Did a Fishing TOURNAMENT Devastate this Lake?!?!

In this video, we dive into the shocking reality of fish mortality at the Big Bass Splash tournament on Lake Guntersville and the possibility of tournament cheating because of it. Witnessing the unfortunate loss of fish during such events is disheartening, but as anglers and tournament organizers, there are proactive steps we can take to protect the fish and the lakes while still enjoying competitive fishing. Join us as we explore effective tournament strategies aimed at ensuring the well-being of the fish and preserving the beauty of our lakes. Let's work together to make a positive impact on the environment and the future of fishing tournaments.
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[@Flukemaster]

Back in the day I used to offer a free seminar to bass clubs and tournament organizations that covered all the details on how to keep bass alive. Nobody ever took me up on it.

[@jx-gy3od]

95 percent of the blame needs to go on bass fishing tournaments. That is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever seen. Money tournaments are officially more important than the conservation of bass fishing. They won’t stop until theres nothing left. 25 giant bass dead due to tournaments. That’s a BUNCH of eggs that won’t contribute over the next 5 years.

[@daverattigan8804]

Hi, I am the tournament director. I need to check your boat... I'm sorry you are disqualified you don't have the right live well and proper items to care for the fish.

[@salpinto4474]

I am very happy you put this out there. 100% behind everything you said Mike. We are all responsible for taking care of the wildlife we choose to pursue. Well done buddy!

[@astrophysicistguy]

Thank you for posting ! There have been several scientific, peer reviewed studies done recently that show an alarming percentage of bass die within 4 days of being released in tournaments that are held from May through October 😢. One study documented a 70% kill rate in one event. 70% !! The community is not focused on the real problem - it's not tech that is destroying our fisheries. It's the unregulated, out-of-control tournaments themselves that are the problem. At a bare minimum 'live-well' events need to go away.

[@astrophysicistguy]

Back in my 30s ... when dinosaurs roamed the earth, I fished tournaments in Tx and Ca. Back then tournaments were always "random draw" events meaning everyone was paired with someone else regardless of whether you owned a boat. If two boaters got paired you simply 'worked it out' who's boat you would you or the TD would decide for you. Rules stated that each angler must be allowed equal time running the trolling motor and be allowed to fish "their water". It worked extremely well because you had automatic policing in the boat. A pretty straight forward way to address the "CPR events can't work" crowd. Besides, kayak tournaments don't seem to have any problem, maybe they are just smarter than bass boat dudes ... lol

[@astrophysicistguy]

Back in my 30s ... when dinosaurs roamed the earth, I fished tournaments in Tx and Ca. Back then tournaments were always "random draw" events meaning everyone was paired with someone else regardless of whether you owned a boat. If two boaters got paired you simply 'worked it out' who's boat you would you or the TD would decide for you. Rules stated that each angler must be allowed equal time running the trolling motor and be allowed to fish "their water". It worked extremely well because you had automatic policing in the boat. A pretty straight forward way to address the "CPR events can't work" crowd. Besides, kayak tournaments don't seem to have any problem, maybe they are just smarter than bass boat dudes ... lol

[@astrophysicistguy]

How hard is it to get a fisheries biologist to provide recommendations?

[@AlabamaBassin]

The DNR needs to be involved more with these type of tournaments especially in the summer. It makes me sick to my stomach seeing dead fish because people don't give a flying fuck about anything but money.

[@jeremyduncan9165]

I’m here in Missouri and are lakes are getting destroyed and Missouri is doing absolutely nothing to put a stop to it.

[@mriphone1000]

Measure weight, picture and release. Enough of the unnecessary killing of fish.

[@johnmiller5987]

Barotrauma is worse. Because of ffs guys are able to target deep bass. A tournament angler can catch and release dozens of keepers to die. Just so he can put a money fish in the box

[@marcrobinson5498]

I quit fishing tournaments because of that right there. FLW had a tournament on the Potomac River in Maryland one year. They overdosed their live release tanks. They killed 1200 lbs of bass. They dumped the tanks in the river and killed a lot of fish in the area of the ramp. The last tournament I fished, the director allowed people to fish that did not have functional livewells. The team that won killed their entire limit, fish up to 6lbs. Witnessed on a Monday morning after a Sunday tournament over a hundred dead bass. I will flat out never contribute to that. I will never be involved with another bass tournament, period.

