Air bubbles in sauger/walleye

[RJMOEN]

I have heard from numerous people that if you reel up a fish to fast and the air bladder comes out that you can make a very small incision, or pierce the air bladder and the fish will heal and return to normal life. This sounds bunk to me but I've heard it from a few older people that are very knowledgable. Any marine biologists out there? I've heard plenty of hearsay so lets keep this short if you don't have a difinitive answer. Thanks Robert

[HopkinsFishN]

Yes this is true, you can do it with a surgical needle, it is NOT recommended to do it, but if you can do it efficiently, more power to ya. Search around and you can find a good demo on it.

[deadeye]

I saw them do that at a tournament. Im not aware of the mortality but it seemed to work. One would think it would seal up pretty quick but who knows.

At LOTW we were in 30+ FOW and we just reeled them in slower. They seemed to be just fine then.

[opsirc]

First time I have hear of it.

[BRULEDRIFTER]

Not recommended!

I think it only "works" because you see the fish swim away like it's ok, however, you don't see it moments later floating belly up.

I suppose if you really understand the anatomy of a fish and have the proper tools, it may work sometimes. But considering the majority of people out there don't have a clue about the anatomy of a fish, promoting this practice is not something that should be done.

The best way to save fish that suffers this is to either plan on keeping them all, or not even fishing for them at these depths at all.

[HopkinsFishN]

No I'm sorry, it doesn't just "work because you see them swim away" I've seen pro's do this to keep fish alive in there live well and they don't swim anywhere. . . like I stated above it is not recommended to "try" it, it is not a tough task to do. You do not need to know the complete anatomy of a fish to do it you just need to know what you are doing. Sorry but not fishing for them in deeper waters is out of the question for me, one thing that does help prevent this from happening is not horsing the fish in right away. Take your time reeling the fish up and you'll have quite a few less issues.

[eve21]

When I was fishing a tournament, the pro's were calling it "fizzing".

[BRULEDRIFTER]

Well if the pros can do it.....

I guess I'm just trying to prevent every Tom, Richard and Harry out there from thinking this is a cure-all option.

Sure, it can be done. With some common sence and a little knowledge of the fish and it's anatomy it can be done with SOME success, but it's not a guarantee... and that's what I'm trying to drive home here.

[HopkinsFishN]

Well if the pros can do it.....

I guess I'm just trying to prevent every Tom, Richard and Harry out there from thinking this is a cure-all option.

Sure, it can be done. With some common sence and a little knowledge of the fish and it's anatomy it can be done with SOME success, but it's not a guarantee... and that's what I'm trying to drive home here.

It is a cure option for saving the fishes life. . .either that or just throw it back anyways with its bladder hanging out of its mouth? Atleast make an attempt to save it I say. Just some simple knowledge that will help keep ALOT more fish alive. Sorry to make this sound like an arguement here but, how do you know it's not a gaurantee? First thing you said was that it worked till the fish floated belly up moments later? Now it can sometimes work? A pro can catch fish, so can I...a pro can drive a boat too, believe it or not I can drive a boat as well. They're only human.

[fishinfey8]

I have volunteered in the ALS walleye tourney every year on Island Lake N of duluth. I work in the release pen which is where all the fish that are caught are brought to revive and release. Lots of fish that have their air bladders inflated. We do use the needle trick when necessary however, even the dnr sucess rate when doing this is about 20-30 percent survival. We build a pen that they cannot escape so I watch every single fish that's air bladder is poked and those have been the results every year...

[HopkinsFishN]

Cool info, thank you for some statistics on this.

[BRULEDRIFTER]

Look, Hopkins, "Fizzing" is just a bad idea and it is something that should not be promoted. There are many studys out there that show this is a questionable practice, at best.

Imagine the internal damage that is done by a over-inflated swim bladder protruding out of the mouth of a fish. Then imagine puncturing this sensitive organ and forcing gasses out. I can't imagine it being very good for the fish at all. Especially if it's done by a bunch of "amature biologists". Considering how many people get overly confused with the regulation book, I don't think we need to be promoting this practice so people can think they are doing the fish right by "fizzing" them.

