I’m done. Not a tournament vendetta at all, but I just gave another viewpoint of ethical fishing. And by the way I guess bouncing around in live wells at high speeds, being handled numerous times by anglers and tournament officials, being put into bags or plastic bins, being held in intermediate tanks until getting to weight in has NOTHING to do with mortality. 
BOOYA !!!!Here you go. Also keep in mind guys not all fish float when they die.
On the Mississippi River, another study involved analyzing the data from a total of 32 walleye tournaments that were held on the Upper Mississippi River bordering Iowa during the late 80’s to early 90’s. The total number of fish caught during those tournaments was 6,349 with a combined weight of 10,945 pounds. The weigh-in mortality varied from 0.5% to an under estimated high of 24%. The delayed mortality of tournament caught walleye was estimated from four of the fishing tournaments. A total of 525 walleyes were held in hoop nets (5-feet diameter x 16 feet long) in approximately 10-14 feet of water in a Mississippi River side channel near the weigh-in site. The 5-day delayed total mortality estimated from the net held walleyes from the four study tournaments averaged 55.8% and varied from 37% to 78%. An adjustment for delayed total mortality for fish not released due to poor physical condition, increased average moralities for walleye to 72%. Major factors affecting mortality and survival were attributed to low oxygen concentrations in live wells and water temperatures above 70 degrees Fahrenheit. 
Joel I mentioned post tournament mortality of released tournemant fish. If you search for results you will see some studies estimate it to be near 80%. these fish die after all the boats and people are gone……………..
You missed my point all together. No comment on tournaments etc? I guess some of us do live in glass houses, hmmmmmmmmmm 
OK here is something I want everyone to think about. How many walleye tournaments, local and professionally organized, are held each year on Pool’s 3 and 4? I counted over 30. Now take the drive of each fisherman in these events. Getting the most weight and most fish, right? And some of these tournaments are held at times when big fish are common, springtime and fall. If each tournament averages 50 boats and each boat averages 3 fish per day each day for the event, you do the math. Dan, when he elects to keep fish NEVER keeps fish over 18 inches. I know, I fish with him alot. His personal harvest is a drop in the bucket compared to the mortality of LARGE ADULT walleyes being kept by people for wall hanging, bragging or during these tournaments that are mature for spawning. Couple that with others that we all see on the water regularly that are always putting fish in their live well, and on back to back days. I have seen it and so have most of you, especially in the spring. So please let’s rally around Dan for the sportsman and Christian that he is. NUFF said ! 