[@ericgooding1317]

Saw this at my first FLW at LOZ’s and was disappointed. Weigh ins are cool but there’s no reason that between May and September for most of the country MLF style weigh and release can’t happen. Pretty sure a version of that was done on the Lake Fork BASS tourney Livesay won a couple years back. Tournament directors can have a scout boat that cruises to pick up 5+lbers and put them in tanks for the anglers to show on stage later. Nobody wants to see anything under 5 anyways and half the time the Anglers appear embarrassed to hold up small fish. Can’t catch em if they’re dead.

[@jackb9307]

Get the DNR off their ass and do some real work monitoring and penalizing organizations who kill fish. No more weigh ins..no tournaments during spawn...what happens to that 8# female that gets caught and released 10 miles away from her bed ? No circuits ever talk about this. Total garbage. Thx for showing what really goes on out there Mikey..guys like you ,Travis and Matt..should get some DNR officials on the show. ..unfortunately the tournaments have to be drastically changed and strict fines enforced for killing the resource..its not going to be easy..the time is now to get it done! Sickening!!! Thx again Mikey Jack B

[@MikeDaugherty-zu8vg]

Good old tournament fishing at it’s finest.

[@jefffirm6577]

Might as well eat em at that point.

[@jamesgbriley4471]

When the water reaches 75° or higher, the fish die off is usually more than 50%! and lets be honest most people don’t add ice or cold packs to their live wells! so either stop tournament fishing,when the water gets hot or practice CPR. Do the length board game or don’t fish tournaments during the summer months! It kills the bass and kills the sport! Tournament Directors should stand up for the fish and the sport. Someone asked to!

[@ps7462]

There is a lot wrong! Did you see the Zaldain’s podcast with Gene Gilliland? If the tournaments are not managed and directed properly, the fish kills will continue. After a 600 fish, fish kill, it should be shut down! If it can’t be stopped, then the tournaments need to stop! The organizations need to be held responsible.

[@joeb7508]

So many great ideas here Mikey! We need action now! I’m not a tournament fisherman but I would definitely volunteer towards this effort.

[@mikewells2899]

Love the way and choice of words you use. Not blaming just trying to solve the problem.

[@Theburningseason]

Im not starting a ffs debate but our smallies in ny are getting wrecked by it more n more ppl are catching more fish in 50 foot of water and idc what anyone sais once them fish go in the box they are toast. The fish pour blood from their gills from the pressure change. Mikey start pushing cwnr at your local stuff ppl look up to you and respect you have a voice

[@EricLeetFishing]

Hit the nail on the head: tournament fishermen are about 80-85% honest. I know tournament fishermen that full on snag bedding bass in tournaments with their special weighted treble hook rigs. Only way to guarantee honesty in a tournament is to have a marshall in the boat. That being said, I think the catch, weigh, picture, release is the best way to do it... like the MLF does. Measure with a pic, and pic of fish with the weight then submit.

[@donprater2754]

Or take the weight and picture and release as quickly as as possible. Still don’t hold bass tournaments after the temperature rises too 75 degrees.

[@binyaoutdoors]

So much truth here thank you for putting this out there we need to protect the resource

[@stevenvanetti6507]

Great video Mike. I agree with you whole heartedly. I only wish we had a lake like Guntersville in NJ.

[@jameskinniry1621]

Well done video. Most people do these for clicks and are very divisive. But you can tell your honesty of just wanting us to do better as a whole.

[@mikeybalzz]

That was the gold man so I appreciate it. In the end on the happiest person when I'm out there and I don't want to lose that opportunity and I want others to have that opportunity as well so being level-headed I'm talking about Solutions is the best way to get to that outcome.

