“Be The Bass” My Thoughts On Catch and Release

Let me take a moment of your time to explain the importance of catch and release, any resource can be severely damaged for years if we don’t practice catch and release with the large, genetically better bass. These “superior” bass are capable of producing more genetically better bass for years to come. If they are all removed, are your children ever going to be able to enjoy this sport we cherish so much?

My question is, if you catch a Trophy bass, why kill it? This creature has withstood the test of time and nature. Do you realize that a 10 pound bass has survived some outlandishly high odds? When she was born, along with several thousand others, they had to avoid being eaten by nest robbing carp and sunfish as eggs well as when they were “Fry”. Then once her “Dad” got tired of guarding then and hunger took over she had to avoid being eaten by him. Many of her brothers and sisters didn’t make it. When she made it to the fingerling stage, she had to watch out for more predators, other bass, birds, other species of fish as well as disease’s and parasites. What a tough life huh?

Finally she reaches “Adult” size, say 12 inches. According to scientific studies, out of the thousands of eggs laid only 10-20 will actually make it to this stage. Now she has to avoid being caught by fisher people or hope that is she does get caught, they practice catch and release. She also has to watch out for other bigger bass that attempt to eat her.

One day while tournament fishing I came across this big bass, about 7 pounds, floundering around on the surface with something sticking out of its mouth. I scooped her up in my net and to my amazement this 7 pound bass was chocking on another bass, still alive mind you, that she attempted to eat that weighed at least 2 pounds and of course she couldn’t swallow it. I realized then that as far as bass are concerned, “If I can fit it in my mouth I can eat it”. I pulled the smaller bass out and even though I wanted to stick them both in the live well my ethics would not allow me to. BTW, that day good karma shined on me and I weighed in a 28.4 pound, 5 bass limit sack and won the tournament.

Anyhow, back to the subject. As time progressed and she grew she became conditioned to her surroundings and “In Tune” with what seemed normal. She learned that if something was pulling her in one direction, a line connected to a fishing pole, to run to their “Feel Safe” area’s, which is usually the nearest cover, trees, rocks, etc. run in circles and this would somehow enable her to swim freely once again, because she just broke your line. As you can see, she has gone through allot to become the trophy she is now today.

So, if you are lucky or skilled enough to catch one or more of these superior bass, take pictures, measurements and weigh her. There is nothing more satisfying and rewarding than seeing the beautiful creature swim back into the darkness after a great fight.

Of course some will want a mount made of their catch but remember that now days most taxidermists will use an already made fiberglass replica of a bass, which looks so good when their done that you could never tell that it is a glass reproduction, right down to the gills. If you take in the actual fish, most of the time they will end up throwing it away or eating it themselves.

One word of caution. Your mount will only be as good as the artist preparing it is. Be it a skin mount or a fiberglass reproduction, it still must be painted. Make sure you see some of the taxidermists work before you pay the money to have it done. See if they are good at matching real life colors, etc.

Until Next Time, Good luck and tight lines to ya!