Fish to live or to die?

[Lee Borgersen]

Correct me if I'm wrong. Am I correct in assuming MN. DNR rules state that once a fish hits your live well it's yours and not to be released later. I can agree with the reasoning do to the non culling factor. However, many of us have caught fish that we try to release and don't want to keep but, they just won't make it.

Therefore they are doomed to die and never spawn again.   We all know that fish should be handled with care and released as quickly as possible.  Unfortunately due to a photo op or long fight on lite line some fish are exhausted and just cant be revived under traditional methods no matter how hard we try.

Many fish unable to make it can be revived successfully if put in a decent live well for a period of time with the aerator running. Especially the trophy size fish. I'm not saying it's a 100 percent guarantee situation but the odds are most favorable towards survival.

Here comes the hard part. What do you do in a situation like this? Live or die?

As for me I'll place the trophy fish in the well until strong and healthy enough for release and take my chance on a ticket.

Disclaimer **

** I am in no way recommending anyone break the law. I just want to know what you would do in that situation.

[dakids]

Once in the livewell its dead.  My livewell is not the best so once the fish goes in its not coming out alive.

[Lee Borgersen]

Once in the livewell its dead.  My livewell is not the best so once the fish goes in its not coming out alive.

I guess I'm lucky since mine works very well. That's the only time I ever use it is to save a fish for release. If I keep any eater size eyes they go right in the cooler. Interesting that I'm not getting many responses on this topic. Could it be that nobody wants to incriminate themselves or is the topic just to boring

[dakids]

Well It might be that people are not catching big fish like you.

[Fawkinnae]

My first boat nothing came out of their alive - I called it the deadwell.

The boat I have now, the livewell works pretty good. I very seldom release fish from the livewell. The only situation I can think of is maybe catching one walleye and hoping for more and at the end of the day not having any additional walleyes. I might let that one go - if it seemed healthy and lively.

...and of course I'm not catching big fish like you.   

[HD]

To be honest, I have had fish in my live well for reviving them to release.
Is it wrong? Maybe.......

[pickelfarmer]

I have from time to time done just what Fawkinnae has done and kept a fish in hopes of getting more only to come up empty handed. In this case I have let a lone fish go that I knew would survive. I can also say that I have put fish In my live well thinking they were done for only to open it up a little later to see the fish doing well. In that case I let the fish go as well. I really don't see this as breaking any law? I can see however if you have a limit in the well and keep fishing to try replace one or more of the fish in the well with a larger fish as breaking the law.

[Lee Borgersen]

To be honest, I have had fish in my live well for reviving them to release.
Is it wrong? Maybe.......

2011 Minnesota fishing regulations



Catch-and-Release

Improved fishing technology and increasing fishing pressure have

caused fishing quality to decline in many waters. Catch-and-release fishing

offers anglers a way to enjoy their sport with less harm to the resource.

Find more information online.

• Don’t plan to release fish that have been on a stringer or in a livewell. ???

•Play and land the fish quickly.

•Don’t angle for fish in very deep water, unless you plan to keep what

you catch.

•Handle the fish gently and keep it in the water as much as possible.

•Do not hold the fish by the eye sockets or gills, but rather by the lower

lip or under the gill plate and also support the belly of the fish.

•Wet your hands before touching a fish to help prevent removal of its

protective slime coating.

•If a hook is deeply imbedded, cut the line so that at least an inch hangs

out of the mouth. This helps the hook to lay flush when the fish takes in

food.

•Circle hooks may help in reducing deeply hooked fish. They are made to

hook fish in the mouth.

•A fish that can be legally kept should not be released if it is bleeding

heavily, which indicates its chance of survival is poor.

•You cannot practice catch-and-release for a species during its closed season.

[HD]

Yup.....

"Don’t plan to release fish that have been on a stringer or in a livewell."

I never plan on it, but, sometimes I have done it.

[Lee Borgersen]

Yup.....

"Don’t plan to release fish that have been on a stringer or in a livewell."

I never plan on it, but, sometimes I have done it.

Good answer Are you a Lawyer?

[HD]

Let's just say...I am familiar with judicial system.... 

[Lee Borgersen]

Let's just say...I am familiar with judicial system.... 

I understand

[Lee Borgersen]

What about you General? Your always good at getting into the bottom of this technical stuff?

[stevejedlenski]

Immediately released or returned to the water– Fish must not
be retained longer than is needed at the site of capture to unhook, identify,
measure, and photograph. Placing the fish in any type of container or on a
stringer is not immediately released. Any fish not immediately released is
considered to be “reduced to possession.” (P3 Definitions.)

so yeah it would be not right. in my experience unless you have oxegen pumpin into your live well i would say its better to try and release it as soon as possible, even if it takes 20 minutes. live wells in my opinion arent good at reviving fish as they usually suck the warm water off the top. but if it works for you better to save a fish than make it a floater.

[Lee Borgersen]

Immediately released or returned to the water– Fish must not
be retained longer than is needed at the site of capture to unhook, identify,
measure, and photograph. Placing the fish in any type of container or on a
stringer is not immediately released. Any fish not immediately released is
considered to be “reduced to possession.” (P3 Definitions.)

so yeah it would be not right. in my experience unless you have oxegen pumpin into your live well i would say its better to try and release it as soon as possible, even if it takes 20 minutes. live wells in my opinion arent good at reviving fish as they usually suck the warm water off the top. but if it works for you better to save a fish than make it a floater.

Your feedback is much appreciated Steve. It sounds like some boats live well pumps don’t work as well as their intended to work. A new pump with a higher GPH rating may be in order if your so inclined. As far as the water temp from the surface goes It seems that it would be the same in the live well as it would be trying to release fish on the surface by hand.

With the live well pump running constantly it also creates some what of a current as the water is flowing in and out the overflows helping the water to run through the gills. Also with the lid closed on the well, the sun is not pounding on the fish as it does during a release by hand. My thoughts are based upon handling endangered stressed fish. Especially the larger trophy size ones. This is a good discussion and It's nice to get the input from everyone since there are a lot of varying thoughts out there to be heard. Remember this information is all opinions from individuals so let's hear from you.

[DDSBYDAY]

Lac Suel in Onterio has taken it one step further.  It is against the law to have any live fish in your live well at anytime.  You must dispatch the fish before putting it in the live well (expensive ice chest).  Many people keep clubs in their boats.  I prefer to snap the neck.  I do know that I have tried to revive fish in the live well at home with success.  I have one walleye mount that I tried everything I could but just couldn't get her to go.