Bug and a bubble at the Pig

[KJFN]

I don't post often but decided I would report on my outing to Porcupine to day. I caught five fish, four brown and a bow. I broke two off and missed several others. All of the fish were released. I didn't take a photo of the smallest brown. The net in the photos is 16"x18" all of the fish were in that range.
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[Roosterman]

Looks like you had a good time. Was wonderin though if any of these fish survived the release after frolicking in the dirt? Please keep in mind, that when practicing good catch & release it's important to follow some essential guidelines that puts the fish's best interests in out front. Here are a few good catch & release guidelines:
1. Pinch down the barbs on all of your hooks
Barbless hooks allow for a much easier and quicker release of your fish, with less damage to the fish's mouth. You can use pliers to pinch down the barbs on your hooks or you can carefully file them off of large hooks. You'll be surprised how few fish you lose using barbless hooks compared to the number you lost while using barbed hooks.
2. Don't fight your fish any longer than necessary
Purposely allowing your battle with a fish to continue when it's not necessary places undue strain on the fish. Exhausted fish often swim away, but die days later because of lactic acid that builds up in their system. The longer they fight, the more toxic lactic acid that builds up. This means you should use the proper line test strength for the fish you intend to catch, and land your fish swiftly, but not carelessly – after all, the point is to land the fish!
3. Keep the fish in the water
Don't lift fish out of the water – don't even touch the fish if you don't have to. Many fish can be released without ever touching them. Just bend over, remove the hook with your hand or with pliers, and let the fish swim away. Absolutely do not let the fish flop around in the dirt. Research has shown that keeping a fish in the water dramatically increases its chances of survival. Think of it – after the fight of your life, say going 12 rounds in a boxing ring or running a marathon, imagine having your air cut off! That's exactly what we do when we lift fish from the water. Fish kept out of the water for more than one minute have a greatly diminished chance of survival, once a fish has been out of the water for three minutes, it has virtually no chance of survival, even if it swims away.
4. Keep your hands wet when handling fish
If you do handle a fish, and you do it with dry hands, it can cause some of the protective coating ("slime") on the fish's skin to come off. This coating is designed to protect fish from disease. Wet hands reduce this risk and can actually make it a little easier to handle your catch. Some anglers prefer soft wet gloves.

Finally, have fun!

Rooster
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[albinotrout]

Nice report thanks for sharing.
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[KJFN]

Roosterman,

thanks for the reply! This is the main reason I seldom post because you always have someone telling you how to fish and handle fish, what you should do or should have done. I have been a fisherman for 60 plus years and I know how to handle fish! Not every fishing experience is ideal for catching and releasing fish. Due to the dropping water level I could not get closer than about 6' to the edge of the lake to either net or release the fish. But I am through with the explanations other than to say each of the fish was returned to the water as quickly as possible and I witnessed each fish swim off after they were released. Sorry to have unloaded on you. I know you're a newbie to the site so I'll cut you some slack.
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[KJFN]

You're welcome!
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[CoyoteSpinner]

I appreciate your concerns, and lessons on fish handling, but I feel for Kent's defense. I hate to see someone post a report and then get jumped for one thing or another. I like so see folks encouraged for posting reports, or the forum gets real boring reel fast! You sound like a flyfisherman, and those are fine handlng rules, but also not always practical. As they say, walk in their shoes before you judge, and sounds like those shoes were pretty muddy.

I've been railed on for having a finger in a carp's gill. What I did not show in the pic was the belly had already been split for "proper" release. Did I say it was a carp?

Had he not mentioned the fish were released would there be a problem? I tend to keep the fish I don't release, and release the fish I don't keep, but if it's done within legal parameters, no narm no fowl. Speaking of birds, know many birders that practice catch and release? Or spearfisherman, or bowfisherman for that matter.

Lets cast lines not stones.

[fmrusmc]

Thanks for the report and nice fish! I don't post much anymore here either for the reasons. I even eat some of the fish I catch! Shame on me! [laugh]
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[gonfishn]

