My 2 cents (from CL thread)

OK,OK! Now can we just move on to artificials compared to bait.

OK,OK! Now can we just move on to artificials compared to bait.

Craig, you'll need to start a new thread on that one

OK,OK! Now can we just move on to artificials compared to bait.

You asked for it Craig  

"The death rate was no higher for fish caught on live bait than for those caught on artificial baits. On the first trip, mortality was 13% for live bait-caught fish, compared to 23% for artificial baits. On the second trip, it was 28% and 23%. The mortality rate was related to where the fish were hooked, however. It was 48% for fish hooked in the throat, 17% for fish hooked in the gill, and 20% for mouth-hooked fish. The percentage of throat-hooked fish was highest with plastic worms."

So natural bait should be the preferred attractant for the seriously concerned bass fisherman.

So natural bait should be the preferred attractant for the seriously concerned bass fisherman.

Or the least skilled.............let er rip 

I think this debate could go on forever.  I don't buy into the idea that it is ok to take fish whenever you like, just as most of you don't buy into the way bass fisherman feel about c&r.  In an attempt to put it down I can say that I learned the following.  I think the two sides can agree that neither C&R or catch and keep should be unconditional.  A happy medium would be understanding the other sides point of view and respecting it.  I can learn to respect the keep aspect if it is exercised by a knowledgeable angler who knows there is another side of the pond that doesn't exactly feel the same way.  I don't ever see myself not having something to say to someone who is only looks at bass as something to eat.  Again, I'm glad that this thread happened, but wish I could have started it with more finesse. 

X

As far as mutually-beneficial solutions go, they have a good idea at Lake San Antonio in southern Monterey Co. They block access to the shallows on the north end of the lake from April to June. The majority of beds are in this area, which is off-limits to all anglers. It gives the bass an opportunity to breed without disturbance from anglers, and it puts the anglers on a level playing field...the decision to fish (or not to fish) beds is taken out of the equation. They've been doing this for the past 5-6 years, maybe longer. Seems like a good idea to me.

So natural bait should be the preferred attractant for the seriously concerned bass fisherman.

I would also add that they should be using circle hooks.

http://www.bassdozer.com/articles/circle_hooks.shtml

http://www.bassfishingandcatching.com/circle-hooks.html

So natural bait should be the preferred attractant for the seriously concerned bass fisherman.

I would also add that they should be using circle hooks.

And barbless too if they intended to release the fish!

So natural bait should be the preferred attractant for the seriously concerned bass fisherman.

I would also add that they should be using circle hooks.

And barbless too if they intended to release the fish!

...and no treble hooks as well 

OK,OK! Now can we just move on to artificials compared to bait.

You asked for it Craig  

"The death rate was no higher for fish caught on live bait than for those caught on artificial baits. On the first trip, mortality was 13% for live bait-caught fish, compared to 23% for artificial baits. On the second trip, it was 28% and 23%. The mortality rate was related to where the fish were hooked, however. It was 48% for fish hooked in the throat, 17% for fish hooked in the gill, and 20% for mouth-hooked fish. The percentage of throat-hooked fish was highest with plastic worms."

Do you have a citation for this study?  This is counter to most of the research I've seen on fishing mortality.  Generally live bait is ingested deep and results in more throat hooked than most lures.  While I can see how plastic worms might be gulped down and ingested like live bait (thus causing similar high levels of mortality), many artificial lures such as spinners and crankbaits generally result in lip hooked fish and thus lower mortality.

OK,OK! Now can we just move on to artificials compared to bait.

You asked for it Craig  

"The death rate was no higher for fish caught on live bait than for those caught on artificial baits. On the first trip, mortality was 13% for live bait-caught fish, compared to 23% for artificial baits. On the second trip, it was 28% and 23%. The mortality rate was related to where the fish were hooked, however. It was 48% for fish hooked in the throat, 17% for fish hooked in the gill, and 20% for mouth-hooked fish. The percentage of throat-hooked fish was highest with plastic worms."

Do you have a citation for this study?  This is counter to most of the research I've seen on fishing mortality.  Generally live bait is ingested deep and results in more throat hooked than most lures.  While I can see how plastic worms might be gulped down and ingested like live bait (thus causing similar high levels of mortality), many artificial lures such as spinners and crankbaits generally result in lip hooked fish and thus lower mortality.

You can find the study report here:

http://www.seagrantfish.lsu.edu/resources/factsheets/catch_release.htm

If I fish with Minnows( heavens no) I use a 1/0 light wire mutu circle hook. ALL fish(bass) I have caught have been in the lip. Easily removed at minimal stress to the fish.

You can find the study report here:

http://www.seagrantfish.lsu.edu/resources/factsheets/catch_release.htm

Sonny, nice work.

OK,OK! Now can we just move on to artificials compared to bait.

You asked for it Craig 

"The death rate was no higher for fish caught on live bait than for those caught on artificial baits. On the first trip, mortality was 13% for live bait-caught fish, compared to 23% for artificial baits. On the second trip, it was 28% and 23%. The mortality rate was related to where the fish were hooked, however. It was 48% for fish hooked in the throat, 17% for fish hooked in the gill, and 20% for mouth-hooked fish. The percentage of throat-hooked fish was highest with plastic worms."

Do you have a citation for this study?  This is counter to most of the research I've seen on fishing mortality.  Generally live bait is ingested deep and results in more throat hooked than most lures.  While I can see how plastic worms might be gulped down and ingested like live bait (thus causing similar high levels of mortality), many artificial lures such as spinners and crankbaits generally result in lip hooked fish and thus lower mortality.

This is actually a synopsis of the study and doesn't give all the information. Even though they track both "treble hook lures" (I'm assuming crank baits) and plastic worms, they combine the two and report them as "artificial baits".  It's later stated that plastic worms have the highest throat hooked fish.  So it may well be that crank baits have the lowest mortality but we won't know untill we see the full report.