[@Patriot-dt3wk]

We fish summer tourneys in Az. Our water is 82 as of today and we are catching em 25+ deep. Yes to G-juice and water bottles but also have fin weights and know how to fizz if the weights won’t work enough. But we also put hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle and give a few sprays every half hr or so. Warmer water has less oxygen and a few sprays of peroxide goes a long way!!! Only use recirc on the live well when close to the ramp. Aerate brings in new water and ramp areas have a ton of gas/oil on the surface near ramps. Haven’t knowingly lost a fish doing these things.

[@Fishing_with_Bas]

There should be a test to make a tournament with the mesurement tape like we are doing in europe for ages for any predator fishing style of tournament. Maybe adjust the number of valid fish to 7 or 10 to avoid ties that can be very likely to happen with only 5 fish limit but in that case the stress for the fish is close to 0 even in warm water. There are already Apps Available for free to hold a tournament in this style

[@carytoms9500]

Be like Kayaking tournament photographer on certified board

[@stephanieslaton1781]

This makes me livid. A local lake I fish that’s only 1750 acres has tournaments every weekend with up to 40 boats. But in one of those tournaments 2 years ago a guy had brought his biggest fish and I was talking to him about the tournament. He brought it out of a cooler and I said wow that’s a big fish. I noticed something very odd but didn’t say anything. He told me unfortunately this was my biggest fish and he’s 5 lbs and he died. I had no words. We definitely need better fish care among other things. But you need to teach people how to care for fish. I can honestly say I’ve never seen anyone take care of fish the way you do. You are excellent at fish care. I enjoy your videos and catches and how you care for these fish. They’re not objects. They are no different than any other animal, in my opinion. But you get my point. Keep up fighting for fish care. I’m there with ya.

[@Dylan-si1rn]

You look at the best fisheries in this country. What do they have in common? Conservation. Seasons, slot limits, catch and release… i don’t understand what’s so complicated about it personally. But i do understand that not every level can foot official judges w official scales and all that. But the ones who can should. They’re the ones goin and blasting these lakes the worst. They’re the best of the best and fish up to 4 day tournaments. No stone is left unturned. Especially w the advancement of technology. It has to happen or they’re gona continue to beat these lakes to death. Literally

[@mikemalone9404]

Thankyou for bringing this out! It's why I still support the MLF, (or that format) even with their troubles!

[@warrenbarnes5862]

Hey Mikey it was great to meet you last weekend. Fully agree with you by the way.

[@barrykern4065]

I hate seeing this also. It happens way too much. Let's get all clubs s and originations use the MLF type or photo release. It a WIN WIN for the fish period.... Doing this makes it nice for the weekend Anglers a chance to catch something. Who wants to fish at the boat ramps where the Tournaments are held. Please let's make a change guys.

[@rok7980]

All tournaments should go to the CPR format, especially with temps getting warmer. Protect what you love or lose it forever. If you become too greedy it will eventually bite you in the backside.

[@user-qk7dh1wr9w]

Well said man, stand with you 💯

[@billyhaney5002]

Thanks for sharing. Something needs to be to change.

[@tylerp7670]

Absolutely. Well said. It's ridiculous to see this

[@PistolPete3322]

The common element is tournament fishing. It’s ridiculous they can cull and haul fish around in the live well but you can’t if you’re not in a tournament.

[@DanielBoone337]

If I had to guess your buddy is probably right about guys reweighing the barely alive fish... look at what happened at my home lake Toledo Bend in the same tournament someone took a 3.5lb fish and stuffed 2.25lbs of lead in it... There's a lot of pieces of crap out there in fishing these days. But when it comes to tournaments this time of year I completely agree fish care is very important. G juice, jugs of ice and running your livewells generally gets the job done but if you don't do that fish are going to die Great video as always keepem coming brother!!!

[@dennishodson990]

Thanks for posting this. See it all the time at Pickwick also. Hopefully this will stop with the help of DNR, State fish and wildlife resources and changes in the "Look at me and what I caught - Take a picture of me STAGES".

