Posts: 389
Threads: 0
Joined: Dec 2005
Reputation:
0
Hopefully I don't start a huge rant thread here, but I feel I need to address this topic. It is my understanding that putting your fingers in a fish's gills is bad for the fish if you intend to release that fish. I have noticed pictures on this board and have seen people on the ice and in other fishing situations where they hold a fish by its gills and then release the fish. As I understand it, proper fish handling prior to release is to support the fish without squeezing it or putting your fingers in it's gills and release the fish quickly. Wetting your hands before handling the fish is also less likley to damage the slime coat. IFG had a post several days ago that I think showed perfect fish handling. They were nice Berry cutts and you could see in the photos that the fish, and the anglers hands were dripping wet, and the fish was being supported in a light grip in both hands with the fingers away from the gill plates [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=234920;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread"]http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=234920;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread[/url]
[signature]
Posts: 682
Threads: 0
Joined: Jan 2003
Reputation:
0
I don't think you will start a rant- this is just a good reminder and I agree with you. We've all seen it and it's a good thing to remind people who practice catch and release that doing it right is just as important as the catching/releasing part! Doesn't do any good to let the fish go and die elsewhere!
Great reminder, proper catch and release will only make it better for all of us!
[signature]
Posts: 285
Threads: 0
Joined: Jun 2005
Reputation:
0
From the DWR:
"...AVOID UNNECESSARY CONTACT WITH THE FISH, but don't grasp the fish through the net. If you must handle the fish, be sure to moisten hands beforehand. Never squeeze the body or eye sockets, touch the gills, or lay the fish on the ground..."
Source:[url "http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/strawberry/straw7.html"]http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/strawberry/straw7.html[/url]
That info in on the Strawberry specific page, but the link below goest to a list of general catch-and-release tips:
[url "http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/fishing/catchandreleasetips.html"]http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/fishing/catchandreleasetips.html[/url]
Here are the tips listed in their entirety:
Catch and release fishing
Information and techniques [ul] [li]Bait caught fish typically suffer a much higher hooking mortality than fish caught on flies and lures. At least one out of three fish caught with bait will die after release. Over 60 percent of deep hooked fish die. Cutting the line on deep hooked fish and not trying to remove the hook increases survival significantly. The major cause of hooking mortality is hooking injury itself. Most fish that are bleeding from being hooked will not survive.
[/li][li]Generally nine out of 10 fish caught on flies or lures will survive after release. Studies have shown that there is only a one or two percent difference in the survival of fish caught on flies compared to those caught on lures.
[/li][li] When fishing deep water (deeper than 30 feet) most fish caught cannot be released with any assurance that they will survive. Bringing fish up quickly causes blood chemistry changes as well as an expansion of the air bladder to many times it's normal size, often causing it to protrude out of the fish's mouth. Keeping the fish in the water and quickly releasing it so it can get back down to deeper water helps some. Puncturing the swim bladder with a needle ("fizzing") does not improve survival. Some fish like lake trout can burp off the gases from the swim bladder when pulled up slowly. Most fish do not have this capability.
[/li][li]Fish that are already stressed by warm water temperatures or low dissolved oxygen conditions cannot handle the added stress of being caught and most likely will not survive after being released. Some of Utah's low to mid elevation reservoirs get warm during the summer. Some trout waters will have surface temperatures of 70�75� F. If you are catching fish in August when water temperatures are already marginal, don't plan on catching and releasing a lot of fish. Most released fish are probably not going to live to be caught another day.[/li] [/ul]
How can you increase survival of fish you plan to release? [ul] [li]If you plan to release fish, fish with flies or lures. Bending down the barbs on your hooks will make the release even easier. Replacing treble hooks with single hooks also makes the release easier.
[/li][li]Land the fish as quickly as possible. This is less tiring for the fish.
[/li][li]If possible, keep the fish in the water and use a pair of forceps or needle nosed pliers to remove the hook.
