Releasing Fish?

[fishing tech]

A couple week ago we were at a friends cabin. We caught about 10 panfish that we kept and were going to clean. Well the bugs got so bad that when we got back to his dock we just dumped the fish there instead of cleaning them outside. (wife won't let them in the cabin) My question is, will those fish stay around there or find thier way back to where they were caught? He asked me and I have no idea.

[Nick Kuhn]

Assuming they were in good shape when released; most will just stop at the first spot that meets their needs. This is the case for panfish at least. Muskies have been noted to return right back to where they were caught, even when moved several miles.

[fishing tech]

Thanks, they were all in good shape otherwise we would have kept them and delt with the bugs while cleaning them.

[traveler]

"wife won't let them in the cabin" ?? thats just plain wrong!!