Well, I'll be honest. I released these fish in front of the house, but it's just around the corner from Buzzells cove where I caught them. About a 1 minute boat ride. I did this because I HAD to show my dad in person that there are bigger fish in the lake than little 8 and 10" bass. That's what we were catching all week, little scrawny ones. I practice catch and release everywhere I fish and all the time. If I want a mount of a fish, I'll take lots of pics for a replica to be made. I figure that since I had the good fortune of catching the fish, it should have the good fortune returned of being set free to live. Now, if I catch a big tagged rainbow this winter during the derby, I maybe have to bring it down to the headquarters for prize entry.
But I won't count on that happening. Been fishing the derby for about 18 years and never caught one
As far as bring fish back to there favorite spots, I thinks it's BS. I remember a bass being found 9 miles away from it's release spot during that study they did. Fish move around too much to hope that the same fish is there next week.