Popping air bladder

[pout-slayer]

Just wondering if anydoby knows how to pop the air bladder on a crappie and if they survive after being released.Ran into this problem this morning while fishing in 40ft of water on Island Lake (by sturgon). I had planed on keeping some that were over 10in for supper.But it seems that no matter how slow I brought them up,the bladder was expanded to the point that they couldn't swim back down.Most were able to swim back down after 20-30 min of floating around in the hole,I still ended up keeping 6 between 8-10in So if anybody has any info on this it would be real helpfull thanks

[Surface Tension]

You DONT pop air bladders.
Bring them up slower or stop fishing.

[Guest]

Popping or fizzing fish is a bad idea. They will almost always die. Bringing them in slower is not a good option either. It is not realistic to bring them in slow enough to prevent the air in their swim bladders from expanding and if it were the prolonged fight would put way too much stress on the fish and it would die anyway. Eat them or fish shallower are about the only ethical options you have when pulling fish from deep water.

[Surface Tension]

Fish swim from bottom to surface all the time. When there cranked up they dont have time to adjust. You can bring them in slow with no ill effect. As far as getting stressed by a prolonged battle well I dont buy into that. If you where bringing up a fish out of 50 degree water and tring to revieve it when the surface is 70 degrees then then yes prolonged battle my be a facter. I have never lost a fish from prolonged battle and that includes years of fishing kings in Alaskan rivers.

[This message has been edited by Surface Tension (edited 02-15-2002).]

[Steve Foss]

I know it's a bad idea to pop those bladders. But I've never tried to ease a fish up from deep water slowly through the ice before. That's worth a try. Last time I caught deep crappies or perch, I just kept everything I caught. Made for a few REALLY small fillets, but I didn't fancy putting them back if they weren't going to make it. But can they make it? Do you figure that a fish with a distended bladder that was released would eventually shrink it down and head back under the ice?

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Steve ([email protected])

[Surface Tension]

Hi catfish. No they cant make it if swim bladers are out. You will notice that they dont even move when there in this condition.To release them would be bad. Yes comin up slow works.

[pout-slayer]

Thanks for the info most of you gave,it was helpful.Looks like I'll be either eating more crappie meals or trying to find them in shallower water.Again thanks for the info. Surface-tension As to your post,what did you do wake up with your cranky pants on too tight.If I'm not mistaken I asked for info not orders.Your first post to the Duluth forum question was flat out disrespectful,where do you get off telling me not to fish anymore.Your post to the same question I posted on the Red Lake forum was also disrespectful.Again where do you get off making the insinuation that I posted that question because I didn't like an answer that was given.If you look at the time when they were posted you will see they both were posted before your first reply to the Duluth forum one. I posted the question on both forums so I would have a better chance of getting a number of replies in order to make an educated decision on whether or not to deflate the air-bladder. P.S. I'd like to apologize to the moderators and other members of the forum for using this forum for this rebuttal.But I neded to speak my piece,now that I have it"s water under the bridge.Hopefully it won't happen again. And to you Surface-tension good luck on your Red Lake trip it's a fun place to fish.

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HOOK-UM

[Surface Tension]

Didnt mean to get in your face. Your question reminded me of the boat load of slobs in Crappie bay. There were around 50 dead crappies drifted on shore from there air blater trick. I told them to stop fishin too.

[biff]

Yeah, I would try bringing them up real slow. I was fishing for northerns in deep water and the air bladders would be inflated when I brought them up, then I brought them up really slow and they took of fine after that. And I dont think the extra time fighting them did much damage, if anything they seem to fight less and just sit there when I didnt have much tension on them. You might lose a few fish but its obviously worth it.

[Guest]

Quick question. I've wondered about air bladders and negative impacts on fish before. If the fish swims off right away after release, does this mean you don't have to worry about how deep you are fishing? Also, in your opinions, what depth is too deep, especially for walleyes?

I've caught fish from the 40 foot range, but have rarely noticed them struggle to swim off. Does this mean the fish are fine?

[Steve Foss]

It might vary by species. I've never caught walleyes and saugers that showed that problem, and I've caught them over 35 feet. I've seen the problem in perch and crappies. I've seen it happen as shallow as 30 feet, down to more than 40. But, again, I've been cranking them right up, not easing them up slow like Surface Tension advocates.

[Guest]

Please take a look at
http://www.state.sd.us/gfp/Fishing/Info/Catchrelease.htm It has some good (and not so obvious) information on C&R and fish survival.

[pout-slayer]

Thanks for the web site,it had good info.Although it's hard to belive that bringing up a fish in deep water faster is better.It seems that no matter what side you belive,fast or slow,you should plan on keeping what you catch.Like most things there dosen't seem yo be a clear cut answer. thanks again for the info

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HOOK-UM