BP Swing

This is great news! Hats off to Bass Pro! I wish all tourneys were immediate catch and release. With the technology available, its possible. Sometime I hope the days of transporting bass 50 miles away in a livewell after banging around in it all day with a culling marker attached and then being fizzed will end. There must be so much post release mortality that we dont even know about. I keep thinking about how many of the 2 1/2 tons of Smallmouth that were released by BASS after the tourney in the St Lawrence died after coming out of 45 feet of water. Stupid having a tourney where the bass are so deep. You would think the biologists on staff would know better but I guess its all about the almighty buck. Bass Pro gets my business. All tourneys should be immediate release.

Yes I know they are invited but even the towns are putting money over the health of the fishery. Any way you look at it having to fizz 2 1/2 tons (I think that was the total they weighed or some rediculous number) of Smallmouth Bass is not good. Seems like they should come up when they arent so deep so fizzing and releasing isnt such an issue. Some of these guys had pectoral fin weights on the bass in the livewell to keep them upright. Sorry that seems like its going too far for me with these tournaments. Yes they are money makers for all involved but at what cost for the fishery? BTW sorry this thread got hijacked about the PB bass Roughrider 4 got. He did the right thing and released it. Hats off to him!

Did you notice in the video she said fizzing would not be necessary if they were immediately released? Personally I think its BS BASS comes up here when all the fish are 35-40 feet deep which means they all have to be fizzed. I wonder how many of those beauties died after they were caught, pounded all day in a livewell, fizzed with a needle and then released 50 miles away 8 hrs later? It sickens me. Well at least they are making an attempt at conservation unlike these local hick tourneys who kill everything for a few bucks and a hero shot of the winner.

5 60 qt coolers full of them is a bit ridiculous though. Shame on them. 1960s mentality.

Id like to know the names of the local tourneys that arent catch and release. Time to bring them with the times. Anybody know any tourneys up there that arent catch and release? Maybe we can can change things if enough guys stand up. My opinion of tourneys is they SUCK! So does catch and kill!

For what tourney? I thought they were all catch and release???

Nice catch and release! Congrats! Wish more guys would release. The fishery needs those slobs to keep the genetics going for big fish. Too much pressure too especially from tournaments where bass are bounced around for hours and then release 10s of miles from the catch spot. Way to go buddy.

Catch and release is bad enough early in the year for reasons shown but even worse is tournament anglers keeping bass in the livewells and not releasing them for hours later and many miles away from the nest. Even though the catch and release trophy season seems like a cool idea, obviously its very bad for the fishery. When will the scientists at the DEC stand up?

Very cool! Glad to see there might be at least a few out there but still not enough to fish for in the central basin. Thanks for the proof BWHIPS! Wow in 160 feet.

It would be nice to see a pic as its so rare in these parts. Good to hear but dont expect another one there. like winning the lottery in these parts.

Yes it is what it is. The DEC is so trout happy state wide so it doesnt surprise me. Ive been fishing Hemlock 45 years and nobody asked me to do a survey. Good thing because I prefer toothy crittters and Bass. I like trout too and really all species but I just wish NYS wasnt so trout heavy. So are they blaming the Rainbow decline on the 5 yr stocking of Walleye by the rod and gun club then? There are so many bait fish in that lake, I doubt that had anything to do with it. I dont think Naples Creek or Catherine Creek gets the run like they used to either. No Walleyes to blame there. Whatever...its tough to please everyone. Hemlock/Canadice is cool regardless.

Big Walleyes were common in Hemlock in the 1940s and 1950s. Several really big fish to 14 lbs were caught as shown in the Genesee Fishing Contest Guides (Whele Contest back then). They died off when the Alwifes were introduced as they preyed on the young Walleye. Yes the Finger Lakes for the most part are suitable for coldwater species like Trout BUT Hemlock could be managed as a trophy lake not a numbers Lake. Seems like most of the ones caught there were big and even now you see an oddball big one from the Rod & Gun Club stockings. All I'm saying is how about giving us a trophy destination for Walleye instead of worrying about Rainbows. Pickerel eat small trout too. The Lakers and Rainbows are mostly stocked there anyways. Why can't both be stocked there since it has a track record of producing trophy size Walleye? Not everyone worships Trout!!! There are alot of Walleye guys out there too. Also I wouldnt say we have lots of places to fish Walleye in Western NY either. Honeoye, Conesus, Silver, and maybe an oddball spot. After that you are driving 2 hours or more, one way.

Nice. Didn't realize that. Never hear much about Tigers from Onondaga.

I'm a little late reading this. LOL. Great job releasing it! You are a true sportsman. The big ones are no good to eat anyways compared to the smaller ones. I have fished hemlock for 45 yrs and have only caught 2 of them by accident. Both around 7 lbs and released. Its a shame the DEC wont allow the rod & Gun Club to continue stocking. This lake has a history of producing some of the biggest Walleyes in the State. In the 1940s and 1950s, Hemlock was at or near the top in the Whele (Genesee) Fishing Contest several times and those fish were in the 12-14 lb range. I guess they think guys would rather catch dink rainbows. Thats the official word. Nobody asked me..... Anyways awesome fish and job releasing it...Can't we change the DECs mind somehow on the stocking?

Too bad they stopped stocking the Walleye at Hemlock thinking it was causing the Rainbow population to decline. They must have ordered the Springwater Rod & Gun to stop because of that. Too bad it was producing some beauties. I for one am tired of NYS putting Trout on the highest throne. There arent many lakes in NY to get big Walleyes either and this was one of them. Very rare now.

Are there skis in Onondaga? Or is this for Pike?