Catch and Release Techniques / Do's and Don'ts

[silverlaker]

I don't see a whole bunch to add either. I too fight the fish quickly (often amazed at how strong 5x is) and strive to get the fish out of the the current and into slack water as quickly as possible. Wet hands, barbless hooks, and keeping the fish in the water as long as possible are all things I do too.

However, taking photos is where it gets tricky. I basically never took photos of fish until I started posting on this forum. I know I've got some hero shots in my past - but they were few and far between. The thing is, I love reports that include photos of fish that are handled well. Since I like it so much I assume others do too and I now take photos. Ive gone from not touching the fish much at all to, now, either lifting the fish out of the water and taking a quick shot or holding it in the net longer to get a good shot. I really don't have a technique down yet. For a while I just left them in the net and snapped a shot. Now I'm picking them up for a quick photo op. I used to use my phone - but now I use a so-so camera and have it readily accessible in my pack. I'm contemplating hanging the camera around my neck and tucking it into one of the chest pockets of my shirt, displacing prime fly box real estate. I'll have to try it to see if it speeds up the process. All this is to say what do you do? As photos are a part of the release for probably 60% to 70% of the fish I catch I'd love to see some discussion about how you guys strike a balance between fish handling and photos.

Tom

[RichardCullip]

So far I've been pretty good at resisting the urge to gut them, roll them in cornmeal and release them into my frying pan

[flybob]

Hey Mike, is the article finished yet?

I would like to post a link to it on the new website I am building.
bob

[Wildman]

Hey Mike, is the article finished yet?

I would like to post a link to it on the new website I am building.
bob

Bob-You need to post a link to your website! Is it a blog?

[flybob]

Jim, I will when it is done and organized a bit better, it is a traditional website, mostly full of photos of my shenanigans. Right now it just has stuff everywhere, kinda of like a garden shed that has become the place to put stuff that you have nowhere else to put!

[Wildman]

Looking forward to it. Have really enjoyed your sharing of information recently.....learned a lot.

[fly addict]

I only use a net when in a boat or tube and it has rubber netting. I hate to see people using 2,3, or 4wt outfits when fishing large fish in the spawn (Pyramid lake) or highly energetic fish when the water is in the 70's.(Crowley/Bridgeport) 5/10 min. on a Trout is a dead fish in those conditions.My opinion. I used to use a Ketchum release but broke to many of them at $20 a pop. I go barbless on all freshwater species and most Saltwater, but not Tarpon. Wet hands are a must and fish only come out of the water if I cant reach them in the water. (not very often)
Pet pieve.....Using to light of an outfit for the size of fish targeted. I know that some here probably don't agree with all of this but oh well....BobK

Bob,
Save your receipt for the Ketchum release tool they will replace it for free. I found this out after I broke one and bought a new one. I’m also working on one made of brass tubing, should be a little tougher to break.
Mark