Ice Fish Mortality Rates

[Crawlerman]

One thing that has come to my mind is fish mortality rates over ice as opposed to over open water. Since I have never caught anything sizeable out of the ice that I planned to release, this topic never really concerned me that much. I remeber at Rush someone telling me that they wish they'd know I was planning to keep fish, as they said some of the larger crappies that were caught and released died under the ice. I would think the shock of the cold would be hard on the fish enough, but with a "Trophy" fish that barely fit through the hole in the first place-- It'd be rather hard to ensure it's survival, more or less even get it back through the hole! Thoughts/Statistics on the matter; esipically concerning those "hole hugger" fish?

[Pig_sticka]

the main concern in my mind is the deep water. when you catch a fish from deep water their air bladders expand in their mouths and can usually not get down the hole until it goes away. fish are stunned also because of the pressure. ever notice why a perch or crappie dont fight great coming from the deep, when they fight great in the summer in shallow. some of fish do die, just keep them and clean them, or if nothing else throw them back on the ice for the gulls or something to eat.

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Good Luck Catchin Dos PigZ!

[TNT4ME]

Whoa sticka,
better read that last sentence again, (or if nothing else throw them back on the ice), first off this is illegal, second why continue fishing if you are not going to keep them, and you know they won't live once being caught? Looks like Trent Lott syndrome here. Tread easy and think before typing, oh man of many posts.

[Pig_sticka]

i like to have fun on the posts.
i go fishin but i almost always give the fish to other people that are trying to make a meal. i cant even count the number of times i gave a walleye to 2, to someone that only had 1 or none so that they could have a meal. it is fun to catch fish and be out fishing, that is what i love. and it is even greater when i can see a smile on someones face out fishing.
i always keep the fish though that cant swim back, if they are too small i leave em in the water and hope they recouperate. i do think before posting, i dont like anyone bringin me down. good fishin, n be nice tnt.

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Good Luck Catchin Dos PigZ!

[upnorth]

What kind of a sportsman even talks about throwing them on the ice for the gulls? That is the worst thing I have seen posted on this entire HSOforum. Talk about a waste of a resource!!!

Someone should take away his fishing rod!

[Guest]

Years ago I was fishing late one night and heard a wooshing sound. I turned around and saw a great blue (grey?) heron standing at the edge of the lantern light. I threw it a 12 inch crappie which it immediately scarfed. Same for a couple of redears about the same size. Their my fish. I was going to eat them but gave them to the Heron instead. It deserves a meal also. I would do the same again and have no qualms about doing so.

[Guest]

I bet if the heron didn't eat the fish you would have picked it up and taken it home.

I am not going to "feed the zoo animals" and throw fish on the ice cuz I THINK a hungary bird will happen along it's fortunate way....Sorry but the DNR won't see it that way either.

PCG

[Dano2]

heh, heh

[Guest]

I caught several small white bass through the ice in deep water and had the same trouble. I tried to get them back down but had no luck. I took them home and gave them to a cat.

[This message has been edited by grinched (edited 12-26-2002).]

[kwkfsh]

As either Abe or Ben said(don't remember which right now). " It is better to keep ones mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open it and prove it".

[Guest]

What the hell? Throw them on the ice for the gulls to eat?

Well...I better leave that one alone. I'll just say that I hope to never see anyone doing that kinda sh!t in person.

Yes, if a fish swims off it might float up under the ice later...Proven in the fall when the Crappies go back down, and then about 20 minutes later I look around and there is 10 floating around the area, with the birds circiling overhead.

I usually go and pick them up, as most of the time they are cleanable fish anyways and I typically practice 100% catch and release...So no worries on over limit issues.

PCG

[Crappie Kid]

That was not a very well thought out statement Pigsticka. That would be like shooting deer and "leaving them for the coyotes,fox,and other animals" Or duck hunting and "leaving them for the racoons and skunks". A true Sportsman never does a thing like that. It is wasting a valuable resource. As far as Crappies go. In deep water they will usually die from being pulled up and I keep what I catch (big or small) when fishing in deep water. Weather or not I keep my limit is my business but weather or not I throw my limit on the ice for some birds is the business of all the licensed fisherman in Minnesota. And the DNR will back me up on that.

[Guest]

Well I certainly hope then that you quit fishing once you've caught 15 fish...

