Our tournament rules state that anglers have a limit of 6 fish and weigh their best 5. Once the 6th fish is kept all fishing must stop. At the March monthly meeting we had some questions as to when the sixth fish should be released. Should it be released before you return to the weigh-in site or should it be released after all the fish are weighed? According to Jeff Kopaska, of the Iowa DNR, the fish should be released before you return to the weigh-in site, to help reduce stress on the fish. Thus, once you catch and keep your 6th fish all fishing must stop, return one fish from your 6 fish limit back to the water, and return to the weigh-in site with the 5 fish you wish to weigh.
Kyle Colbert, CVWC Tournament Director