First of all, no disrespect is meant to anyone by this post. I do see and feel for both sides of this issue. I don't believe that Roosterman intended any insult...how do you spread the word of "proper" catch and release and encourage it without sounding "preachy"? To my knowledge, everything he said is accurate and although you observe a fish swim away, it does have a lower chance of survival if it is allowed to roll in the dirt prior to release. I really enjoyed Kent's report and am super glad he had some success and shared it with us. I hope he feels comfortable in continuing to do that. But I also hope that even though he has fished for 60 years he realizes that we all can learn from each other. I have learned a lot from this forum (when I have time to get on here). I have nothing against catch and eat or catch and release. But I do feel that if you are planning on releasing a fish, it is worth taking some simple steps to ensure its survival. And the steps that Roosterman has posted are sound advise from what I have learned. Maybe the message would have been better received by Kent through a FRIENDLY private message? I think both parties had good intentions and I appreciated both of their posts and hope they will both feel comfortable to continue posting. Because I also agree with coyote that this forum would be quite dull without trip reports and great stories.
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[flygoddess]

Great post and nice fish for sure.
I agree with everything you have wrote here. Respectfully, as in anything in life, the fact one has done something for many years does not mean they are doing it right. The proof is in the pictures.
And Yote, it is a day in the C&R world that you think only Fly Fishers address this issue. How one fishes should have little to do with it. Proper C&R is pretty much the same.
I would say nets can help (specially rubber coated and not rough rope made) but a net was used, so not sure how this happens.
Got to accept the pointers as well as the pats on the back when posting on an open forum.
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[CoyoteSpinner]

No diss intended, never said only Fly Fishers C&R, but I think you'd have to agree, they are more prone to be of that mindset. Not sure exactly why that is, but it seems to go with the territory, not that there's anything wrong with that.
(dig your new avatar BTW)
Even with my bait-fishing I prefer methods that allow me to lip-hook a big cat, assuring safe release if I choose, over a treble hook, or a method where the suck the bait down deep into the gut before getting a hookset.

I release a lot of fish, and I keep a few. Those I release, or intend to, I try to handle carefully. I've released Musky boatside, and some would claim I never truly "caught" them because I didn't net and boat them. I don't care - I hooked, controlled, and brought them in for a leader touch and a twist of the pliers - works for me.

I have had fish flop out of my hands, hit the ground, and fall back in the water. Some fish (mudcats, carp) can handle such abuse with little to no impact. While other varieties (wimpy trout) do not tolerate such treatment. I try to be especially careful with smaller fish, as they are prone to quickly go belly up.

I agree - a pm message might have been a more subtle approach. But as said - if the OP hadn't claimed release, would anyone be griping about it?

I've pretty much quit posting a "basket" for that reason. I've been jumped on for sharing a limit of teen-bass, yet I almost never see anyone complain about the stacks of Wipers/Walleye lined up in the Willard posts. Don't think I've ever seen TD get jumped for sharing his day's take.
I know Porcupine's mercury levels grant a warning. But some would say the same of Cutler's agro-runoff.

[flygoddess]

Again, the Fly Fishers are as you say "prone". It should be everyone.
But I don't see what Rooster posted as "Jumped".
Got to take the pointers with the pats on open forums, think of it as a pointer.
As far as TD, he has gotten as you say "jumped on" or at least questioned, which can get ugly, but also says that no matter how long you have done something doesn't mean it can't be improved on.
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[TyeDyeTwins]

It was his fish, let him be about how he handles the fish he caught. No need to get a lecture for posting pics and reporting a good day.
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[albinotrout]

[quote TyeDyeTwins]It was his fish, let him be about how he handles the fish he caught. No need to get a lecture for posting pics and reporting a good day.[/quote]


+1
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[gonfishn]

It is very unfortunate that some have felt it is safer to not share their pictures and adventures because some can be offensive and brazen about their approach to help others expand their knowledge about whatever it may be, including catch and release techniques. Sometimes I feel people troll these forums looking to be offensive and cause quarrel, and when they accomplish this they must feel they have landed a trophy. I think that is wrong, but we have to just accept the fact that there are those types of people on open forums and just take it for what it is.....a frustrated fisherman who can't make it to the lake so they are trolling for victims here. But I don't feel that Rossterman falls into this category here. I feel he was genuinely trying to promote knowledge to promote knowledge to increase survivability when anglers do choose to release fish they have caught. I have also been on Kent's side of an issue before and I know it stings a little bit when "corrected" even weather it is done in a respectful manner or not. It is always at least a small ding on our ego which everyone of us have.

