How to Catch and Release Trout Safely

Catch and Release is important in fishing conservation. We all can do our part to maintain healthy fishing habitats and populations. Catch & Release is effective and easy fish conservation. Releasing a fish safely is a great way of helping to preserve the sport of fishing and fly fishing for others. Imagine releasing that 3lb Rainbow trout today, only to see your son or daughter catch it again later that day? How many times have you seen a trout float by upside down as your wading? Not cool. Catch-n-release sounds simple enough, but proper catching and proper releasing methods are important to the survival of the fish, particularily sensitive fish like trout. When you are on the river next time, please consider these steps to ensure a better chance of survival and future enjoyment by other anglers. Take a picture home instead of a dead fish. Put your picture up in the local bar & tell your friends how you caught AND released the fish. There is a certain matter of pride or confidence one feels when they release a fish unharmed knowing that they are just going to catch another one soon. Your friends will listen, appreciate, and respect you all the more for caring for the future of fishing.

How to handle fish and trout using catch and release:

What to do:

1. Do not allow the fish to struggle an unreasonable time in the current. Bring the fish in as soon as safely possible.
2. Use a net to bring in the fish. DO NOT yank it up on shore or drag it in the gravel or accross the top of the water. Attempt to allow it to swim to your net.
3. If possible, keep the fish & your net in or on the surface of the water. Unhook it without touching it with your hands. Use your net and pliers instead.
4. If you must handle the fish, wet your hands first
5. If possible, hold the fish upside down with wet hands and get it back into the water as quickly as possible. Holding the fish upside down essentially dumbs the fish with no harm or struggle, allowing you to remove the fly quickly without damage.
6. Use a hook release tool or pliers to release the fly or hook.
If you want a photo, this is the time
• Hold the fish out with both hands supporting it’s underbelly…NOT the gills. Grabbing it by the gills will likely kill it minutes after released
• After snapping your trophy photo, quickly return the fish to the water as noted below
7. If you’re fly fishing in a river, point the fish into the current while it breathes
8. Support it’s underbelly gently until it wiggles & swims out of your hands

That’s it…pretty easy & you likely just saved a fish for many anglers to enjoy in the future. And let’s be honest…if it ain’t a trophy…it ain’t worth keeping until it is. I can buy all the 1lb trout I can eat at the grocery store or local fish market.

Some important notes about what NOT to do:

• Do not squeeze a fish
• Do not put fingers in the gills
• Do not hold the fish out of water longer than necessary. Get the hook out, get the photo, & return it to the water.
• Do not throw a fish back into the water like a rock
• DO not put your fingers into the gills to hold it
• Do not let the fish flop around on the ground
• Do not let your dog smack it around. At that piont, you might as well just let the dog eat it

We hope these tips help all of us to continue to enjoy the sport of catch and release fishing & catch-n-release fly fishing.

- gone fly fishing,
EARTHangler