Tuesday Night Tournament Creel Limit

[Eli]

Going forward if the water temperature is above 85 degrees at launch we will reduce the tournament creel to 1 fish to protect the fishery.  If it is at 85 degrees or below we will keep the creel at 3 fish.

Chester County Bass Masters

[map284]

Why was the last TNT a 3 fish limit, the water temp was 87+.  Is it going to be 3 fish no matter what for the rest of the tnt's?

[bfitch]

When i launched my boat, and let it sit in the water for a few minutes, the water temp was 84.7 right at the dock. That is why it was 3 fish tuesday night.

[fishinjim]

Why was the last TNT a 3 fish limit, the water temp was 87+.  Is it going to be 3 fish no matter what for the rest of the tnt's?

As bfitch said, before launching we marked temps around 84.
I did see 85 on my graph at one point, most of the night I was seeing 84 ...but was in 15 feet of water.  I wouldn't be surprised if temps were higher in the shallow parts of coves though.
Maybe this should be a discussion at the next meeting... where we check the water temps that is.

[map284]

I was fishing that day not in the tnt because I thought it would be a 1 fish limit, but my graph was saying 87-88.5 and I was deep and shallow.

[Basscat7]

I was fishing that day not in the tnt because I thought it would be a 1 fish limit, but my graph was saying 87-88.5 and I was deep and shallow.

Temp gauges in boats can vary by 1-4 degrees on various brands and in different water conditions.

[bassboogieman]

I think you guys need a thermometer, preferable digital, to take a direct measurement of water temperature in 8' of water, with the probe lowered to a depth of 3 feet, at a minimum distance of 15 yards from shore at precisely 17:45 hours.  Said spot once found to be marked by GPS coordinates, in order to be able to return to this location consistantly over the course of the Summer TNT's.
::)
You guys are getting way to technical and serious.  Quit worrying about the water temps, if the participants cannot care for their fish properly then they deserve the penalties incured for stressed or dead fish.  Temps are part of the tournament equation, you don't see other tournaments changing limits due to water conditions.  Those participating are EXPECTED to be able to care for their fish.  Every participant is on equal ground, with equal expectations.  Determining a limit for a given evening is pardong my French - Assinine.  You've got a 3 fish limit set - that's smaller than most DAYTIME tournments with hotter temperatures - that's were it should stay.  If two guys cannot maintain 3 fish (less than 12 lbs, so far) for 4 hours in the livewells on most of the boats fishing there, they need to educate themselves on how to do so.  Sounds like you guys are following recommendations of the Obama Administation, needing to mico-manage this issue because you believe that individuals are incapable of doing so themselves.  The anglers participating need to be held accountable and responsible for maintaining their catch the entire time it is their possession.  What I'd like to see you do in response to "dead/stressed" fish issues is make it known - any individual/team bringing dead/stressed fish to the scales multiple times, will be banned from participation for the remainder of the season.  That way you penalize those that are not doing this properly, rather than the entire group.  Those individuals not willing to invest in the care of their catch will suffer the consequences, those that do will not suffer any impact.

[dan61psu]

We lost ONE fish all year due to high temps.  I think our current process is fine and we are doing the right thing by declaring 86+ at the area around the ramp a one fish tourney.  Both boats read under our limit for a one fish tourney.

[bassboogieman]

It's your program, run it any way you like.  I'm just offering another opinion.  I think CCBM is being overly cautious, and possibly putting many anglers that have supported the TNT's (and know how to properly maintain their catch) at a disadvantage by making it a "lunker" tx. on any particular evening and deciding to do that at the last minute. 

[bfitch]

ok, but what about the boat that brings a dead fish to the scale twice? say we ban a regular, is that fair? these tourneys are made for the average fisherman. they dont always have a bass boat with an aerated live well.  many people show up with a jon boat and a homemade cooler live well. are we supposed to leave them guys high and dry while we accommodate the guys who can afford state of the art live wells? this isnt the B.A.S.S

[fishinjim]

are we supposed to leave them guys high and dry while we accommodate the guys who can afford state of the art live wells?

