Well put Smalma. There are a few things that every trny fisherman should do if they plan to fish the early season tournaments. Every trny angler I know does a pre-season inventory of their gear to make sure everything is still in good working condition. Part of that inventory has to include checking their fizz kit and being absolutely positive it is still in good working condition. Along with that every angler has to be proficient in the use of their kit. There are 2 ways of doing this, the newest and most accepted way now being to go through the mouth and not through the side of the fish. Properly doing this will greatly increase the survival rate. Along with this their are additives that can be placed in the livewell which will help to calm the fish and reduce stress.

That trny had 7 dead fish brought in out of 51 total fish caught. That is an extremely high number. By Washington State guidelines if it was a 2 day tournament the 2nd day would not have been run. Any fish mortality over 10% during a tournament is cause for the tournament to automatically be suspended until the problem causing the mortality can be corrected. If it can not be corrected the remaining tournament will be cancelled.

I am sure the hosting club is taking this all into account, this was their first time running a tournament this early in the year.

Tight lines all