[@jobrandofishing]

Yeppa. This stuff happens on my little hometown lake all summer. It's a knowledge/don't care problem here and it sucks.

[@arizonabassfishing8839]

Summer tournaments it should be required to use ice keep proper water temps in live wells plus a system to add oxygen. If your not prepared for it you don’t fish

[@raytubach8988]

What do I think? I think it’s abhorrent this goes on. And I think you are one of the few who even cares to discuss this. Someone needs to be the conscience in this sport. Good for you Mikey 👍🏻

[@stevedavis3606]

I witnessed a similar situation several years ago at a High School National Championship on Kentucky Lake in June. The fish were on the ledges so they were being caught in 20-30 feet of water. So 40-50% of the fish were coming to the scale upside down and suffering because very few of the kids or captains were trained in how to “fizz” a fish. It’s an important step to take when catching them deep then throwing them in a live well even if you cool the water down. Thank goodness at the HS tournament BASS had their trained people taking care of the fish and fizzing those that needed it making sure the fish was able to swim up right before releasing. Don’t know if this was part of the issue but I know the bigs were on the ledges

[@bill-qv3er]

Summer tournaments suck anyway!!!!!!!!!!! The fish kills are an unfortunate part of summer events but they need to shorten the hours and make the limit 3 fish. It would save alot of fish.

[@dontnonowuno9953]

Weigh and release...either ask for volunteeers or pay some retired folk to marshal each boat.Anything over 5lbs marshall takes a ten second video .Similar to mlf but fish for five.Take a quick pick and put em' back. It's just a competition.Way to speak out. it's obvious your a true angler thru the love and passion you have for the sport and for the bass themselves

[@dennisnieradka6668]

Unfortunately the problem is money money money, I feel you, but there a problem.

[@phila1714]

Exactly what I was saying! Dam shame

[@Boethius411]

I used to love fishing the BBS… but I stopped two years ago because of this very thing.

[@jamescaspersamanthalintner4767]

I think they should do away with tournaments after June 1st. No more tournaments until the fall. Having tournaments in this hot weather hot water is absolutely ridiculous. I've also been a big proponent for years of them limiting the number of tournaments per body of water. Some of these lakes have got major tournaments on them 365 freaking days a year it seems like and that is just out of control I understand bringing money to the community and the surrounding area but you don't have to have tournaments every freakin weekend to do that if a lake. People are going to come to guntersville regardless

[@shawnmcilroy4929]

Yes, totally back you on this point Mike! Need to have the mentality to care for the conservation of the wildlife!! HAVE TO DO BETTER!!!!

[@jbsed1]

Well said!

[@Nehringer1]

If Ray Scott was still alive, this would have killed him. He fought for decades for conservation. BASS has the most scientific process for fish collection and redistribution, and it's a process that major tournament organizations need to be using. It's my undertanding that the release boat was holding fish before they got released. BBS used to release fish into Goose Pond as soon as they were weighed, but someone thought the release boat was a better idea. Not only did that kill fish, but made cheating low hanging fruit. Yes, some fish died after being released by a chute, but not nearly as many as this particular event. I't disgusting. I can't hold anglers responsible for the largest part. Yes, some anglers competing have inadequate live wells and knowledge of how to keep fish alive. The basic concept of a BBS is to weigh in your big fish within the hour that it was caught, but I understand the strategy of holding a big one for a while. The bigger the fish, the harder time it has surviving in captivity. Remember, these larger fish are still recovering from the spawn. Their systems are sensitive as they feed back up to their normal weight. Tournament organizations need to be held to a higher standard, and some regulatory organization needs to establish the standard and apply enforcement. Whether its the state fish and game, or maybe BASS could be consulted. I dunno. I'm not a proponent of big government or increased regulations, but in order to sustain these kinds of events, to sustain the revenue and provide competition for the anglers, something has to be done. A particularly popular local genlteman posted that he confronted the dude running the release boat and he was basically told to kick rocks. That kind of attitude coming from a tournament official speaks volumes as to the level of professionalism with which this tournament was conducted, with little regard for the community, the participants and the natural resource. Clean it up!