Unless you plan on killing/keeping all the fish you catch from deep water, you shouldn't even be fishing it. The odds are just stacked too far against the fishes survival.

Please, everyone.... google "fizzing" and educate yourself about the different types of swim bladders fish possess, how they function, and the studies done on "fizzing". Don't just assume anything! Make sure to read RELIABLE info, too!

[HopkinsFishN]

Look, Hopkins, "Fizzing" is just a bad idea and it is something that should not be promoted. There are many studys out there that show this is a questionalbe practice, at best.

Imagine the internal damage that is done by a over-inflated swim bladder protruding out of the mouth of a fish. Then imagine puncturing this sensitive organ and forcing gasses out. I can't imagine it being very good for the fish at all. Especially if it's done by a bunch of "amature biologists". Considering how many people get overly confused with the regulation book, I don't think we need to be promoting this practice so people can think they are doing the fish right by "fizzing" them.

Unless you plan on killing/keeping all the fish you catch from deep water, you shouldn't even be fishing it. The odds are just stacked too far against the fishes survival.

Please, everyone.... google "fizzing" and educate yourself about the different types of swim bladders fish possess, how they function, and the studies done on "fizzing". Don't just assume anything!

As you can see above I was not promoting it as you say. I simply stated it is true, you can TRY to save the fishes life instead of just throwing a dead fish back in the water. Geez, you sound like your completely knowledgable one second and than the next I am completely lost with you. "Theres many studies out there" "I can't imagine it being very good at all" and "unless you plan on killing/keeping all the fish you catch from deep water, you shouldn't be fishing it" I've caught more fish in deep water without any effects at all than catching fish with air bladders stickin out. Have you? Has anyone seen this happen in the winter even? Im gonna guess no, the only time I have ever seen it was in the summer. So PEOPLE, lets just ban fishing deep water all together to save the fish unless you plan on killing/keeping every one. Wow is this just dumb. Get your facts straight before you start trying to tell people how or where to fish.

[fishkid]

all you have to do is reel them in slower!!!! geeze how hard is it to say. just cause some one reels it in to fast and they fizz doesnt mean i am going to stop fishing where the fish are biting. i dont know one person in the right mind that wouldnt fish where the fish are biting

[BRULEDRIFTER]

As you can see above I was not promoting it as you say. I simply stated it is true, you can TRY to save the fishes life instead of just throwing a dead fish back in the water. Geez, you sound like your completely knowledgable one second and than the next I am completely lost with you. "Theres many studies out there" "I can't imagine it being very good at all" and "unless you plan on killing/keeping all the fish you catch from deep water, you shouldn't be fishing it" H I've caught more fish in deep water without any effects at all than catching fish with air bladders stickin out. Have you? Has anyone seen this happen in the winter even? Im gonna guess no, the only time I have ever seen it was in the summer. So PEOPLE, lets just ban fishing deep water all together to save the fish unless you plan on killing/keeping every one. Wow is this just dumb. Get your facts straight before you start trying to tell people how or where to fish.

[vman11]

If we shouldn't be fishing in deep water we should tell the resorts and a majority of others on LOTW.

95% of the resort houses are in 30-35 feet soley because that is where the fish are. There are thousands of fish each day that come from that depth in that area with expanded bladders. Should we tell people/resorts not to fish in these depths?

You can pop an air bladder in 20ft of water if you horse it in fast enough.

Educating people on how to fish deep water or what to do with an expanded air bladder is better IMO than telling people not to fish deep.

[BRULEDRIFTER]

Man the internet is NUTS!

Ya'll fish where ya want, I really could care less!

The only point I EVER tried to make in this thread is that "Fizzing" is NOT a good option for fish survival.

Also, if your at all concerned about fish survival when fishing from deep water, then you should consider NOT fishing there and trying for other fish in shallower. That's all I'm trying to stress. (I guess that point didn't come out right in previous posts).

I'm also trying to stress EDUCATION! Research the swim bladder and the studies involved in "fizzing". None of them show anything positive.

