panicked bass

[bucketmouth64]

I was reading an article in bassresource.com about panicked bass. It was saying that if you happen to be on a school of bass you should put caught fish in the livewell so you can catch more. Releasing the fish will cause them to be panicked and thus it might thwart other schooling bass from striking. Do the bass emit some chemical warning to alert other bass? I've been on some schools and haven't noticed a drop in strikes. Is this something that happens with all fish species...such as panfish?

[Deitz Dittrich]

Bucketmouth-I have seen articles going both ways on this issue. I myself have seen no "proof" or "for sure data" that they have a scent or anything they may put in the water to turn off a school. I look at it this way. Not every fish is active in a school of fish, when they stop, you may have caught all the feeders?

[Ray Esboldt]

Same here. I've read articles both ways and really have never observed anything concrete enough to want to well the fish if I get on a school. I do know dumping a fish in the middle of the school seems to throw them off.

I also know I've sat and thumped on a school for a couple hours releasing all the fish immediately. I think it's just better practice to turn them loose immediately when you're out fun fishing.

Here's a trick I've learned over the years when a school goes cold. Tie on a big old crank and repeatedly run it through the outer edge of where you last contacted the school. If you can get a fish to take, that often fires up the school again. I may keep throwing the crank, or I may pick up the bait I was catching the fish on before.

[EBass]

We fished a small section of river in the fall and had 30 smallies each by days end. Everyone was released right away. I don't think it's a big deal to release them, but I'm not fishing for money, just for fun.

[Captain B.R.K]

Was the key to your success the "no shirt look"

I'd bet money it was and not your skill or luck!