[@blind_eye_fishing]

Back when he was over the tournaments they killed 33% to 35% of all bass caught. That was a "acceptable" number. It's still true today with the pro catch and weigh in tournaments. Unfortunately at some tournaments those numbers increase drastically. The percentage I stated is a over all for a season.

[@blind_eye_fishing]

With the biggest percentage of bass anglers being catch and release especially with bigger bass (most that eat bass eat 1 to 2lbers) the responsibility is with tournaments. 33% of bass die after a weigh in tournament, angiers may accidentally kill 2% in a life time of catch and release. Its been proven tournaments kill more bass than a adverage angler does by a large percentage.

[@stevenbartell8065]

The kayak standard of catch, photo, and release should be the universal standard.

[@johnm2617]

Ya Thats definitely not cool ! The tourney organization needs to know whats happening!😮

[@jeffjones9190]

Here we have a limit of 6 hour tournaments and if you have a dead or floating fish, you take them with you for eating or feeding to animals.

[@2quack]

LMAO, what's with the banana hammock on the peg board behind you?

[@mikeybalzz]

Video was a little depressing so I thought I'd lighten the mood glad you caught it LOL.

[@Theburningseason]

​@@mikeybalzzdo a video in the bannana hammock curios to see if you can fill it out lol😅

[@mikeybalzz]

@Theburningseason 🤣 I can already tell you without a doubt I was not endowed with enough generosity from my creator to support that thing correctly LOL.

[@Theburningseason]

@@mikeybalzz sounds like you need to hire dirk diggler for a bannana hammock stunt double lol would make a great thumb nail u laying on your deck wearing it. Caption it are bannanas bad luck in tourneys??

[@oregonsmalljaw3732]

Looks like the same one Borat wore 😂

[@krum81]

One of the clubs I fish stops from June to October because of the heat . The other ones go to a 6hr tournament schedule. For starters clubs could do an every other tournament kayak style picture and weigh in style .

[@bassgruntfishing6072]

I add “please release me” or “G juice” to bottled water then freeze it. Every hour I untwist the cap and put it in the livewell so it distributes while it melts or use a Gatorade bottle for faster distribution because of the wider mouth.

[@jtorres133]

Yeah that’s bad. I can say I’ve fished Potomac for a while and that gets pounded w tournaments however in all my years I’ve been fishing I’ve never seen numbers of dead fish like that around after these tournaments. I feel most organizations up here or that see this river do very well w fish management. I would be in favor of the No tournaments in July August and September esp in hotter parts of the country or the weigh record release format. Everyone I’ve fished just about has the G juice or the powder and I’ve as well. I had one tournament a while back where it was July tournament and no ice used or additive and the guys pumps bust I lost 3 of my fish that day he maybe lost one too. I was livid. I learned my lesson and always bring my own additive w me or offer pick ice as well.

[@myweigh7089]

I have honestly thought about this for a while when I see guys hauling fish around in 10 cups of water in a bag. I always wish I could be a pro and start taking extremely good care of the fish. I am no genius but you can't just take a ton a photos with fans with haul fish around in shallow water where they can't swim.

[@livinglife3230]

Have 2 bfls back to back wks coming up, hopefully it’s just a 3 fish limit. Strange thing is there was no bfls in the month of May for those divisions, SMH

[@timschreiber1584]

Need to have oxygen bottles on the release boat to help revive the fish. Cooling plates also! DNR needs to more involved in large tournaments like Sealy tournaments.

[@StickmanontheTNRiver-rm4em]

Catch, weigh and release is a good answer. On an unrelated note what's up with the AROUZ'D bait you have hanging on the board and have you caught anything with it?

[@Garminrules]

Right on mikey

[@jonbullard7074]

Weight and release only.

[@BrandonX444X]

I saw Slick Posted a vid about that Bass Splash. That dude absolutely gets on my nerves. He acts like his opinion is the gospel about everything.

[@FreedomFishing]

It's everywhere. Probably seen 4 dead fish in general this past week.

