Proper fish handling techniques and such

[skidmarximus88]

I'm just wondering if anyone has any video links or what not on how to handle catch and release fish. I see pictures all the time of people handling releasers with their fingers in their gills, I've always been taught that's a big no no. But any info or tips or videos would help not just myself in the future but other anglers..
Thanks ahead of time....
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[fishnate]

This subject is sure to get someones panties in a wad [crazy]. Just do a search on youtube for "fishing catch and release techniques." One thing you'll find is that different fish may require different techniques. Most fish are surprisingly tough, especially warmer water fish such as bass, catfish, walleye, etc. Trout are more sensitive to rough handling. That being said a quick fight and a gentle touch is always best for the fishes survival and some won't survive despite the best effort. Protecting the fishes slime layer is important. It's their defense against disease, so having wet hands when handling fish is best. Probably the best technique is to net the fish with a soft mesh net, grab the hooks with a pliers and pop the hooks out and invert the net releasing the fish with no hand contact at all. But many like to hold and get photos of the fish caught. I always try to support fish with two (wet) hands when holding them up for inspection and/or a photo unless I'm taking the fish to dinner. Hands in the gills is a big no no. Damage the gill rakers and the fish won't do too well if it survives at all. However, careful placement of the fingers under the gill flap works well for controlling larger fish. Smaller trout do well with a gentle but firm grip just down from the gill plate. Don't squeeze them so hard they "burp" or you'll likely have a floating trout out in the lake. Bass can be held by the lower lip to control them for hook removal. No need to bend the lip under. You can break a bass' jaw by holding it near horizontal as I often see in photos. Big fish like lakers, muskies, pike do better leaving them in the water but the all important photo requires a brief trip topside. Catfish seem to be almost bullet proof but I still handle them gently and any good steward of the resource would do. Always hold fish upright in the water, facing current if there is any, until the fish swims away under their own power. I'm certainly missing something but someone else will likely add their input later.

Everyone's got an opinion and I'm sure many disagree with my 2 cents. I'm glad you care enough to find out how to release a fish healthy and ready to be caught again another day. [fishon]
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[skidmarximus88]

Loads of good info, thank you!
Trout are more less my main concern, I was always taught if you ain't keepin them, try not to touch them... I like the wet hands idea, that's definitely something I will encorperate next trip.
My hope was just to draw some attention to the subject and allow others to hear some proper techniques as well.
Thanks again Fishnate!
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[HD7000]

Fishnate provided some real good info! The two big ones being keep your fingers outta the gills and don't squeeze them so tight you pop their air bladder!
One thing to add, I like the rubber landing nets as opposed to the old school nylon ones. I feel like I can get the hook out faster and the fish back in the water quicker without scraping off too many scales.
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[bassrods]

With each type of fish it may be handled in different ways and no one way is the best for all..
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[Jedidiah]

Always carry forceps. If you intend to release a fish and it's hooked too far down its gullet and you can't get the hook out easily even with forceps, clip the line and leave the hook. Use bronze hooks, they can be dissolved by the stomach acid in the fish, steel and gold or nickel plated hooks cannot.

Rainbow and cutthroats seem to be particularly namby-pamby. I've caught rainbow trout that I released in less than 10 seconds and had them take coaxing to be on their way. Tiger trout will fight all the way in, fight during hook removal, fight on the way back into the water and still rocket back to the deeps the second they touch the surface.
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[k2muskie]

For Tiger Muskies...

See the following DWR links:

[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=789123;#789123"]http://www.bigfishtackle.com/...?post=789123;#789123[/url]

[url "http://wildlife.utah.gov/fishing/tiger_muskie_tips.php"]http://wildlife.utah.gov/...iger_muskie_tips.php[/url]

Here are some of my additional recommendations

Equipment:

As was indicated in the link release tools are very, very, very important.

Recommend a good quality knotless deep basket net or cradle to prevent injuring the fish eyes, fins, and protective coating. 10-12” jaw spreaders, hook cutters recommend Knipex especially for large treble hooks 3/0, 4/0, 5/0 sizes. Can’t go wrong cutting hooks. Hooks are cheap so cut them. Use needle nose pliers to remove any shanks of cut hooks still in fish.

EMPHASIS light tackle/equipment is not recommended when chasing TMs. I know some will post well I caught a TM on 6, 8, 10# test mono. Great but they don’t bother to tell you how long it took to get the fish in. So trust me when I say in [#ff0000]WARM WATER[/#ff0000] conditions use the proper equipment/tackle. Medium heavy, heavy, extra heavy rated rod, quality reel, spooled with at least 50# plus test braid, steel leader if you desire but when the fish rolls in the net steel leaders can damage skin and scales. We make our own 80# fluorocarbon leaders. 18-20” casting and 32-36” trolling.

