400 anglers.
The majority of the fish Hobbs collected this year were largemouth, and he said the stress of being caught, held in a livewell and released might be a factor in their deaths.
The study is in response to a 2003 Wisconsin law calling for an investigation of the economic, sociological and biological impacts of catch-and-release programs in bass tournaments. Results are expected in early August.
"If we are killing the fish, we definitely want to know why," he said. "However, I also should point out that there‘s a bass-fishing tournament in La Crosse every weekend, and when‘s the last time you saw this many dead? After last year‘s tournament (which was the first year of the study)."
The agency put about 100 fish a day in 8-by-8-foot holding pens on the Black River. An equal number of tournament-caught fish and fish culled from the wild using electroshocking were kept for a side-by-side comparison.
Hobbs confirmed Stellner‘s account of the holding pens but said the electroshocked fish weren‘t among those he collected because they did not have a clipped fin.
Tournament official Dave Washburn of FLW Outdoors, based in Benton, Ky., said Monday that "clearly we‘re all concerned" about the fish deaths.
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Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources: http://dnr.wi.gov/
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Information from: La Crosse Tribune, http://www.lacrossetribune.com
© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | |
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Member
Posts: 625
Location: LaCrosse, WI | Seriously,
Do we need to start this up again? It seems that about every 3 days somebody has to come on here and start up the tournament bashing. How about rather than fighting about tournies we work together to help find solutions for these issues.
Let's talk about the studies that the FLW are taking part in to promote better live releases. I fish the Walleye League and have had my livewell tested by biologists and have answered their questions at a FLW event this year. Please believe me when I say that these tournament organizations do absolutely everything they can to release every single fish alive and well.
If you still have doubts, go to the site of a FLW weigh in around 9:00 A.M. on tourney day and see how much work goes into this. They are setting up tanks, testing water, setting up shade for the tanks and the whole nine yards. There is a ton of work put into these tournies, and I for one applaud the efforts of these organizations for doing everything they can to help these fish out. If everyone is so concerned, help come up with a viable solution and pass it on. I will personally be a huge supporter of any ideas that don't slam tournament anglers but do offer a reasonable solution to fish mortality.
Thank You,
Marshall Wuensch | |
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| Where is the bash? Looks like a link to a newspaper article to me. | |
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Location: Rhinelander | So does catch and release fishing in general, but transportation can be an issue under very warm conditions. In the grand scheme of things, tournament caused fish mortaility is a tiny segment of the overall actual harvest.
If, IMHO, conditions are too tough for a C&R event, then things might/should/could revert to a harvest format.
I'm sure the study underway will shed some light on the issue. I think the comment in the above post refers to the thread title, but that's just a guess. | |
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Member
Posts: 3899
| Catch and Kill Tourneys kill fish too. And so do catch and eat anglers. I think common sense says that way more fish are killed by the average weekend angler than are killed in tournaments.
So what is your point? | |
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Member
Posts: 625
Location: LaCrosse, WI | I was refering to the title and to the general implication caused by unregistered users posting these kinds of articles. I agree that the systems are not perfect, but my point is that they have come a long way and continue to improve. I've just seen this turn into tourney anglers vs. meat hunters too many times.
I guess my whole reason for posting a reply was to challenge our viewers who think all tournaments are meant to slaughter fish, to come and see what kind of effort is actually put into these tournaments. I don't want to beat a dead horse with the same old arguments. I want to offer an opprotunity for those who think that tourney officials don't care about the fish to come see first hand how much they do care.
Come to Marinette on Saturday or Sunday and just take a peak at the FLW crew running non-stop to get things ready for these fish. I think there will be fish Biologists at this event testing livewells and talking to boaters. This should make for some good insight. | |
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Member
Posts: 3899
| Rook,
I was actually asking observer what the point of posting the article was. Not directed at you. You gave good info, but this subject is old and tired. | |
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| Just a question what reproduces better 14-16 or 17-24 | |
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Member
Posts: 389
| Here's the original story that tells it a little better...while most of it is the same, the one posted above left out some interesting facts....that some of the mortality might have been caused by how the DNR went about their business...
Juls
Something's fishy: DNR collects hundreds of dead bass from river after tournament
By DAN SIMMONS | La Crosse Tribune
.More than 580 dead bass have been found this week in La Crosse-area river waters, only days after a major fishing tournament was held in the region, a Department of Natural Resources employee reported.
The DNR’s David Hobbs said more than 98 percent of the 582 bass he collected from Pettibone Beach to Airport Beach were marked with a clipped tail fin — evidence they were caught and released during the Wal-Mart FLW Stren Series Bass Fishing Tournament July 12-15.
