Stomach Pump

[Brandon Matthews]

Here's a question for some of you guys who's fished competitions before. Have you and are you allowed to use a stomach pump in competition?

[Todd Oishi]

I never use them for competitions, as their use is frowned upon and banned at our nationals. Collecting samples in the water and inspecting the lakeside or streamside vegetation for "clues" usually provides just about as much information...

I'm still not sold on their value for competition fishing, as I've yet to find a Blob or Boobie amongst the stomache contents that were taken from a stocked or wild trout... 

[Chris Puchniak]

I didn't actually realize they were banned from the Nationals.  Good to know - before I goofed up and did it. 

It's certainly a more valuable tool when fish are on chironomids (or other small feed, such as daphnia, or small  mayflies) and you're trying to figure out the colour or stage of pupation, when fish can be a bit fussy during a mixed hatch - but it's certainly nothing one HAS to use.  I've always found it more of a tool that works to satisfy my curiousity, rather than one I count on to catch fish - somedays for a scientific perspective you just want to know "what the hell ARE they really eating?" and "why do they seem to want this big Chartreuse thing?". 

[Lance Egan]

Although I've never seen any real rules specifically banning pumps from US comps, it is widely accepted that they aren't legal to use during the comp.  This is due to the rules:
ARTICLE 22: CARE OF FISH CAUGHT.
22.1. If a competitor wishes a fish to score, he must land it in a net and pass the fish in the net to the controller for measurement and recording (Article 20.2 refers).

22.2. The controller must remove the hook, revive the fish and release it, taking care not to damage the fish.
22.3. If a competitor decides that a fish is ineligible or is undersized, he is not required to net it but must release it in the water, taking care not to cause it any damage, and ideally without touching it.
22.4. If a controller or any other competition official determines that a competitor has negligently injured a fish, that fish will not be scored and the competitor will be penalised the number of points attributable to a fish of minimum valid length. The incident must be reported to the Jury for consideration of further action.


I've been chastised for helping too much when measuring fish.  I had a controller in Finland that advised me to leave the measuring, hook removal and release to him.  Failure to comply would result in a penalty.  I can only imagine what he would have done if I pumped a fish!

[Chris Puchniak]

Thanks for posting that insight Lance.

I can certainly see how pumping should be avoided because some people I see are virtually addicted to the process and pump every fish.

By the way, we should refer to it as a "throat pump", not a "Stomach Pump" as the manufacturers call it.  It misleads too many new anglers into thinking they have to jam the pipe far past the esophagus, when this is not only useless (because it just pushes all the food right at the top of the throat - which is the ONLY stuff you want to sample - down into the stomach, and now you can't tell what was freshly consumed in the last hour, versus stuff from yesterday), but deadly to the fish.  I dislike the thought of people releasing fish with a damaged esophagus - a sure way to have fish swim away ok, only to die 2-3 days later...

I know the word throat vs stomach is only a matter of semantics, but its incredible how many people think since it is a stomach pump, they have to go right down into the stomach.

[Dejon Hamann]

I guess I really fall on the other side of the fence on this one guys.  I don't find a stomach pump to be all that harmful - of course, when it's used correctly.  And I've never experienced these guys who run around pumping every fish all day, so I don't have that bias.  Who knows, maybe one day I will change my mind, but in the due course of the sport of "fishing" it seems like a minor atrocity compared to piercing a fishes mouth and then dragging it through the water.  But I digress...

Like many of you I've experimented with it, but don't use it much anymore.  I still carry it but basically only use it when i'm prepping for a competition and things aren't going well  I must say though, I think using it here and there over the years was a real confidence builder.  Sometimes you just "gotta know."

I also don't have experience at the worlds.  I'd say though, except for maybe CA Nationals I doubt you'd have a problem using a pump at any of the other competitions in north america... at least to date.

Put simply though.  If you're even thinking of pumping a fish during your actual beat time then you're all ready on the back side of a bunch of mistakes.  Pumping fish is more suited to recon when you're developing your game day plan... but I'll bet that's what Brandon was probably asking anywaze.  

[Jim Frazier]

don't throat or stomache pumps or whatever u wanna call em take away from part of the "game" (what are they eating ) i think perhaps a thermometer might be a better tool at figuring out what they are eating as it may tell u whats available 

[Bill Steudler]

All bugs are always available, its not like Sulphur nymphs are only present in May when the water temp is between 57-59 degrees.  Sulphur nymphs will take fish year round.  Obviously, during the Sulphur hatch they are much more likely to provide an opportunity to be eaten.  I think pumping a fish during practice is a good tool to use especially when you are not familiar with the stream as in most comps.  I wouldn't say it takes anything out of the "game", its just a tool used by most competition anglers to dial in fish.

[Chris Smith]

For what it is worth...

I've had one experienced comp fisherman (Nationals and Worlds) who told me a story of a fish not being scored due to pumping.  I believe it was on a lake venue, and it may have been the fellow competitor in the boat.

The fish swam away fine...but the controller DQ'ed the catch.

So that angler doesn't pump during comps.

[Brandon Matthews]

Very interesting to read all the posts....I've never personally used a stomach pump...have one ordered.....seems like it could be a good idea if your having a slow day...but I agree with many posts that talk about turning rocks.....that is normally what I do...I mean it wouldn't make much sense to try to pump a fish in a comp to many chances to lose the fish. Better to just keep it in the net and let the controller take care of the fish that way you don't drop him. Thanks for all the insight guys.

[Todd Oishi]

Great discussion by the way! For those who are unsure; take a look at these rules in regards to proper fish handling and treatment, so you don't get caught in an undesirable situation during a competition:

"22.1. If a competitor wishes a fish to score, he must land it in a net and pass the fish in the net to the controller for measurement and recording (Article 20.2 refers)."

"22.2. The controller must remove the hook, revive the fish and release it, taking care not to damage the fish."

* Note that the rules are worded so that it emphasize the fact that the controller is the only person allowed to physically touch the fish and hook and then release it.

"22.3. If a competitor decides that a fish is ineligible or is undersized, he is not required to net it but must release it in the water, taking care not to cause it any damage, and ideally without touching it."

* Note that in this rule they clearly and specifically state that the competitor must try their best to avoid touching the fish altogether - thus the use of stomach pumps would be a clear violation of these rules. The rules makes it perfectly clear and quite obvious that the fish must not be handled by the competitor or as little as possible.

It is for this reason and in the spirit and continuity of these rules that stomach pumps have been banned from the practice sessions prior to our nationals. I suppose it all comes down to your interpretation of these rules and perhaps addressing this issue with the organizers - well in advance of the official practice sessions...