[/li][li]Handle the fish as little as possible. This helps maintain the protective slime coating on the fish.[/li] [/ul]
Coincidentally, Tiger Muskies have their own catch-and-release tip page, found [url "http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/fishing/tiger_muskie_tips.html"]here.[/url]
I try to avoid touching the gills, for sure. What it comes down to for me is this--yes, fish are tough and can survive a lot, but why not give them every break you can if you're going to release them?
lurechucker
[signature]
Posts: 943
Threads: 1
Joined: Sep 2002
Reputation:
2
My two cents worth of opinion. If you can avoid touching the fish grab the hook with pliers and remove the hook with a quick flip of the wrist. But I know many anglers, inclucing myself, want a better look at our fish. With a larger fish, say around 24" or more, you can, if you're careful, slip your fingers under the gill plate and never touch the gills. This is primarily for trout, walleye, pike, and musky. I often slide small trout (less than 20") into my hand and just cradle them in the water while I remove the hook then lift them gently for a quick photo and then send them back to the water.
[inline bft01.jpg]
Bass can be grasped by the lower lip, panfish grasp them across the outside of the gill plate.
[inline bft02.jpg]
Probably the best thing for handling larger fish is the "Bogga" type lip grippers that range from $20 to $100+ that we see in many of the photos. But by any means wet your hands and handle the fish gently and quickly get them back into the water.
[signature]
Posts: 389
Threads: 0
Joined: Dec 2005
Reputation:
0
Good point Campfire. I think the nets they (DWR) are refering to is the Kmart special green stiff knotted nylon nets, not the nets that are made of the softer materials that most of us use when flyfishing for trout or from our toons and tubes (mesh bag nets).
I think as far as nets go, they should only be used in a catch and release scenario if it will help you land the fish faster (and release him sooner). No need to net 10 or 12 inch fish IMHO.
[signature]
Posts: 6,126
Threads: 3
Joined: Jan 2005
Reputation:
1
The one that gets me is the people who use a towell to hold the trout and rip the treble hook out and then put the fish back.....
And say they catch and release....
.
[signature]
Posts: 143
Threads: 0
Joined: Nov 2005
Reputation:
0
I always appreciate additional info from fellow fisherman regarding catch and release techniques. I do not ice fish, but in my boat I try not to touch the fish (except for a photo once or twice a year), just use the pliers and release quickly. I also make certain that that the barbs are bent down on my all my hooks.
I have seen people at the berrry who boat the fish with a net, pin it against the boat carpet , remove the hook and then huck the poor thing back over the gunwale into the lake. It makes me made to see this happen.
Thanks for the tips and refreshers guys!
[signature]
Posts: 608
Threads: 0
Joined: Jan 2005
Reputation:
0
you wont see ny slimers in my boat. or for that mater any other fish if your gonna keeep em you can do it with out sliming everything.
[signature]
Posts: 76
Threads: 0
Joined: Nov 2005
Reputation:
0
Scotty P,
I like to use a net most of the time for my own safety. I like to fish with tandom flys and on more than one occassion I have tried to land a fish by hand only to have them slip out of my hand (because they are slippery) and run the dropper IN my hand.
[signature]
Posts: 389
Threads: 0
Joined: Dec 2005
Reputation:
0
Nothing like the point fly in your finger and the dropper in a very upset fish. Point taken Campfire.
Actually, I avoid the net if I can when using a tandem rig cause the second fly tends to get caught and tangled in the net (not as bad now that I debarb all my flies).
[signature]
] My point is that I think that gently lifting a fish from under a landing net, unhooking it and using the net to return it to the water would cause less damage to it than handling it with your hands when you have to squeeze it harder simply because it is so slippery.
on a block of cold, dry ice (or a cold flagpole). It sticks, and removing it quickly rips the top layer of skin off. That is probably just as hard on a fish as a net or even a towel!