BPS Tank Master Angler

[Scott Hammer TOXIC]

Hey Ken,



Is there a master angler award for the tank? What are the guidelines? Here in VA 5 species of citation fish get you a "Master Angler" award (We call it the Master Baiter award for live bait fishermen, LOL). Seriously, I was on the tank giving my seminar last night and with the same bait mind you, caught a Bluegill, Yellow Perch, Bass, Catfish, Walleye, Carp, Crappie, and finally a Pike!! And do you know what I caught them on

 

[Texas Transplant]

Tox - I've not seen one fish hooked/caught in the tank here at BPS Charlotte. Most don't even seem interested.



You are the man. By the way, was that a 'toxic' bubblegum worm?



Tex

 

[Scott Hammer TOXIC]

TT



"Hooked" is a relative term, my hooks are cut off just barely beyond the bend and I use a dab of bait glue to hold them on. I never "hooked" any of them or lipped them for that matter...If I had to pull it out of their mouth and they held on hard enough that I turned them around or "fought" them, I considered it a catch. Make no mistake, I did not want to hook or harm any of the tank fish (I was afraid that the Pike was going to either get the Senko or bite through my line). And no, I didn't pre scent the Senko, although that might have helped with the catfish. I didn't get bit by the Striper (looked at it real close though), the Sturgeon or the smallmouth.



TOXIC

 

[Bill McElroy]

That is a blast isn't it??....There is absolutley no better way to sell a bait ot technique than to have that happen during a demo!! Customer's love seeing that!!!

Mac

 

[Scott Hammer TOXIC]

Mac,



I also got to see some fish behavior that was totally new to me. When I let the bait settle to the bottom of the tank (if I could keep the fish off it long enough) the bass would form a circle all the way around it (almost like there was no escape route) then one would advance and flair its gills taking the bait. That I have seen before, what I had not seen was while on the bottom, occasionaly a largemouth would swim up to the bait, roll to one side or the other (looked like it was "laying" sideways on the bottom) and use its pectorial fins to swim one eye within a fraction of an inch from the bait. I never knew they did closeups like that.



TOXIC

 

[Rob LaMoy]

See, I'm amazed that in an environment like that, somewhat confined, with more fish around then there would normally be in the wild, all the lights and people surrounding the tank, that the fish are aggressive at all. Unless they are like trout in a hatchery or trout pond that are simply programed to feed on anything dropped in from above. Not stealing your thunder Tox, just always wondered about that.

 

[Carlos Hathcock III]

Tox,

Wil lsee you in Chantilly on Saturday about noonish or so. You be there? Sue and I plus a friend is coming out to see you



Carlos

 

[Carlos Hathcock III]

Glad that worked better thn seeing all the fish on a finder and them not wanting to play

 

[Scott Hammer TOXIC]

My thoughts also Rob but these guys are fed well, shiners, minnows etc., twice a week (Saturday and Sunday)and are fat and happy. This is the third week (every Tuesday) I have been at BPS, and this is the first time the fish were aggressive. My partner got the pike to swipe at a tube last Tuesday but the rest were totally uninterested. Last night was totally different. Lunar Cycle? Change in water temp? I don't know because as a study, it was always at the same time on the same day of the week and why last night?



TOXIC

 

[bob wateski]

 

[Scott Hammer TOXIC]

Yeah Carlos, I'll be there all three days. Seminars all three days also. If you can't find me in Teddy's booth, I will probably be in the HawgCaller booth. They just picked me up as a pro staffer so I have to go work their booth also. Look forward to seeing you.



TOXIC

 

[Staci Matheis]

That's funny, TOX!

Just Saturday, I bought a pack of bubblegum Stick-o's!

 

[Marke Cicero]

The fish in the tank do get conditioned. I spend a lot of time with Scott (the biologist in charge of the tank at Auburn Hills BPS) and you should see those fish when he gets on top of the tank. They know he is there and they know it's dinner time.



When he does a demo, they see him on the tank and think it's dinner time and they hit everything. After a while they realize it is NOT food and they turn off.



ALL hooks in Auburn Hills get cut off or bent over for demos. The only one that really continues to stick fish when he comes is Keith Kajviecz(spelling?), Pro Walleye fisherman for Tracker? Scott gets PO'd after Keith leaves because he ends up removing the sticked fish from the tank and bring them out back to nurse them for a while before they go back out front.



Catch and release is good, but it is absolutely critical that we all handle our as carefully as possible prior to release.



Marke