With our competition rules changing to offer more opportunity for our increasing numbers of anglers who use catch and release methods we have put together a simple advisory for catch and release practices.
Catch and Release (C&R) – Best Practices
The best way to release any fish is to do so without touching it. Most fish are covered in a protective slime. If you handle the fish, you will damage it. Do not touch the fish with dry hands, do not place it on the grass or on the bank.
Release the fish by sliding your hand down the leader, grab the fly, preferably with long handled forceps, and twist the fly out. The fish swims away untouched.
“Barbless is Best”
A barbless hook makes this release technique incredibly effective. Many fishery waters now insist on barbless hooks. You can “press the barbs” on normal fly hooks effectively, using small pointed nose pliers and (if necessary) a small diamond point file.
“Practice Safe Netting”
Use a net with a soft rubber mesh bag. Net bags made from cotton or nylon are abrasive, even those which are knotless, which is fine if you are netting a fish to keep, but not if you plan on releasing. Many fishing venues provide appropriate C&R nets primarily to avoid cross water infections, but you should invest in such a safer net for your own use.
“Smile”
If you catch a trophy or a memorable fish, we have all done it, you may want a photograph. Keep the fish in the net, in the water. Make sure your fishing companion is ready with the camera turned on and lens cap off before you lift the fish from the water. Better still take the picture of the fish in the net in the water. If you really must take the fish out of the water, if your photo shows water still dripping from the fish and net, you probably held it up for the right amount of time. Place something along side it to offer a scale reference, e.g. your rod handle and reel! Speed is the essence! Take the picture and quickly return the fish. All that being said I/we are always looking for good pictures for our web page archive.
If you really must weigh it, weigh it in the net, return it and then weigh the net to give you the aggregate weight. I have personally found this particular exercise to be pointless as with the passing of time the fish will inevitably become bigger/heavier! 😇
With big trout and light tippet, try not to overplay the fish, until it is mortally exhausted, this is especially important if the water temperature is higher than normal.
Small fish rarely need to be revived, because you don’t play them so much. When you catch a large fish on a light tippet, however, you will exhaust the fish. In these cases, you should carefully revive the fish before release. If you release too soon, it may tumble to the bottom and die. Keep the fish facing into moderate current so that cooler, clean water naturally rushes through the fish’s mouth and over its gills.
In a still water situation, place the fish, whist still in the net, in clean water and allow it to pump water through its gills naturally. There’s no need to “pump” the fish back and forth unnaturally. Try to keep it out of muddy water.
Handling a fish as little as possible and limiting its time out of the water have always been the main tenets of successful catch-and-release fishing. If you follow these basic guidelines the fish will likely survive to provide excitement for the next fly fisher who comes along.
Tight Lines!