I’ve seen that crappie should not be released in deep water like 25-30 foot depths, but it should be ok in water shallower than that. We have been catching crappie in 21-23.5′ and have noticed that crappie that we keep have bloody mouths after they’ve been on the ice for a while. I saw a video that said that happens on fish in deeper water. If we release these fish from our spot with less than 25′ depth are we killing them? I don’t want to do that!
Are the fish suspended?
Are you pulling them off the bottom in 23 ft. of water.
What is the water temp?
Are you having to fight the fish for an extended period which would stress them?
Just some thoughts in relation to your question.
What I have found is you are pushing the limits when fish are released, when fishing deeper fish like this if you release then try and basically throw them head first back in to give them a start. During soft water periods is how I came upon this releasing fish by just tossing them over board they would turn into floaters I could net them and basically give them a hard head first throw and they would not come back up.
Open there mouth and look down there throat if you see there airbladder in there throat then try and use the technique I explained above other wise they will belly up..
Very few fish come off of the bottom. Most are suspended 2-5′ above bottom. Don’t really know what the water temp is. We’re catching them through the ice. They’re all pretty big fish 12-15″. I have never seen one with a bladder in it’s mouth, they’re just not that deep. The thing that makes me wonder is some fish that we keep have those bloody mouths when they’ve been on the ice for a while. I always give them a good start down the hole and they all seem to really take off. With the Livescope I can see some of them go back down if they are still in the cone.
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