Wade Bourne: Catch-and-release is a great conservation tool. Studies have proven that fish that are handled properly can be released with a high likelihood of survival.



However, "properly" is the crucial word in the above statement. Fish must be landed, unhooked and released in the manner least likely to cause harm to the fish. Here are tips on how to accomplish this.

First, play fish in and land them quickly if you intend to release them alive. Fish that are utterly exhausted by a drawn-out fight may not have the energy to recover after being landed.

Don't handle fish roughly. Don't allow them to flop around in the bottom of the boat. Don't lay them on the casting deck or squeeze their sides.

Hold fish by the lower jaw with the body hanging vertically or hold it horizontally while supporting the fish under the belly. In either case, avoid removing any of the slime layer that protects the fish from bacteria and disease.

Don't contact or damage the gills in any way. Even a little damage to these sensitive organs can cause fish to die.

The main thing is to simply get the fish back into the water as soon as possible - inside a minute if possible. If you want to take a picture, take it quickly, then slide (not toss!) the fish back into the lake, pond or stream.

One more note: if a fish is gut-hooked, if it's legal to keep it to eat, I usually will. The latest research shows that gut-hooked fish stand a poor chance of survival. If it's not legal to keep the fish (i.e., it doesn't meet the minimum length limit), I will not try to remove the hook. I will clip my line as close to the hook as possible and then turn the fish loose. Hopefully it might survive.

 

For More Tips, Sign Up for the Free MOTV Minute Newsletter!