A note on fish care

Is there any other species?
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Johnny A
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A note on fish care

Post by Johnny A » Wed Mar 24, 2021 7:33 am

Hooked into a good sized pre-spawn female yesterday. As she coming into the boat, I notice she started bleeding, as she was gill hooked. Obviously, I didn’t want her to die, so I turned on the live well and hoped for the best.
Fortunately, the water temp was about 52/53 F, that was in her favor. I check on her every few minutes at the beginning, then about every 10 minutes with the live well running intermittently after the initial 10 minutes.
After an hour, I figured she’s either going to make it or she’s not. I reached in and she was quite responsive and I slipped her into the lake.

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Re: A note on fish care

Post by Bronzeye » Wed Mar 24, 2021 12:40 pm

Seems like a responsible thing to do if one planned to eat the bleeding fish if she died.

Otherwise, I would think a fish would be less stressed, and so more likely to survive, in its natural habitat. Except in saltwater with sharks around.

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Re: A note on fish care

Post by toddmc » Tue Mar 30, 2021 8:12 am

Add some livewell additive also. It will help the fish heal and calm it down.

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Johnny A
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Re: A note on fish care

Post by Johnny A » Tue Mar 30, 2021 11:37 am

toddmc wrote:
Tue Mar 30, 2021 8:12 am
Add some livewell additive also. It will help the fish heal and calm it down.
I used to carry it all the time when I fished tournaments.

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BRONZEBACK32
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Re: A note on fish care

Post by BRONZEBACK32 » Tue Mar 30, 2021 2:33 pm

I've heard Sprite or Mountain Dew in a livewell or into a basses bleeding gills helps.

But, I don't recommend it myself.

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Re: A note on fish care

Post by Johnny A » Mon Apr 05, 2021 10:27 am

Chapter 2:

This morning a largemouth of about 3 lbs just crushes my EG Flat Force 4, again deep in the throat and again with the blood. This time, I took Bronzeye’s advice and release the fish directly back into the lake. Fish seemed lively enough and I remained in the area long enough to observer there was no floating within the hour.
What concerns me now is deep these fish are taking the bait.

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Re: A note on fish care

Post by reason162 » Mon Apr 05, 2021 12:26 pm

Johnny A wrote:
Mon Apr 05, 2021 10:27 am
Chapter 2:

This morning a largemouth of about 3 lbs just crushes my EG Flat Force 4, again deep in the throat and again with the blood. This time, I took Bronzeye’s advice and release the fish directly back into the lake. Fish seemed lively enough and I remained in the area long enough to observer there was no floating within the hour.
What concerns me now is deep these fish are taking the bait.
If it's the tail treble getting deep you can replace it with an Owner Single Replacement hook; keep the belly treble where it is.

I've noticed that tail treble on cranks/jerks cause inordinate amts of dmg, not just when fish inhale these lures but often that tail hook will find its way into the gills (from the outside) and eyeballs too.

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Re: A note on fish care

Post by eklikewhoa » Tue Apr 06, 2021 12:12 pm

Best thing to reduce stress and aid recovery is cool water with good surface agitation.

A bit of kosher, non additive salt will help too

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Re: A note on fish care

Post by Garfisher » Sat Apr 24, 2021 12:20 pm

BRONZEBACK32 wrote:
Tue Mar 30, 2021 2:33 pm
I've heard Sprite or Mountain Dew in a livewell or into a basses bleeding gills helps.

But, I don't recommend it myself.
https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-ne ... -with-fish
I wouldn't recommend it either

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