EMPHASIS be prepared when you fish waters stocked with these fish. Fighting a Tiger Muskie for an extended amount of time to keep the fish from breaking off is strongly discouraged especially in [#ff0000]WARM WATER TEMPS[/#ff0000]. The largest fish we’ve boated last year pushing 50” took us approximately 3-5 minutes to get the fish into the net. Again having the proper rod/reel and most importantly line allows for this.

Get the fish to the boat quickly is a must to enhance the fish’s chances of survival upon release especially in warm water temps. Don't fight the fish to exhaustion. No matter the water temps...

[#ff0000]Warm Water[/#ff0000] temps is anything 65* up. Taking 10-20 plus minutes to bring a fish in at 70* plus water temp pushing 80* will not be good odds for the fishes survival upon release. Oh how we’ve learned from way back in the day starting out. Get the fish to the boat/shore as quickly as possible can’t be stressed enough in warm water conditions
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You hook into a Tiger Muskie

Keep rod tip down and/or shoved into the water this will reduce the fish coming out of the water and tossing the lure right back at you. With any fishing when the rod tip is up…well fish that go tail walking will tail walk and potentially toss the offerings right back in your face Been there done that.

EMPHASIS YET AGAIN: in warmer water don’t fight the fish to exhaustion. Get the fish to the boat/shore as quickly as possible especially in the summer. Fighting the fish builds up lactic acid depleting oxygen and causes more of them to die when released in warm water conditions. So again having the right tackle if you’re going to specifically target these fish is a must. Yes there are those accidental hook-ups when fishing for other fish…it happens just be prepared and know what to do and again in warm water it can’t be stressed enough don’t fight the fish to exhaustion. If it breaks the line so be it. Again we have not break offs as we use the proper equipment.

Once the fish is netted keep the fish in the net in the water while removing the hook(s). USE EXTREME CAUTION removing the hooks as these fish will thrash around and any treble hook exposed will have the potential to find your hand, finger, forearm etc (yet another been there done that). Don’t grab the lure unless absolutely necessary. Use long needle nose pliers to remove hooks or Knipex hook cutters and cut the hooks. If you don’t have a net and fishing from shore leave the fish in the water while you remove the hooks exercising extreme caution. Don’t bring the fish into the boat or up on shore to remove the hooks as you’ll damage its protective coating and skin. Including the fish will be flopping around in the bottom of the boat and/or shore and will cause more injury to itself.

Never place the fish on the bottom of a hot metal boat in the summer. Another death sentence to the fish. We know what hot bottom metal boats feel like I hope. So need I say more.

Once the hooks are removed stow the pole and get all rods/gear out of the way.

Leave the fish in the net or in the water while prepping the boat meaning getting the camera out and turned on. Get your measuring device out and have it ready. Don’t take the fish out of the water or leave it on shore then fiddle getting the camera and then turning it on. Have the camera on and ready. I know kinda hard if by yourself but again leave the fish in the water as long as you can.

Keep the fish in the water (I’ve said that how many times now). So you have everything ready camera on, rods stowed, measuring device ready. Turn the fish on it's side in the water holding the tail then with the other hand place it in the forward most portion of the gill plate and not in the gills. Keeping the TM on it's side lift the fish for a quick measurement/picture. Make sure you have a 'firm' grip in the forward part of the gill plate and be mindful of the gill rakers. Lift the fish up and with your free hand support the fish by holding it under its belly.

Never pinch the fish's eye's that's an ole wise tail. If you do this it will damage eyes causing blindness.

Never hold the fish continually vertical for an extended period doing this has the great potential to cause injury to internal organs and skeletal bones of the fish. Hold the fish horizontally.

Fish should not be out of the water for more that say 25-30 seconds.

Release

Never just plop/toss the fish over the side of the boat or toss back into the water from shore…place the fish in the water holding it’s tail and use the other hand if necessary to support its underside. Ever so slightly move the fish from side to side until you feel the fish wanting to swim away on its own. For us we’ll hang around an area for up to 45 minutes especially for a larger Tiger to ensure it doesn’t resurface.

I strongly discourage the use Rapala grippers’. Had a guy at work a few years ago told me the story he didn't have the lanyard around his wrist and the TM made a violent shake and fell into the water with the gripper still engaged. Well without a doubt that fish will eventually die. If you have to use the grippers make sure to place the lanyard loop around your wrist.

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Tiger Muskies are a “sterile” fish…once it’s gone that’s one less. The TM is a very hearty fish with proper tackle and properly handled when released increases tremendously the survival rate of Tiger Muskies.

So there you have it just some K2 recommendations on Tiger Muskie fishing... good luck and I hope the above helps you out someday if you happen to hook into one of these fish of 10,000 casts and especially a behemoth. [][]
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