As far as your question coyote,
[quote CoyoteSpinner]But as said - if the OP hadn't claimed release, would anyone be griping about it?
[/quote]
my guess is no, I don't think anyone would gripe at all if he were intending to keep the fish. If he were keeping them they will surely die anyway, but if he is releasing them, it is a fact that they have a lower chance of surviving if covered in dirt prior to release. For the number of fish that Kent has caught over his 60 years is it the end of the world for our fisheries? Obviously not. But for every fisherman that increases their handling techniques, multiplied x 60 years, that may have an impact.
As far as TDT's comment I agree and yet respectfully disagree. Yes lets all cut Kent some slack. He was doing what he has been taught years ago about catch and release. But on the other hand, as soon as he chooses that he is not going to keep the fish as part of his legal limit, they are no longer "his fish", rather they are "our" fish. And very simple, yet effective handling methods that may have not been common practice years ago should be given consideration in my humble opinion.
By the way, I loved your title to the original post Kent! Very clever and funny! Get back out there and catch some more fish and please feel comfortable about continuing to share your adventures with us.
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[flygoddess]

Speaking of "jumping" I like how I was singled out on this post[].
quote:
"But on the other hand, as soon as he chooses that he is not going to keep the fish as part of his legal limit, they are no longer "his fish", rather they are "our" fish. And very simple, yet effective handling methods that may have not been common practice years ago should be given consideration in my humble opinion."

Gold right there.

Apparently there is a fine line between Suggestion/educating and Jumping/insulting on this forum.


It has been "suggested/educating" that these beautiful trout were NOT released correctly. Proof in in the pictures. That is all, no slamming, no insults. Just constructive suggestions. Whether he decides to use these suggestions in entirely up to him.
But in the same breath, is it right to "jump" the [person offering the suggestion to an obvious situation.


This is not the first time this topic has gone back and forth on this forum and anyone that reads here even occasionally has seen this. You TNT know what I am saying. So one should be a little prepared for the outcome when posting it.
But, I agree, I am going fishing.
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[Holding_a_Trout]

[laugh]Exactly why I haven't posted any stories /pics, always someone who has to talk sh@t. I keep and eat most the fish I catch, that's at least half the reason that I fish. If all you c&r types worried about fish dying? --- then don't fish! Just because you haven't posted pics of your fish flopping in the dirt before you throw them back doesn't mean you're an ambasor to the fish, by even catching them you've put their survival in jeopardy. Maybe stay home and play rapala on the wii( then no one gets hurt!). So, for now, I'll keep my pics/adventures to my self until people like FG & rooster can keep their opinions to themselves [laugh]
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[Holding_a_Trout]

+2
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[fmrusmc]

Yup. Exactly.
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[KJFN]

I want to first of all thank ALL of you who have weighed in on this post! I'm sorry I jump Roosterman but he happened to be the first one to comment on my post. If you post on Big Fish Tackle you better have thick skin or not post[crazy]! That's the reason I indicated in my opening line that "I don't post often." My skin is a little thinner than it used to be, I guess.[pirate]

Second I would of love to have had a few of you C&R experts with me yesterday to show me how it's done[sly]! The way I see it I could have gone to work[frown] or fished the way I did and released the way I did. I do not have a watercraft to use and there is no way to get to the waters edge in the brush and trees on the south side of the lake, due to how much the water has dropped. In a few spots you might get to within three or four feet before the bank became quicksand. [shocked]

Some would say, "if you can't handle and release fish properly then keep them" [mad]. I love to eat a good trout and I did think about keeping them. However, when I left home yesterday I had no intentions on keeping fish. (someone would have blasted me for that too)[pirate]. I didn't know I would find the conditions I found so I didn't take anything to keep fish in. Due to the bank conditions even a stringer wouldn't have been much help. If I had kept fish they would have been in poor shape before I got them home and I would have feed them to the cats[:p]. I took my chance, I caught fish and I through the suckers back in the water to have a fighting chance to survive[angelic]. What doesn't killem will makem stronger[]! If they live (which I believe they did), great. If they didn't, let the bird and the crawdad eat them, they need to eat too. Circle of life[unimpressed]!
Peace Bro. & Sis. Have a great day and keep on fishen[cool]!
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]You did well. You caught fish and posted a report with pictures. The only thing you did wrong was leave yourself open to the holier than thou anglers who are trolling...but not fishing.

Friday the 13th, full moon, too much wind. All that stuff brings out the best in some of our members. They need to go fishing and get back on their meds.

Will the fish you released survive? Guaranteed that they got a better chance than if they ended up in the sink...or the freezer.

No conscientious angler likes to waste resources, by killing fish that needn't be killed. But dang it there are times and circumstances you just gotta do the best you can with what you got.

A lot better than the bottle bait brigade that covers the water with floaters that have had their guts ripped out with trebles...but can't be kept because they are inside the slot.

Keep fishing and keep posting. Don't pet the sweaty stuff...or however that goes. I got yer back.
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