[@Tackletuesdayfishing]

Hopefully amateur tournaments can go to a “catch photo release” format soon. Even if it’s just for summer tournaments. Not every boat has the best live wells.

[@ryanvarner6520]

It's crazy to have so many boats in the tournament. They should limit the number of boats that are allowed in the events.

[@DshaunBirch]

check out that zaldain interview with the biologist about live well tournaments if for some reason you haven’t yet it was very eye opening and unfortunately pertinent to this situation i think the general public needs to be more outraged and raise more hell about this once the tournaments leave and the fish are belly up like i really want the public to totally karen this type of thing until stuff starts to change

[@cawbaird5711]

No tournaments past 82° water temps

[@Theburningseason]

One of the ramps in my home lake banned tourneys to many dead fish, you're going to see more places banning tourney,

[@Radican1]

Is there a way to have like a big ass tank that’s the perfect temperature extra oxygenated or something and they go in there and rehabilitate for a bit before release?

[@TheBigt83074]

Have check in boats at spots in lakes and make fishers check in every 4 hrs. With all the technology available have boards and scales linked to tournament judge

[@jerryliston3540]

Amen, good job

[@jeffcameron2587]

I think it would be better if they had a short barge anchored out from goose pond in a out 12 foot of water and just weigh the fish out of each boat livewell and then just release them fish back into deeper water, but I know they can't do that because of the crowd that wants to see the fish, just my thoughts

[@brianprice7645]

What I'm gonna say won't help the fish but if a fish is dead or nearly dead take it home don't throw it back in the lake

[@jimw833]

Ban live wells and use length instead of weight. Photo on a board and release where they are caught. We don’t need the hero theatrical weight in crap. Take a lesson from the kayak guys

[@billljones979]

I'm with you 💯, I hate seeing dead fish, i get it, it happens but 25 from one day of fishing and the Guntersville of the world won't be

[@mikeybalzz]

I agree 100% the only thing that worries me is they were scooping up fish that were floating around dead so the 25 I saw is all that were out there at that moment in the event was 3 days long.

[@db9818]

I fish Clear Lake, Ca we have tournaments every weekend damn near year round. From May-Oct our temps are high and mortality too, often 100-200 boats add that up (25) avg and that’s a lot of fish and lots of 2-3 day tourn. too. One good thing is our DFG has been cracking down on fish care and weigh in times in high temps. Directors get fined if fish mortality is high.

[@bigfishonline33]

It's happening on all bodies of water across the country. Tournament fishing has exploded, and even recreational fishermen want to pack the live well for photos and videos later. Just put the fish back in the damn water, bro.

[@theman21030]

Money = Cheaters

[@johndynneson662]

What about one time Long. Long ago people used too keep all the fish. Take them home. Remember 🤔. Early days of tournaments. They kept all the fish. Ask the old timers. Is the mortality any where near close to back then. Even tho some of those fish are going to. Die. 🤔🤔.

[@FloridaFishStories]

I can’t stand dead fish. Most people just don’t care. Just fished a tournament two days ago in central Florida with 85+ degree water and not a single dead fish. It can be done. Learn to take care of the water in your well and learn how to vent fish. Like Mikey said. Take pride in your work on both ends. Us as fishermen and the organizations as well.

[@dustinwright4601]

They need to do a on the water weigh In maybe a pontoon boat or something make the process faster

[@wiscocoaltrain1955]

Maybe limit the amount of tournaments and be aware of the time of year. Spawn, and the of summer really be restricted.

[@gargantus5]

I have never seen something like that at a tournament I thought that would be an automatic DQ ! But i dont know how something like that would happen. I catch and release but if i hurt it Ill either use for bait or take home and cook.

[@krisramos7453]

Other than temperature control (although that is starting to happen) we have everything we need to take really good care of fish in modern boats. That’s fully the fault of anglers and what the organization did after the fish were weighed

[@PaulFerber]

I have a basic tracker livewell. I added a $10 digital thermometer, g juice and frozen water bottles as needed. I haven’t lost a fish in 2 years since i bought the boat.