The DNR will NOT back you once you've kept your 16th Crappie...And by the way, if you keep over your limit it is EVERYONES business as your name and offense is reported in the court report and Outdoor News.

PCG

[Crappie Kid]

PCG, I meant weather I keep 5 or 15 or 10 or 8 or whatever the number as long as it is under 16 is my business.

[Guest]

Well then, my mistake for misinterpratation.

PCG

[Guest]

Is fishing that slow????
I believe in C&R but if there will be a mortality rate I would quit fishing,But I have many people that would like a meal kindness goes a long way.I dont target small fish but do get some and pulling out of 30ft there dead no shame in keeping them.But I think if all you are catching is small ones move and go find the big ones they are out there.

FISH ARE BITING GOOD LUCK

[Guest]

99% of the time I throw back everything I catch anyways, even if it's a 13" Crappie.

And you know what else????

Good luck fishing and Happy New Year.

PCG

[Pig_sticka]

so ur saying dont throw my limit of eyes on the ice u guys r funny. everytime out if i am not keepin fish i am giving em to another person. can i feed them? some of them look hungry. i do give my minnows to the birds though if i am done useing a bad one. is that bad? here birdy. all winter though i usually keep my minnows alive in my downstairs fridge. what bout eelpout, why you people throw them on the ice they r fish too.

[Gissert]

It looks like it is time to put a sticka in this thread......

[Guest]

Once upon a time, in a land far far from here in the long long ago lived a little old man by the name of Avant.

Avant wasn't a wealthy man, as very few were in these times, but he did value one thing. His unit.

His unit was his heart and soul. It was his hobby. It was what made men from boys, and women from girls. It was what brought him pleasure in the morning, and helped him asleep at night.

His unit went everywhere he went, tucked away nice and warm for the most part, safely riding in a cuzzled home. It was Avant's pride, his joy, and his source of evacuation.

But as Avant got older, he unit grew weaker. It became slower to respond, and didn't arise like it once did in the early morn. It required more maintenence and frequent trips during the night. Avant was losing his youth, his partner, his member...The thing he loved most..........

OK....now you can stick the thread....

PCG

[This message has been edited by Pro Crappie Guide (edited 12-27-2002).]

[Guest]

Sounts like yous guys need to go on a fishin adventure instead of spending all your time in these forums ranting about nothing or talking about somebodies personal troubles?

[Guest]

Sure is a beauitful day

[Guest]

What are you guys talking about here?mortality rates,ethics,or the effects of aging?
It is wrong to throw fish on the ice,not only ethically but legaly.Don't do it.
What would make this thread worthwhile is some real information on mortality rates.What depth does it occur?How can you help to prevent it?
I believe walleye caught below 30 feet will have a very high mortality rate.I don;t know if this is true for all species.I have heard that if you play them slowly up that the rates may decrease.Not too sure how slowly a guy would need to play that fish.Might be longer than a guy would care to.
There is also a practice of poping the bladder with a pin and then releasing the fish.Studdies have shown that this may not reduce the mortality rate becasue these fish may die from disease later on.
For these reasons if I am planning on releasing walleyes I do not fish that deep.
Has any one heard of studies on other fish and their mortality rates comming from deep water?

[This message has been edited by fishhead (edited 12-27-2002).]

[Guest]

I forseen it turning into a bicker match...So I threw in some stupid humor...

We had a great big topic on this whole issue a month ago or so. In my experince problems start at about 22 feet.

Playing them slower may help their bladders adjust, but at the same time wears the fish out, and build up of lactic acid will only harm the fish later on...

So...don't throw your fish on the ice, it's illegal, unethical, and a waste...Don't throw them back or leave them float in the hole if you can plainly see that they will not survive, and don't keep too many fish cuz that's wrong too....Forget about the practicality of the matter because all we are going to do is argue over who's right and who's wrong and further more upset forum users for wasting space...

State the facts, go fishing and have a Happy New year.

PCG

[Cyberfish]

A few years ago me and a buddy were fishing the deep hole on Buffalo lake getting catch and released at least 40 nice crappies. They all swam down after being pulled out of thirty feet. The ice was clear and about 6 inches thick with no snow, when we got ready to quit, I looked around and noticed around 8 or 9 crappies floated back up and died under the ice. they were still fresh, so i fired up my lazermag and drilled a hole about half a foot away from each one, then took an ice scoop and pulled them up through the hole, and had a good crappie dinner.

Set the Hook!

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