This year’s die-off marks the second consecutive year of higher-than-normal mortality after the area’s largest and most lucrative bass fishing tournament. Last year, tests confirmed most of the dead fish tested positive for largemouth bass virus, a disease that causes death when the fish is stressed.
Hobbs said nearly all the dead bass he’s found this year have been largemouth, and the stress of being caught, held in a livewell and then released might be a major factor.
As part of an ongoing study, the DNR clipped the tail fins of the more than 2,000 bass caught and released during last week’s four-day tournament, which attracted 400 anglers. The study, conducted by the DNR and fishery biology researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, aims to assess mortality rates in bass-fishing tournaments.
It’s in response to a 2003 Wisconsin law that called for a study of the economic, sociological and biological impacts of catch-and-release programs in bass tournaments. Results are expected to be available in early August.
Longtime tournament angler Ed Stellner, 53, of Onalaska said he and other anglers are deeply concerned but have questions about the DNR study.
“If we are killing the fish, we definitely want to know why,” he said. “However, I also should point out that there’s a bass-fishing tournament in La Crosse every weekend, and when’s the last time you saw this many dead? After last year’s tournament (the first year of the study).”
Stellner said the DNR’s methods of conducting the study may have led to higher mortality rates.
The agency put about 100 fish a day in 8-by-8-foot holding pens near Northern States Power Co. on the Black River. An equal number of tournament-caught fish and fish the agency culled from the wild using electroshocking were kept there for a side-by-side comparison.
The pens didn’t have proper current flow, which may lead to warmer water temperatures and poor oxygenation, Stellner said. In addition, the fish were held there for up to five days, another possible source of stress, he said.
But Hobbs, while confirming Stellner’s account of the holding pens, said the electroshocked fish were not among those he collected because they did not have a clipped fin.
Longtime bass fisherman Bob Wateski, 59, said the die-off probably represents a typical “summer kill” due to low river flow and the recent higher-than-normal temperatures.
“It’s tragic that it happened,” he said, “but we need to learn from it. We can’t point fingers.”
Dan Simmons can be reached at (608) 791-8217 or [email protected].
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Member
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Location: Appleton wi | Jules thanks for posting the complete article the original post either ommitted or he copied it from a secondary newspaper that didnt post all the story. I think the sad part about this whole recent tournaments was the natural resource poeple were involved and didnt know enough to relocate the holding pens or release them sooner.Only the fish knows whats best for them and keeping them in warm stagnet water where they were not caught sounds more like making the fish die a slow death.JMHO
Edited by eye Lunker 7/26/2006 6:26 PM
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Member
Posts: 1406
| Juls,
Thanks for printing the orig. article it just shows that like any media source there is a point of view taken by the writer and personal opinion often comes out in a particular writing style as the AP picked up the story and ran with it. Why not, it is interesting and a concern of many people around the country.
I do question your statement though...."that some of the mortality might have been caused by how the DNR went about their business... " Is this your perception or something you picked up from another board or just a perception of Dan Stelners comments? Obviously he is unaware of the process and voicing his opinion as well......? because if you know something we don't I would love to hear it!
The DNR has spent MANY MANY hours and research on this topic for the past couple of years after having it rammed down their throat by special interest groups. They are as concerned as we are about what is going on and want to help make the right decissions. I think you know there were many changes made for this event after an earlier fiasco and the input from all organizations involved was considered in the handling and procedures that were done! Things like having biologists on hand to measure oxygen levels/ temperature monitoring as well as taking fish to do testing for LMBV (Largemouth Bass Virus). (I believe that is the understanding of why the caught fish died after being released from the pens, but I haven't seen an official report as of yet)
About 3000 Bass were caught and weighed, 10% of the reference bass died, 28% of the tournament bass died in the pens. Delayed mortality 18%
These numbers are right in line with the vast majority of literature out there around the country and should not be surprising to anyone other than those not familiar with tournament fishing hence making it an interesting read!
Not trying to start something here but there has been plenty of discussion about this over the past few years and unfortunately many are going to be surprised at the new rules that come out, hopefully pleasently surprised as we are all concerned about this particular resource we pursue!
Good Luck
Tyee
Edited by tyee 7/26/2006 11:43 PM
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Member
Posts: 389
| tyee - 7/27/2006 12:35 AM
I do question your statement though...."that some of the mortality might have been caused by how the DNR went about their business... " Is this your perception or something you picked up from another board or just a perception of Dan Stelners comments? Obviously he is unaware of the process and voicing his opinion as well......? because if you know something we don't I would love to hear it!