[@marshalllaw4116]

Studies show that 95- 98% of bass caught in tournaments with water temperatures above 85°, die within two weeks of being released.

[@PaulFerber]

@@marshalllaw4116 do they actually follow all of those fish for two weeks 🤷‍♂️

[@PaulFerber]

@@marshalllaw4116 so keeping my livewell cool and regulated improves the chances of the bass survival.

[@txyakangler65]

I like tournaments that weigh their fish and release it. There is no need to have a live well then.

[@rigorocks23]

weigh and release with official go pro running + tournament official on your boat

[@gregbrooks1462]

I really like your videos, I've followed you from when you were fishing out of a flat bottom in Florida. You're absolutely a cool 😎 u tuber. But brother, I've got to call you out on this one. Back in the day, when my father and others put on tournaments, they followed the Alabama creal limits of 15 per person. You know you can't keep 30 bass alive in a live well. People would come to the weight ins, with coolers full of ice knowing that supper was on the way. I have watched people walk away with 4500 to 6500 bass at one tournament. So I personally feel like we've come a long way to protect the sport of bass fishing. I think it's great that you only found 25 dead fish. Probably, stuck in the tongue, gill, or just too deep 😢. I'm guilty of a bad hook set myself. So please don't knock this because I have seen whole lot worse. 😊

[@brewtankoutdoors1432]

Wth..Arouz'd box😂😂😂

[@JJ-bl8tp]

Only way to stop it is relentless calling local dnr and state officials.

[@cawbaird5711]

Well it gives a small ones more opportunity to grow

[@MrJNOTHUM]

Keep the livewell temperature 5-8 degress cooler than lake, you can add G-juice but not necessary, run pure oxygen, continually recirculate your water, VENT YOUR LIVEWELLS

[@bassgruntfishing6072]

Unbelievable, this is straight up Wanton Waste. I fish a ton of tournaments if you do not know how to fizz a bass you need to learn.. it is extremely irresponsible to be a fisherman and not know how to fizz a bass and release it properly.

[@gregcrawley7431]

Going to have the Bill Dance on the chick this weekend probably see the same thing, will let you know if the fish are taken Care of

[@bommert3816]

Bass rarely survive tournaments, or being caught deep. Kayak style should be the standard nowadays.

[@SLYFOXFISHIN]

CPR is the way to go , or CWR the fish . Weigh-ins are bad for fish . Just my thoughts and opinion....

[@Thenatural56-iz5xb]

Why would anybody want to come to see a tournament with Catch Photo and release...

[@toph2o676]

Dude you're just scratching the surface on a lot of major problems in tournament bass fishing . I grew up fishing on the Great Lakes for 21 years spent the last 37 years on the Colorado River system . Just look at the results of the US Open held on Lake Mohave the last 3 years and you'll see the numbers of 3 to 5 lb smallmouth bass that died in the tournament because they held a tournament every year same time in 110° heat all you have to do is go down through the Penalty Box and see the quarter pound penalty because of dead fish . I've moved to Arkansas and they held a tournament here on Nimrod Lake which was conducted by in aluminum boat club and in which they were allowed to trailer their boats to any part of the lake and then bring them back to one location for a weigh-in High numbers of quality bass were killed tell me if that isn't stupid tournament should not be held in these climates during June July and August but that's just my opinion. I don't care how good your Live Well system is or the ice that you prepare before the tournament that will not help the fish. Maybe you should take a look at b a s s at the elite tournament series how they take care of their fish and only during certain times of the year do they hold them tournaments there's a reason for it. It goes back to Ray Scott and b a s s my opinion is anytime you have money involved two things are going to happen people are going to cheat can people don't give a damn. I've watched and participated in over 50 years of bass fishing which I could probably safely say is longer than you've been alive on the earth so you're preaching to the choir cuz nothing ever is going to happen sorry bro.

[@matthewweimer42]

Too many tournaments. Idk why everyone needs to fish a tournament to go fishing. If ya wanna blow money buy a lottery ticket on the way to the lake and catch and release.