tournament question

[Fishwithteeth]

I heard about something interesting the other day.
I know all the musky guides down south say they quit fishing in the summer as the high water temperatures are really hard on the fish even when you release them at the side of the boat.
But then why are some of these same guys fishing tourneys in Wisconsin where they have to transport fish, and in fact this has already happened where fish were transported when water temps were near 80 and air temps nearly 10 degrees higher!!!
Are the Wisconsin fish supposed to just be tougher or is it that it's not fish on their lakes.

[Woody Goodman]

Good question, but there seems to be no answer at the moment. I would venture to guess it is more related to the number of bookings they get during the "Dog Days",which is very few. Heck,if you can cash in at a tournament or two it is as good as guiding back home. It is also a PR opportunity for them. North, South, East or West transporting a fish in hot weather can't be good. Thanks.
Woody G.

[btpf]

When you only have nice weather 3 months out of the year when are they suppose to have the tourneys? November?

[SharpHooks]

First thing would be to get rid of the transport fish tournaments. Having Fished in 2 PMTT events, Having a judge come to you is the only way to go.

[lpeitso]

Actually any Muskie Tournament in Minnesota is a non-transport tournament. You have to either have judge boats, or have witness release. The MNDNR has already taken care of this, in our state.

Lance

[john skarie]

Tournaments are getting out of hand in a lot of ways. In Cass Lake, MN this Sept. there will be a tournament every weekend for muskies.

That is situation that should not be allowed to happen.

I also believe a tournament that requires transport or holding a fish until a judge comes should not be allowed during July to mid Aug. The water is to warm, fish can easily be stressed enough to die as I have witnessed some dead fish in a local lake in the last two weeks.

Water temps. have been in the high 70's to low 80's lately, holding a fish in a net or livewell at these temps is not responsible and as far I'm concerned has no place in a "catch and release" tournament.

JS

[ben]

The deal with hot water in the south is a bit different than up north. If you look at kinkaid lake in southern IL for example. The thermalcline is at 11-14feet. With the lake being so fertile, there is not oxygen below the thermalcline. With surface temps touching the mid to high 90's and the water still being around the mid 80's 11-14 feet down there is no relief for the fish. On wisconsin waters, some of which are flowages, the surface temp may be high, but there is a cool water refuge for the fish to find. A hooked fish in kinkaid this time of year, will die maybe half way to the boat or a day or two later. I do not think transport of fish during hot water is good at all. However, I assume that the southern boys are trusting the locals to have the knowledge on their lakes. My guess the majority of the people fishing the tournament are not from the south, rather local to the area...Ben

[firstsixfeet]

Some of the southern guides say that. Others fish all summer despite the warm water temps. I guess they feel they don't endanger fish by fishing in the warm water. Currently cave run is 83 degrees at 10 feet down, goes down to low 60s at 25 feet but oxygen drops too. as summer wears on the thermocline becomes the line of life with oxygen levels so low under it that fish could not survive. Right now there is still an oxygenated cool water zone at 15 feet. However as summer continues this may disappear too. I am sure there is a higher release fatality related to warm water. How much higher I don't know. I know many choose not to fish in the summer due to that fact but the guides on Cave seem to be available to musky fish all year regardless of water temp.

[ben]

FSF, I have discussed this with a few of the guides on the cave, and their lake may be a bit different than the likes of kinkaid. I cannot however say for sure. I am just familiar with the conditions on Kinkaid, which are dismal for fish just to survive let alone be fished. I believe size of the lake may have something to do with it, and also the current on green lake and the cave seem to be strong and provide a bit more oxygen. I still think giving the southern fish a break is a great idea...Ben