Just a statement that I didn't take the time to think out and say properly Tyee.
No one appreciates what the DNR does, or respects them more than me. 
Thanks for your insights and comments on this subject.
Juls | |
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Location: Rhinelander | Tyee,
Insightful post, sir. I agree with you, the numbers are in line with what I've seen. Juils, thanks for posting the complete article. | |
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Member
Posts: 1406
| Thanks Juls, although I digress there are ALWAYS 2 sides to every story so jumping to conclusions early is NEVER the right thing to do!
My hat goes off to the FLW in their attempt to make a difference!
Good Luck
Tyee
FLW OUTDOORS OFFERS TO HELP FUND LMBV EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL FOR USE BY
WISCONSIN DNR
Offer comes after loss of bass in recent Wisconsin DNR study
LA CROSSE, Wis. (July 26, 2006) - FLW Outdoors, operating according to
its philosophy of leaving a fishery in better shape than it was found,
has announce an offer to help fund largemouth bass virus educational
material for use by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
following reports of 582 bass found dead following a study conducted by the
DNR during a Stren Series tournament on the Mississippi River July 12-15.
"We are an organization dedicated to providing communities that
host our tournaments with significant economic benefits without ever
causing the slightest bit of harm to our natural resources," said Charlie
Evans, president and CEO of FLW Outdoors. "Healthy fisheries are the
lifeblood of our sport, and it causes us grave concern to have bass, in any
quantity, turn up dead following one of our events."
While FLW Outdoors and its tournament anglers work diligently to
curtail stress on bass by minimizing handling and using additives such as
Rejuvenade and ice in well-aerated livewells and holding tanks, the
fish caught during the July 12-15 tournament were subjected to the
elevated stress and handling of having holes punched in their tails by DNR
representatives conducting a study on mortality rates in bass-fishing
tournaments. According to a DNR official, most of the 3,061 bass released
during the tournament had their tails perforated using a paper punch. A
procedure, DNR officials say, that is common and benign.
"We are not saying that the added handing by DNR officials or that
the tail perforation caused the bass to die, but it would be naive to
discount these actions as contributing factors," Evans said. "What we've
learned the last two years, if anything, is that we still have a lot to
learn about how to conduct these studies. At some point in the process
there is a tipping point - a point of no return - where fish will not
survive. Unfortunately, we've reached that tipping point with the
handling of bass during the Wisconsin studies. The fact is, we conduct more
tournaments nationwide than any other organization, and we simply don't
see fish dying off like this when released. Yet in Wisconsin, something
terribly wrong has happened each of the past two years."
During a 2005 study held in conjunction with a Stren Series
tournament held on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, the Wisconsin DNR
reported an 86.8 percent mortality rate among largemouth bass held as a
control group. This rate exceeded the mortality rate the department
reported for tournament-caught largemouth bass by more than 11 percent. Both
the 2005 study, which found a majority of the dead bass infected with
the largemouth bass virus, and this year's study were mandated by a 2003
Wisconsin law calling for an assessment of the economic, sociological
and biological impacts of catch-and-release programs in bass
tournaments. Final results from the assessment, which will reportedly include
studies from numerous tournaments statewide, are expected in August.
"Given the wide disparity in results gathered in La Crosse from
year to year, it is clear that further study is required to make an
accurate determination as to the effects of catch-and-release tournaments in
this stretch of the Mississippi River," Evans said.
The Wisconsin studies are not the first studies aimed at accessing
the success of catch-and-release tournament programs. FLW Outdoors has
also recently worked with the Arizona Game and Fish Department on a
study that showed an extremely low 1.3 percent mortality. The study
attributed this low mortality rate, in-part, to stringent FLW Outdoors
tournament regulations for holding and transporting fish and the skill of
tournament operators in handling fish.
In Wisconsin, however, the bass were subjected to additional
handling by the Wisconsin DNR. The release locations in the Black River were
also dictated by the DNR despite concerns expressed by FLW Outdoors
officials who had proposed releasing the fish into the deeper, oxygen rich
waters of the Mississippi River. No dissolved oxygen levels in the
Black River were recorded by the Wisconsin DNR.
It's important to note that, according to David Hobbs of the
Wisconsin DNR, not all of the fish found dead in the Black River had holes
punched in their tails. If non-tournament bass died as well, it could be
an indication of poor water conditions in at least a portion of the
release site.
