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Subject: Ft Loudon/Tellico, Tennessee
Submitted by PLAY
Date Fished: 7/28/2001
Water Temperature: 82
Water Clarity: 0 Decided to take a trip to Loudon/Tellico to scout around for an upcoming Tournament. While fishing near the dam I noticed several boats heading towards Loudon County park. We discovered the Friday night Wildcat was conducting a year end all-night tournament. My curiosity was up specifically concerning what condition the fish would be in and how this particular group of anglers would care for them. To say the least I was horrified. I saw several dead fish laying by a tree. That did not bother me near as bad as the ones the guys were putting back into the lake. Most of them were stressed and appeared to have been kept in poor livewell systems. The fish had air bladders bulging out. I did notice most had added chemicals to the livewells as evidenced by the weigh-in bags. Now, I am not a member of the PETA groups crusading against Tournaments. In fact, I fish in a B.A.S.S. club, Operation Bass tournaments, BITE tournaments,etc. throughout the year. I bring this particular incident up to make a point. Bass fisherman must eduacate themselves on how to take care of the resource. I realize some bass will die no matter what we do, but the general negligance I saw at this tournament was troubling. With a little time ALL tournament fishermen can create a livewell environment where the bass will stay healthy, oxigynated, cool,non-stressed, etc. Simply tossing the fish in the livewell and turning on the pumps won't cut it! This time of year the Air bladder problem is the biggest cause of bass fatigue resulting in death. You can tell if the bass needs its air bladder bled about 10 minutes after you catch it and place it in your livewell. They will be floating on top trying to get down but cant. You can bleed the air bladder by using the needle technique and this will save the fish from dying. This technique is not hard once learned. I have done hundreds of fish I have caught. For the sake of the fisheries we must become COMPLETE in educating ourselves on how to take care of these fish. Especially the local anglers who really catch good sacks of fish like I saw Saturday. You Ft. Loudon regulars need to take care of the quality fishery up there! If we don't take care of the fish we will be fishing tournaments for something other than the bass.
PKL
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