After thinking about all of this for a bit there are a couple items that are open for debate and more study.
#1 If the DNR’s study was flawed in allowing crappies to return to depth, why did the shallower caught fish have better survival? They still had to battle the net the same as the deep fish.
#2 If over handling fish caused mortality, why was there less mortality when fish were caught shallower?
#3 What difference does it make to put the fish in the water mouth up, when their gills are bend their mouth and will vent air just as well?
#4 Is there a way to test survival rate of fish reeled in quickly vs slowly? If fish have their stomach pushed into their mouth, can it be pushed back and still survive?
I challenge the better fisherman of IDO to make a test.
Two fisherman, one reels in as fast as possible 10 fish from deep water, the other reels in as slow as possible without losing the fish.
Out of 10 fish each, who has more prolapse stomachs?