"The bottom line is that there is a great deal more to learn about
this subject and refinements that need to be made in how we go about
collecting data," Evans said. "As we move forward, all parties must be
diligent in protecting our fisheries, and FLW Outdoors intends to do just
that by continually evaluating and enhancing our industry-leading
conservation practices."
As a separate part of the study, Wisconsin DNR officials held bass
in three 12- by 12-foot pens tied to an inactive fuel dock in the Black
River downstream from the release site. One pen held 100 control bass
(53 largemouths and 47 smallmouths) that were collected by
electrofishing prior to the tournament. Of those fish, 13 percent of the largemouths
died and 6 percent of the smallmouths died for an overall mortality of
10 percent. A total of 212 bass (180 largemouths and 32 smallmouths)
collected on days one and two of the tournament were divided equally in
the other two pens. Of those fish, 27 percent of the largemouths and 37
percent of the smallmouths died for an overall mortality of 28 percent.
The difference between the two groups, control and experimental,
indicates an overall mortality of 18 percent. All of the fish were held in
their respective pens, without food, for five
days, and none of the fish in the pens had their tails perforated.
Dissolved oxygen levels in the area of the holding pens were reported by
the DNR at 6 to 12 parts per million. Five parts per million is generally
accepted as adequate to maintain a bass.
While pens like those used by the Wisconsin DNR are commonly used
in studies of this nature, some debate exists among biologists as to how
many bass should be held in a pen. One hundred bass per 12- by 12-foot
pen is pushing the upper limits, particularly in hot-weather
conditions, while 30 to 40 bass is considered closer to the ideal number.
In 2000, FLW Outdoors announced its partnership with the
FishAmerica Foundation, the conservation arm of the American Sportfishing
Association. Since then, FLW Outdoors has directly donated more than $285,000
and helped to generate more than $1.7 million for local conservation
projects.
This year alone, FLW Outdoors has contributed more than $5,000 for
FishAmerica Foundation conservation projects at each of its FLW Tour
events and has committed to donating an additional $14,000 on behalf of
the National Guard and leading FLW Tour pros before the end of the year.
Additionally, Energizer will make a $25,000 donation to the Children's
Miracle Network during the FLW Tour Championship in Birmingham, Ala.,
Aug. 2-5 in honor of the tour maintaining a live-release rate in excess
of 98 percent this season. In fact, the tour's live release rate has
never fallen below 98 percent.
FLW Outdoors pros are proud to visit local schools during FLW Tour
stops, meeting with children and spreading positive messages on the
importance of education, conservation and the need to protect our
environment. FLW Outdoors also promotes fishing skills and conservation through
sponsorship of a "Master Angler" patch program for the Boy Scouts of
America.
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Member
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Location: Elgin, Illinois | I absolutely have to stick my 2 cents worth of second hand information in here...
A couple of related issues the pen held fish.... It has been investigated and found that these pens themselves can cause mortality by degrading the fish's slime coat. This is in line with the information gathered when studying net caused mortality... the traditional rubber/silicone coated nylon causes mortality because it degrades the slime coat... Those darned rubber "trampolines" most of despise do the least damage and reduce mortality... If increased stress makes the fish susceptible to higher mortality... compare this.... electro shocked fish vs. hook and line caught fish I bet the electro shocked fish suffer less stress, but still some. Next, kept in a pen with maybe less than optimum water quality... more stress.... Add, livewell transportation... add weigh-in... then add the final factor... held and tails punched...
I'm hanging with the poster that asks that the post tournament handling be examined... seems to me that keeping a few hundred fish in pens... fish that have already suffered more stress than the electro shocked fish... well that could account for a whole lot of the 580+ collected dead fish...
I'm thinking that the DNR is highly prejudiced against this whole culling study and are not being "honest brokers", at worst, or, at least have adopted less than scientific procedures...
Why is it that only the FLW tourneys produce these dead fish numbers... As has been said... the LaCrosse Pool and the Savanah Pool have lots of tournaments every weekend... culling just cannot have this major of an impact... It has to be study methods... handling methods, to be specific.
Go south in Illinois... Rend Lake as an example... loads of tournaments, culling and much the same warm water... Nobody is reporting this kind of release mortality... | |
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| I don't believe there has ever been a post release mortality study after the trailers have left, except maybe by the locals that "claim" to see dead fish afterwards.
Punching the holes seems to be a pretty good way to determine what happens to them especially if the majority were black bass. Sure sounds like LBMV played a big part in this kill not so much the handling? And by the way considering the conditions, water temp etc. these numbers are right in line with the national average of bass kill in tournaments. | |
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Catch and Release Tournaments Kill Fish