Question for Tournament Anglers

tim4081 · 08-01-10, 07:40 PM

A question for those who fish tournaments. If you hook into a large fish which is not your targeted species (such as a pike, catfish, drum etc) during a tournament and you know it will take you several minutes to land and then release the fish, what do you do? Do you bring it in and waste the precious time or do you intentionally break off or cut your line to save the minutes?

walkeraviator · 08-01-10, 08:19 PM

I would say it depends on whether the bait in the unwanted fishes mouth is producing good bass... and how many more of that particular lure do you have left in the boat... lol

skeeter1804 · 08-01-10, 08:26 PM

As an avid tournament angler I have faced this situation before and as a sportsman I have always done my best to safely land and return the fish.

carolina-rig-01 · 08-01-10, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skeeter1804

As an avid tournament angler I have faced this situation before and as a sportsman I have always done my best to safely land and return the fish.

I agree 100%. I fish a ton of tourneys and have caught several big junk fish on tourney days and never even considered cutting the line to save time. And by the time you dig out another bait and retie then how much time would you have saved anyways.

everettvet · 08-01-10, 08:54 PM

My partner caught a drum this past Saturday that was well over 10 pounds. By the way, he caught it on a shakey head with 6 pound line. We never even thought about cutting the line.

CamG · 08-01-10, 09:29 PM

Not a chance...I always land the fish and get it back ASAP!

walkeraviator · 08-01-10, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by everettvet

My partner caught a drum this past Saturday that was well over 10 pounds. By the way, he caught it on a shakey head with 6 pound line. We never even thought about cutting the line.

I had this problem at KY lake in spring slow rolling crank baits... i had one drum that had to be 20lbs... i didnt even get it in the boat... just gripped the treble hook with teh pliers and let him go... he probably would have bent the net handle...

Jrob78 · 08-01-10, 11:01 PM

I couldn't imagine the time it would take to land just about any freshwater fish would be that substantial.

jooleyen · 08-01-10, 11:07 PM

Lol. Try a 25lb carp on 6lb test! It takes a while. Especially if it's snagged.

rrw4258 · 08-02-10, 10:37 AM

I fish alot club tournaments and several regional tournaments around Ohio on Lake Erie, and we have to deal with Drum or sheephead as we call them around here. They are nothing but a trash fish to deal with when fishing tournaments. Some of them get quite hefty (15+ lbs) but we take the 3-5 minutes to land them. The big Erie catfish are getting to be annoying also, they will not leave Gulp alone! Not once have I thought about breaking one off just to save time, tournament or not.

Ryan

lilmule · 08-02-10, 11:32 AM

Not a desired species it is part of the evironment,I always land them and release.Often drum,sauger and gar inhale even floating frogs,let alone the garilc rubber.
Making it fun is to take a pic if possible.

66KingFisher · 08-02-10, 12:53 PM

I've only fished a few tournaments, but I'd have to agree with the others that no matter what the species, I'd go ahead and land and release the fish.

bassthumb32 · 08-02-10, 05:50 PM

get it up to the boat grap pliers and pinch the hook shake a little bit and it will come off done it a bunch of times in tournaments with catfish and muskie

cassidyta · 08-03-10, 12:27 PM

I don't do it in fresh water, but I have been a couple of large gmae salt water tournaments where this is failry common practice. Especially when you end up with a shark on the other end of the line. The only reason to do it in those cases is because you don't want to gaff a non keeper fish.

geezer1 · 08-03-10, 12:44 PM

I'm going to enjoy the fight, regardless of the type of fish. With that fight comes respect. Let them go to fight another day.

rangerryan · 08-04-10, 07:08 PM

They are all fun to catch no matter how stinky and slimy and toothy.

Bob Smith · 08-05-10, 07:01 PM

I release everything except bowfin (grinnel). In Texas it was in the game rules handbook to kill the fish. After you see what one of those danged critters can do to a spinnerbait, you lose all of your release the fish to live another day attitude! They are hard fighting fish though. Just don't try to lip one of those monsters.

Everything else pretty much gets released.

TN_Bassin · 08-05-10, 07:13 PM

Caught a 15 pound bowfin last thursday. Didn't bother to net him just hauled him in with the 65lb braid and popped the hook right out of his mouth. Didn't waste a second that way... but, when you hook into a fish that likes to do those bulldog runs, I try to shake it off, or I'll just fight it out and see what it is. I don't know if you can really save enough time to make a difference by cutting the line. If anything it's just something else to get into your prop or hang in the middle of nowhere.

geezer1 · 08-11-10, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Smith

I release everything except bowfin (grinnel). In Texas it was in the game rules handbook to kill the fish.

You're right Bob, I forgot about those darned Grinnel.

LarryB · 08-22-10, 11:03 AM

I land the fish, release it, check my line for frays, check my hook for sharpness, and get back to fishing the tournament.

LarryB · 08-22-10, 11:06 AM

I realize this post is regarding junk fish but once I caught an alligator while fishing Okeechoobee during a tournament. I managed to get it up to the boat but could not see my trap in its tail, where the trap was snagged, as I could not see it's head. In this case I did cut my line.

gonefishin3 · 08-31-10, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skeeter1804

As an avid tournament angler I have faced this situation before and as a sportsman I have always done my best to safely land and return the fish.

exactly what i do except i have some predators in my lake that kill my precious baby bass and there good eating

08-01-10, 07:40 PM	#1
tim4081 BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Spring Lake, Michigan Posts: 195	Question for Tournament Anglers A question for those who fish tournaments. If you hook into a large fish which is not your targeted species (such as a pike, catfish, drum etc) during a tournament and you know it will take you several minutes to land and then release the fish, what do you do? Do you bring it in and waste the precious time or do you intentionally break off or cut your line to save the minutes?

