BEAR LAKE CATCH AND RELEASE

[milkbone]

I have enjoyed viewing all the pictures in the discussions.

And some of the fish are very impressive!!

I do have a concern however I seen photos and the lake trout that was shown were bleeding and supposedly were released.

I have found that if the fish is bleeding it will most likely still swim off as if unharmed but in reallity the fish is bleeding and will probably die.

I have released fish in shallower lakes and have witnessed fish that were bleeding somewhat that swam away I thought unharmed but as I watched the fish it did die and sink to the bottom. So no matter what, if the fish is bleeding I keep it. unless it is a broken tooth haha. but please be carefull releasing fish that are bleeding especially from the gill area because it will just die and I would rather we keep the fish rather than have it go to waste.In that deep lake it probably sank to the bottm dead.

Catch and release for the future but release unharmed and not bleeding at all.

Good fishing!!!!!
[signature]

[fishmagnet]

I agree bleeding from the gills is not a good thing and care should be taken to avoid it at all costs but I don't think a fish released that dies is really going to waste. It will be recycled by the ecosystem there and be of more benefit to the lake than someone eating it. Think of all those millions of Alaskan Salmon that go to "waste" every year and yet they feed their own offspring, the bears, the eagles, the rainbows and even the surrounding forest.

Just something to think about.

FM
[signature]

[sammy35]

I agree with both of you but we do need to take extra care to make sure we release all fish unharmed and also not to keep them out of the water very long.

How long can we hold our breaths???
[signature]

[mtnman]

I agree with being very careful with the fish. We have boated hundreds of fish on Bear Lake over the years with 99.9% of them being released. Every once in a great while a fish that we release wont do so well and it will float on the surface. We will go and pick it up if our bald eagle friend doesnt beat us to it. I feel that a fish that is slightly bleeding has a better chance of survivial if he's released instead of being on the stringer with his guts out.
[signature]

[icefool]

I agree also. We need to take care when we catch and release. Also WELCOME.
[signature]