Page 7 - Crappie NOW - April 2017

KEEPING FISH ALIVE & HEALTHY

is a terrible impression and could create a Conclusion
huge negative impact to the public. I’ve seen “Perception is everything, so
a couple of tournaments where released fish tournaments doing everything possible
were floating up and it doesn’t look good. to release healthy fish will keep the
“Impression is everything. The tournaments more acceptable to the public.
impression we give to the world is very Ray Scott recognized this early in the bass
important. Whether right or wrong, tournaments. Stringers of dead fish were
tournaments are viewed with a critical eye. not attractive and waters couldn’t sustain
We must do everything possible to put the all the big fish being caught. They not only
tournaments in a good light.” revised weigh-ins, but also promoted Catch
Dannenmueller says, “One tournament and Release. Eventually even recreational
has very little impact on a lake’s fish fishermen recognized the value to the sport
population. However, too many tournaments if big fish were released. Catch and Release
could be a problem. Many tournament would have never worked without the big
fishermen release all of their fish. Local push by the tournament trails and anglers.
fisherman come out and keep all the fish Maybe we need to have some selective
they can catch so they have a much bigger harvest and release programs to release our
impact for a longer period of time. bigger fish.

7 Crappie NOW April 2017