Yes. lol.
Its all part of the game... and I understand this isn't the major leagues here, but I think most of the people who fish these tournaments are smart enough to know that fish care is part of the equation.  If not, and they learn the hard way, hopefully it pushes them to take some extra care later on.
Last weeks dead fish penalty didn't effect the outcome of the payouts, but I know the guys were bummed about losing a fish, not for money or standings sake, but just because it was a dead fish.  Personally, I thought that was pretty cool.  Also thought it was cool to see another team spend a lot of time trying to revive another hurtin fish after the weigh in. 

The 85 degree temp is good in that it considers the "not state of the art" livewells that folks'll use for the TNT's.  For an evening tournament that lasts only four hours, with proper care, 90+ degrees, though not ideal, should be managable with proper fish care.
The 85 degree mark leaves a reasonable margin of error.

Mostly, I side with the boogieman on this one, but I also like map284's concern. 

Other things I'd get in to if it wasn't so past my bed time...
...delayed mortality
...fishing pressure at MC
...bucketeers vs tournaments
...frozen water bottles
...the five plus pounder we'd have had in the livewell the other night if Dan would have just dived into the water with the net.
;D

[map284]

Hey guys sorry I started a debate with this, I am on the side of boogieman too.  I know the numbers have been down this year and think this is the reason why, making a last second decision.  If you are going to have a 3 fish limit then let it stand, but some people don't compete because of the one fish limit.  I don't care how you measure the water temp. I was just saying that when I launched my boat the temp was up the whole time which deterred me from entering. 

[Pillager]

Don't be sorry you started a debate.   We should always debate the various merits, pros and cons of the rules when improvements can be made.

It's not an exact science, it's us trying to make the best decision we can on short notice.  Now once BB retires and he can monitor the water temperature all over MC on each Tuesday all summer, we'll be able to make more informed decisions.  If he brings his lap top and air card he can post those temps hourly for everyone to have a better chance to see what the bag limit will be for the TNT that night.

Although BB, my live well takes in water a couple inches under the surface, not 8 feet down...   ;D

We're sorry if a possible 1 fish limit turns some away, we really don't want that to happen as we enjoy the camaraderie that has ensued over the past 7 years, but having less dead fish at the weigh-in is certainly something we like to see.  If nothing else, it's good PR for us, and for bass tournaments in general.

On delayed mortality, are there bass that die after being released due to stress?  Undoubtedly there are.  And I have to think that the higher the water temps the higher the mortality as there is increased stress.

As far as frozen water bottles etc. goes, I go right from work to the lake.  I don't have time to get frozen water bottles etc.  I'm at the mercy of my live well pump, which on some nights I run very often.  I cycle water through my live well, not recirculate and aerate it.  There are lots of guys in my predicament.  And as noted, lots of guys trying to have some fun in less than state-of-the-art boats.  We want them to have a place to fish too.  Having a $30K+ boat should not be a requirement to fish in a tournament and have some fun.

[bassboogieman]

Get real Dave, having a $30K boat is not a prerequisite for keeping 3 bass alive for less than 4 hours.  That's an unfair (somewhat inflamatory) statement to make, and you really should know better.

As for debate - I wallow in it. 

[Pillager]

My point is some guys are fishing in small Jon boats with make shift live wells and can't afford more luxurious accommodations.  They rig up pumps etc. as best they can and are trying to have some fun.  They do a pretty good job.  Having a smaller limit is a way to help everyone out, and especially the fish.

If you don't think high water temps have an effect, start reading some of the studies out there.  If you're pumping 90+ degree water into a live well, you'd better keep your pump on all night long.  That will drain almost any battery when you turn on a depth finder, lights etc.  Then the fish don't have any chance.