this IS NOT NECESSARY

[Dryrod]

[font "Garamond"][#008000][size 4]Why do some fishermen feel that it is necessary to hold and display a fish in this fashion? I think that it places undo stress on the fishes jaw. BTW I don't think that a true fly person would find it necessary to hold a fish this way.[/size][/#008000][/font]
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[macfly55]

[font "Comic Sans MS"][#008000]I will be honest and say I have not always been careful when handling a LMB until MacLarry yelled at me one time and explained what harm I could do to that fish doing that.[/#008000][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#008000]Later, on a different board and then also on this board the same things were reiterated. And from what I understand here are a few things that can happen...[/#008000][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#008000]first.. the hands there look dry.. if they are then handling that fish will wipe away its protective slime.. and when that happens the fish ends up with skin problems that ultimately look like big moldy spots where the slime once was.. [/#008000][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#008000]second.. the fish is already traumatized and by doing as in this picture you traumatize it more.. the more traumatized the lower the chance of survival if released..[/#008000][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#008000]lastly.. if you hold the fish by its lower jaw like that it can either weaken or crack the jaw.. if that happens the fish cannot eat.. if it cannot eat it dies..[/#008000][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#008000]I am sure I have forgotten some other things that I hope others will make sure and post.. it never hurts to be reminded how to handle a fish properly.. [/#008000][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#008000]btw.. the lmb I caught with MacLarry had a hook in its head. a careless angler before me was too lazy to completely clear a foul hooking and just cut off his line and left the hook... MacLarry and I took a few seconds of time to remove that hook before putting it back in the water.. hopefully that fishy survived and no longer has any "hook"aches.. [crazy][/#008000][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#008000]MacFly[/#008000][/font] [cool]
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