Handling Thoughts II

[Rockstar Fisherman]

I like your approach on this Dr., I can't think of any recent pix that have irked me, (I've been really busy so I don't remember) but it's always good to remind us, plus it keeps us from getting too fussy with each other

I need to hit the water, 3 months no fishing, 2 hours one afternoon doesn't count, is just not right for me.

[hyde_guide]

Dr. Creek, You mention feeling akward having to remind folks on proper catch and release techniques. I appreciate the fact that you have spoken up to remind all of us. Way to go, and thank you! It is a little frustrating to see pics of fish laying on rocks with a fly rod next to them for scale. A fish being raised two feet out of water and a death grip on the fish so as not to squirm away just as the photo is being snapped.

As a guide I have added responsibility of getting the photo of a client with the fish of a lifetime and yet preserve the fishery that puts food on the table and makes my car payment. I have to explain missed photo ops to the client that the fish fought a tough fight and needed a post haste release. I practice recovery of the fish, lift the fish half out of water and snap a quick one with a polarized lens. The client is more than understanding that sometimes they just cant be in the shot.

A true fly angler understands its our skilled actions or just dumb luck that we were able to fool something so wild to take such a crude offering. Fish should never be punished for acting on instinct. Once again good job Creek!

[NorcalBob]

Excellent article and very valid points that we all should take notice of. However, I do take umbrage with one of your key points: don't grasp a fish with a towel. A DRY towel can be very damaging to a fish and is about one of the worst methods to safely handle a fish. However a WET towel is how most fish biologists are trained to handle fish. Just make sure it's sopping wet and you're fine, and this is a preferred method for handling larger fish, grasping them firmly by the tail. For those of you that want a pic of your fish lying on the ground next to your prized fly rod, stuff a towel in your vest and dump in the stream to get wet, then place the fish on the sopping wet towel with your rod next to it. Much better than laying the fish down on rocks, grass, sand, etc. Of course it's best to not remove the fish from water for pics, but I doubt that that reality will ever happen! IMNSHO, it's better to illustrate ways to take pics somewhat safely, than to preach not take pics at all.

[flybob]

Hey Mike, nothing wrong with a little annual "Refresher Training"!

On my last trip up north, I was actually approached by a Ranger, to check to see if my fly was DE-Barbed!
IT WAS! But for one micro-second, I panicked........
Bob

[anacrime]

Excellent article and very valid points that we all should take notice of. However, I do take umbrage with one of your key points: don't grasp a fish with a towel. A DRY towel can be very damaging to a fish and is about one of the worst methods to safely handle a fish. However a WET towel is how most fish biologists are trained to handle fish. Just make sure it's sopping wet and you're fine, and this is a preferred method for handling larger fish, grasping them firmly by the tail. For those of you that want a pic of your fish lying on the ground next to your prized fly rod, stuff a towel in your vest and dump in the stream to get wet, then place the fish on the sopping wet towel with your rod next to it. Much better than laying the fish down on rocks, grass, sand, etc. Of course it's best to not remove the fish from water for pics, but I doubt that that reality will ever happen! IMNSHO, it's better to illustrate ways to take pics somewhat safely, than to preach not take pics at all.

fish biologist or not, the wet towel is going to rub off more slime than a wet hand. it's a matter of friction. also, fly fishers typically aren't acting fish biologists. we aren't collecting scientific data that will (hopefully) be used to gather fisheries data. imo using a wet towel just for the purpose of hook removal or photo is a bit irresponsible and unnecessary.

i've sorta gotten into it with a few guys down here. all the shops sell large holed rope nets that tear the fins of the fish. even in the "how to properly catch and release" booklet they have available at all sporting goods shops they show a pic of a netted trout, lying on the rail of a boat, with its caudal fin being split by the net. it's quite ridiculous. i had to search a half dozen shops before i found a small holed net. and none of them sell the rubber holed nets, which are the best hands down.

[NorcalBob]

Shane, You missed the most important words which were "this is a preferred method for handling larger fish, grasping them firmly by the tail". A large fish trying to be held with only wet hands will likely thrash wildly and suffer internal damage when you drop it or it whacks it head on a rock. And for the lying the fish on the ground shots (which I don't advocate, but you're not going to stop people from doing it, after all look how many posts we see on the forums doing this) I'd much rather see the fish lying on a soaking wet towel than bare ground, rock, or sand. As usual, YMMV.

[castaway]

In order to get a picture of "the big one"

there is really only one "ok" method.

get in the river - while your giving the fish the necessary CPR (push and pulling him back and forth) -- stop for a second... with wet hands lift the fish out of the water for a few seonds (the lower the better I would imagine).. while your buddy snaps a picture....(make sure he gets in postion and gets the camera ready while your reviving the fish) then go back to CPR... you could probably continue this process a few times to get 2 or 3 pictures (but 1 is best)...

revive... lift....revive...lift...

The idea of using a rubber net makes sense... slick and will nto rub off slime and scales.

Someone needs to invent "slime in a bottle" just spray on the net and the fish is ensured to have a coating of slime on him when your (including me) done molesting him..

when I am alone I usually net the fish - and place the net in a few inches of water, or reach around and grap him by the outside of the net... snap the picture and release.

[strohble]

Good thinkin' Doc, everyone should brush up on the bascis from time to time.

[tobysmom]

That is a really good article ... Thanks for the reminder Dr.

[super dry fly]

Good article Mike - thanks for bringing it to everyone's attention.

And Shane, you couldn't be more right about those large-holed, knotted nets - they are absolute fish killers, a split fin is an infection (and likely mortality) waiting to happen.

[Sasha]

Time to bump this thread.

[Wildman]

Not sure which is more irritating....the obvious dry hand shot of some pretty ordinary fish or the shot with the fish flopped on the dry grass bank with leaves and dirt next to the rod. Do folks do that to reassure us that they use fly rods?

The ones I like the best are the ones with the fish still in the rubber net submerged in water or better still taken underwater just before releasing at the hook. Some of our folks are masters at using the waterproof cameras for dramatic and effective water shots.

[Sasha]

I know from time to time we have all been guilty of less than perfect handling methods. The original intent of this thread was just a friendly reminder to all of us.

Oh and snow is also not the best thing to put a fish on either. Unless you are keeping it cold for dinner

[briansII]

Thanks for the bump. I hope members read this again......I wonder how many don't bother to read this at all? We could all use the reminder. Recently, I too have seen some pictures that were.....we'll, I thought the fish could've been handled better. To show i'm not above it all, here's one that could've been handled better.



I thought I had wet my hands well, but not all of my hand was wet. And not to be a C&R nanny, or harp on it too much, but some pictures just stand out. Tough to ignore those.

How to handle this subject. Friendly PM? Blast them! Try your best to let it slide. Continue to remind folks by posting subjects on handling. Drink your concerns away. But really, what, if anything, would reach folks.

briansII

[midger]

How to handle this subject. Friendly PM? Blast them! Try your best to let it slide. Continue to remind folks by posting subjects on handling. Drink your concerns away. But really, what, if anything, would reach folks.

briansII

Uh, I'd say we either draw and quarter them or give them an enema with a fire hydrant. Both have been known to successfully rehab fish maulers, fish mud draggers, and fish squeezers.