Truth or Fiction - "Please Release Me" tablets

[Andrew Zuber]

Truth or Fiction?

I had a buddy tell me last week that he either heard or read where the "Please Release Me" tablets (or similar products) caused fish in the livewell to relax to the point that they would add 1/16 to 1/8 inch to their length!!!

Is this bogus or the truth???

I know that 1/8 inch kept me from some additional money this season in a tournament...

I don't normally use these products, but do I need to have some on board just in case????



Who knows the TRUTH???



az

 

[Jim B]

I dont know about that, but i do use livewell products to help the fish. I seriously doubt that they would add any length to the fish at all. I guess you could measure some before and after to really find out. I use it mainly because it keeps them from thrashing around in the well and keeps them from spitting up , maintaining weight.

 

[Roy Cody]

My experience has been just the opposite. Any fish I catch early in the day will usually lose length. Any fish that just measured when I caught it, gets a re-measure before I take it to the scales. Sometimes they will lose up to 1/8 inch.



RoyC

 

[Bruce Freeman]

Yes your fish will tense up and shrink in the live well. The drugs relax then so yes it is possible to gain 1/8?

Least thats what I been told.

BF

 

[Rob LaMoy]

Don't know about that part, can't say one way or the other but I do know they retain their weight better and stay lively and you won't lose as many fish. But Andy, get out of that tin mentality and start catching fish bigger than Scott and Trep and you won't have to worry. I never heard of a 23" bass shrinking to under 12" from stress! LOL

 

[gone bye bye]

Ask Marke about this. I think he relaizes that fish do grow in the livewell. You can sqeak an extra 1/8 of an inch if the fish is relaxed.



Mini

 

[Andrew Zuber]

12 inches? our size limit in Michigan is 14 inches! LOL

here's the truth...been fishing our club tournaments for two and half years...have won 6...never brought in a limit yet!!! Close once (4 fish)...5 is our limit for the team. We only fish for 3 and 1/2 hours, and with the 14 inch limit, many times one fish will win...several weeks ago that 13 and 7/8 incher cost me $50! LOL



az

 

[Marke Cicero]

Andy,



Funny you should ask this. Craig and I have been struggling as well. We have thrown back lots of short fish. Many of them have been in the 13 7/8" class.



Over a few beers and wings at Hooter's, this very topic came up. Mini said "Keep them, they'll grow in the livewell".



Of course I thought he yankn' my chain. Then came Wednesday and Craig and I caught one these 13 7/8 dinks. I was about to toss it but then rememberd what Mini said. I figured what the heck and in the box it went.



At the scales I asked for a "courtesy bump" and wouldn't you know it. That bass was well over 14" and gave us 5th place that night. If I had tossed it back I don't think we would have made top 10.



So to answer your question simply:



It's TRUTH!!!!!



Try it next time. From now on Craig and I keep anything close.



Marke

 

[Craig Roberts]

Amen Brotha' MOCK !!!



Craig

 

[Andrew Zuber]

Marke/Craig -

Did you have one of the 'calming agents' in the livewell???

Which kind are you using???



az

 

[Marke Cicero]

Andy,



We had the "Catch N' Release" stuff. Thats gone and we just bought some "Please Release Me" brand. Same exact stuff, just a different label.



Since we don't have recirculation we have to keep an eye on it. It turns the livewell water green. When the water doesn't look so green I add more. The fish chill right out so they are easier to get out of the live well and don't flop around so much at the scale. I wonder if it gives them "the munchies"....LOL

 

[Craig Roberts]

DUDE, DON,T BOGART THE DORITOS!!!LOL



Andy, they mellow right out. Sometimes I think I can hear Jimi Hendrix music coming from the livewell. Unfortunately, it don't drown out my partner trying to serinade the toads!!!



Craig

 

[Marke Cicero]

Sorry Craig but until we can find another method of attracting big females...I'm singing )



I have my own version of "My Front Porch Lookn' in" it's called "My Live Well's Gettin' Full". The fish love it....LOL

 

[Andrew Zuber]

Oh No!

I wondered what that sound I kept hearing on Wednesday nights was! It was all the dogs around Orion Lake howling at the same time!!!! LOL



Well...

I'm gonna get some of the green stuff - no, the Catch-n-Release stuff Marke! for those occasions when I have the 13 7/8 inchers...

I'll give it a first hand field test!!!



Fishing the St. Joe River to get ready for Monday's tournament...my partner caught a smallie Wednesday evening that was just under 4lbs! We'll see if we can find the toads Monday!!! This is our big summer "festival" weekend here...TONS of boats in the river and on Lake Michigan...I'm sure the fish will be freaked-out and skiddish by Monday!!!



az