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Stewardship Tip – Dog Days
By Arshia | July 12, 2011
During the dog days, warm water contains less diluted oxygen (DO). Water that is 90° F can only hold 7.4 mg/L DO at saturation. It will hold less because of the demands for oxygen in the water. As the water temperature rises, there may not be enough DO to properly revive a fish after a fight. The result could be injury or death.
Before you fish this summer, especially for catch and release anglers, make sure to check with your local Department of Natural Resources or Game and Parks Commission to make sure that there are no warnings for the body of water that you plan to fish. Releasing a fish into water that has depleted levels of oxygen due to high temperatures can lead to injury and, possibly, mortality. If there are oxygen or temperature warnings for your favorite fishing hole, it is best to give the fish a break and set the fishing pole aside. When the dog days set in, it’s time to lay around like a lazy dog.
Why it’s important to the fish: When a fish exerts itself during a fight, it breaks down glucose in its bloodstream and generates pyruvic acid. Thus is one of the first steps in energy metabolism. When muscles contract vigorously for long periods, the circulatory system begins to lose ground in delivery of oxygen. In these conditions, most of the pyruvic acid is converted to lactic acid. As lactic acid is produced in the muscles it leaks out into the blood and is carried around the body. If this condition continues, the functioning of the body will become impaired and the muscles will fatigue very quickly.
An adequate amount of oxygen is needed to break down lactic acid and help a fish recover from a fight. If there is not a sufficient amount of DO in the water, the chances of mortality rise.
During the dog days, check to make sure that there are no warnings for the body of water that you plan to fish. If there isn’t enough oxygen in the water, leave the fishing for another day.
How about beefing up your arsenal of flies and supporting stewardship of our waters at the same time?
Thanks to Hill’s Discount Flies, and DICK’S Sporting Goods, we are hosting daily eBay auctions from June 15 – July 15.
Check the auctions out at RecycledFish.com
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