It's the time of year that I get on my soap box and discuss the value of big bass. Every bass fisherman measures his/her success by their largest bass caught or hopes to catch a bigger one. Big bass are very important factor of bass fishing, just look at the interset of the Amistad tournament, big bass cause excitement.
This is the reason that I'm so against live bait fishing during the pre spawn and spawning periods, big bass are extremely vulnerable during this time to live bait. Most bass fisherman believe that catch and release means that the bass survive. Big bass mortality is much higher than bass between 2 1/2 to 4 lbs., because they are more susceptible to the stress of being captured and mishandled. Most bass fisherman keep a big bass to show off, photograph, weigh in or a trophy. I have put the mortality rate at over 30% due to handling. That means 70% live and 30% die from being caught. If live bait is 50% more effective, then more big bass die simply because more big bass are being caught. If big bass are valued above average size bass, then we should take measures to not allow live bait fishing during the pre spawn and spawning periods. This is also why I do not bed fish and believe high pressured lake should set aside sanctuary areas that are off limits during the spawning period. I also believe in selective harvest, if you have injured a bass keep it or keep a 1 1/2 to 2 Lb bass to eat once in awhile.
Tom
This is the reason that I'm so against live bait fishing during the pre spawn and spawning periods, big bass are extremely vulnerable during this time to live bait. Most bass fisherman believe that catch and release means that the bass survive. Big bass mortality is much higher than bass between 2 1/2 to 4 lbs., because they are more susceptible to the stress of being captured and mishandled. Most bass fisherman keep a big bass to show off, photograph, weigh in or a trophy. I have put the mortality rate at over 30% due to handling. That means 70% live and 30% die from being caught. If live bait is 50% more effective, then more big bass die simply because more big bass are being caught. If big bass are valued above average size bass, then we should take measures to not allow live bait fishing during the pre spawn and spawning periods. This is also why I do not bed fish and believe high pressured lake should set aside sanctuary areas that are off limits during the spawning period. I also believe in selective harvest, if you have injured a bass keep it or keep a 1 1/2 to 2 Lb bass to eat once in awhile.
Tom