Carry on with your discussion, I will no longer be participating since I am now the evil bad guy that has NO clue what he's talking about.

[nblasin]

I'm completely with ya Drifter. Yes it happens in winter just as much as summer. 30-35 fow isn't neccasarily too deep which is stated for LOW. It seems the 35 + fow is where it happens the most. Agreed that if you take your time some won't pop their air blatter but some still do. Take some of the northern MN lakes where classic walleye water is 35-50 fow mid summer. I tend to not fish it rather than kill every thing I catch. Yes I can puncture the air blatter and they'll swim away at that instance but don't have much faith that the majority of those fish are gonna be swimming to long. That's just my educated opinion. There is a reason why they are trying to switch the majority of walleye tourneys to photos rather than weigh in. Some of the mortality rates are terrible. That is why tourny fishing in MN gets so much heat. So just because a pro does it, doesn't mean it is the right thing to do. Chances are it may get the fish to the scale alive and that's about it. All to their own though, no law against it, just personal ethics I guess.

[croixflats]

So walleye tourneys know about the problem so the hide it by taking pictures instead of bringing in the dead fish. Nice!!!!!!!!! Its all about perception when it comes to these tourneys I guess.

[RJMOEN]

so...searched "fizzing" between the sites that had some actual FACTS, guestimated 30% survival. Better than 0% survival on putting back inflated. Not recommended but may work. I do understand that its best to reel in slow, but if youre fishing with kids, big or small, sometimes this is hard to teach. Thanks for responses and no more arguing like little kids!

[theicehooker]

of coarse it happens in the winter.....dont you ice fish??

[bogwalker]

Good thing we don't get so excited in person 'eh? Especially you guys who are wrong! No not you, the other guy.

[leech~~]

I'm not for this one way or another, but I did see a fishing show last Sat, where they were catching Groupers in the ocean and this guy actually showed two different tools called bladder bleeders I think? He showed where on the fish to use then and how to do it. The bladders were not hanging out or anything like that. He said they do it to help the big fish get back to the bottom sooner then fighting to get back down with all the air in them. So, just reporting what I had seen not sure if it works or not.

[Meat-Run]

Leech,

you are correct this is a recommended practice in the ocean for grouper/red snapper. Fizzing some may call it but it works well for these kind of fish when they come out of deep water. There are special tools for this and directions on the internet so do a search and you'll find plenty of infomation.

Now is this something that works on fresh water species I don't know and not sure if there has ever been a study on it but I think if a person could give it a try during the open water season and watch and see if the fish comes up after you deflate there air bladder? Lets not all get worked up about this but do your own home work and come to your own conclusion since this has become a little sensative to others.

Good Luck,

mr

[wahoo]

Meat run is correct. I fish in the Pacific a lot and at times you run into Black Sea Bass which run up to a few hundred pounds. (They are now illegal to keep in California due to overfishing, but the San Diego Sport Boats have an unwritten rule that they don't even keep them in Mexico where they are legal.) These fish come from 100-400 feet of water or more and are caught when fishing Yellowtail. The key is, of course is to, as mentioned, bring anything like that up slow, but even then from those depths they often 70% inflate. And, 100lb+ fish do not come up quickly. Typically, on the babies the needle is used and seems to work, but mortality is still higher than acceptable--this could be due to some persons using dirty needles. Hard to really say on the huge ones, but many do appear, after release to swim downward.

This happens also with various Rockfish which are small--2-7 lbs. there are limits on certain types and they must be released. The needles, which you can find online, do help, but again, the rate of mortality is estimated to be on the high side. Do not, however, just puncture the gut which can inflate and hang out of the mouth. They willl swim off, but usually die.

Some boats actually rig up a heavy sinker release rig where you clip it on the fish and lower it gradually to decompress, give a pull to release the weight and clip when deep, and this gets high marks for success.

Do not know how this would work with eyes. So, again, take a breath, control the adrenalin and reel slowly.

looking forward to LOW in couple of weeks. Fished the Brainerd area for a couple of weeks after Christmas, but a little slow. But, always nice to have real weather!

tight lines!

wahoo