08-01-10, 11:01 PM	#8
Jrob78 BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 4,671	I couldn't imagine the time it would take to land just about any freshwater fish would be that substantial. __________________ There are 3 kinds of people in the world…those who can count and those who can’t. HRN4L

08-02-10, 10:37 AM	#10
rrw4258 BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Bellevue, Ohio Posts: 2,338	I fish alot club tournaments and several regional tournaments around Ohio on Lake Erie, and we have to deal with Drum or sheephead as we call them around here. They are nothing but a trash fish to deal with when fishing tournaments. Some of them get quite hefty (15+ lbs) but we take the 3-5 minutes to land them. The big Erie catfish are getting to be annoying also, they will not leave Gulp alone! Not once have I thought about breaking one off just to save time, tournament or not. Ryan __________________ Never Give Up!

08-02-10, 11:32 AM	#11
lilmule BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Buchanan,Tn Posts: 2,685	While Not a desired species it is part of the evironment,I always land them and release.Often drum,sauger and gar inhale even floating frogs,let alone the garilc rubber. Making it fun is to take a pic if possible.

08-02-10, 12:53 PM	#12
66KingFisher BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Mena,Arkansas Posts: 1,327	I've only fished a few tournaments, but I'd have to agree with the others that no matter what the species, I'd go ahead and land and release the fish. __________________ In memory of lost fishin buddy's, Ricky Shealy, Keith Hale, Zooker Dickerson.

08-01-10, 08:19 PM	#2
walkeraviator BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 1,119	I would say it depends on whether the bait in the unwanted fishes mouth is producing good bass... and how many more of that particular lure do you have left in the boat... lol

08-01-10, 08:26 PM	#3
skeeter1804 BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Edgerton KS Posts: 321	As an avid tournament angler I have faced this situation before and as a sportsman I have always done my best to safely land and return the fish.

08-01-10, 08:54 PM	#5
everettvet BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Paducah, KY Posts: 730	My partner caught a drum this past Saturday that was well over 10 pounds. By the way, he caught it on a shakey head with 6 pound line. We never even thought about cutting the line.

08-01-10, 09:29 PM	#6
CamG BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Superior, NE Posts: 974	Not a chance...I always land the fish and get it back ASAP!

08-01-10, 11:07 PM	#9
jooleyen BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,509	Lol. Try a 25lb carp on 6lb test! It takes a while. Especially if it's snagged.

08-02-10, 05:50 PM	#13
bassthumb32 BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Fort Loudon, PA Posts: 682	get it up to the boat grap pliers and pinch the hook shake a little bit and it will come off done it a bunch of times in tournaments with catfish and muskie __________________ MY LIFETIME GOAL IS TO KEEP AT LEAST A SMALL CASE OF BASSTHUMB FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

08-03-10, 12:27 PM	#14
cassidyta BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2,928	I don't do it in fresh water, but I have been a couple of large gmae salt water tournaments where this is failry common practice. Especially when you end up with a shark on the other end of the line. The only reason to do it in those cases is because you don't want to gaff a non keeper fish. __________________ If you have ever wondered if you should retie, the answer is yes.

08-03-10, 12:44 PM	#15
geezer1 BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Lakehills, Tx Posts: 185	I'm going to enjoy the fight, regardless of the type of fish. With that fight comes respect. Let them go to fight another day.

08-04-10, 07:08 PM	#16
rangerryan BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Ponca City, ok Posts: 432	They are all fun to catch no matter how stinky and slimy and toothy.

08-05-10, 07:01 PM	#17
Bob Smith BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Cartersville, Georgia Posts: 1,472	I release everything except bowfin (grinnel). In Texas it was in the game rules handbook to kill the fish. After you see what one of those danged critters can do to a spinnerbait, you lose all of your release the fish to live another day attitude! They are hard fighting fish though. Just don't try to lip one of those monsters. Everything else pretty much gets released. __________________ Bob Smith a.k.a. "Porko" (vintage Strike King variety!)

08-05-10, 07:13 PM	#18
TN_Bassin BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Bon Aqua,TN Posts: 1,013	Caught a 15 pound bowfin last thursday. Didn't bother to net him just hauled him in with the 65lb braid and popped the hook right out of his mouth. Didn't waste a second that way... but, when you hook into a fish that likes to do those bulldog runs, I try to shake it off, or I'll just fight it out and see what it is. I don't know if you can really save enough time to make a difference by cutting the line. If anything it's just something else to get into your prop or hang in the middle of nowhere. __________________ Other anglers are tough, but the fish are the real competition.

08-22-10, 11:03 AM	#20
LarryB BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Scottsboro AL Posts: 5	I land the fish, release it, check my line for frays, check my hook for sharpness, and get back to fishing the tournament.

08-22-10, 11:06 AM	#21
LarryB BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Scottsboro AL Posts: 5	I realize this post is regarding junk fish but once I caught an alligator while fishing Okeechoobee during a tournament. I managed to get it up to the boat but could not see my trap in its tail, where the trap was snagged, as I could not see it's head. In this case I did cut my line.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)