those are some very good questions.knapperhead said:
I dont know specifically about highland reservoirs but i have caught largemouth out of water 40 foot deep.
As far as being able to safely catch and release... I have heard about anglers deflating fish that were caught in the depths you mention and releasing them safely. Then again, just because a fish swims away from the boat doesnt necessarily mean he was safe and he lived. However I still think if you landed the fish as fast as possible and then deflated the bladder properly, it should be ok to fight another day. I would think in colder months this would stand more true than in warmer months.