Ain't it cool?

That would make my day! :)

QueticoMike: "That would make my day! :)"

I thought of you, Mike, when I posted this. Now imagine all the four and five-pounders they released!

I think the last five I've caught, combined, weighed as much as that second one from the left.....that thing is a monster.

johndku: "I think the last five I've caught, combined, weighed as much as that second one from the left.....that thing is a monster."

I like the one on the far left. It looks like it's a mayfly away from bursting.

Really something... with all that gear and they still couldn't avoid the bass!

Not trying to rain on their parade, but I wondered about barotrauma if catching/releasing at depths of 25-40 feet. For some reason I had in mind that 25 feet is about the limit, beyond which it's dangerous for the fish. I kind of doubt they took the time to fizz them. Any fish biologists out there with answers?

bobbernumber3: "Really something... with all that gear and they still couldn't avoid the bass!"

I literally laughed out loud!

barehook: "Not trying to rain on their parade, but I wondered about barotrauma if catching/releasing at depths of 25-40 feet. For some reason I had in mind that 25 feet is about the limit, beyond which it's dangerous for the fish. I kind of doubt they took the time to fizz them. Any fish biologists out there with answers? "

Good point. I always worry about those tourney fish. There's also this: I remember reading that one should hold their breath as soon as you remove a fish from the water and only take a breath when your fish is back in the water. A lot of those tourney fish seem to be out of the water a long time.

barehook: "Not trying to rain on their parade, but I wondered about barotrauma if catching/releasing at depths of 25-40 feet. For some reason I had in mind that 25 feet is about the limit, beyond which it's dangerous for the fish. I kind of doubt they took the time to fizz them. Any fish biologists out there with answers? "

I would be more worried about joe schmoe to be honest. The tourneys attract a lot of attention, which brings oversight. I think B.A.S.S. has conservation employees at every tournament who are responsible for taking care of the fizzing, and they seem to do a decent job w/ education as well