Catch and release is a growing preference among anglers. MNR stats indicate that only 5% of anglers reported that they don't practice at least some form of "C&R". While research indicates a mortality rate of 16% for all types of fish, conditions and fishing styles, the rate jumps, sarcastically, to 100% if you keep the fish.

• Use barbless hooks.

• Play and land fish quickly. Struggling for too long causes a build-up of lactic acids in the fish, which can be fatal.

• Keep the fish in the water as much as possible. If possible, remove the hook without removing the fish from the water.

• Snip deeply embedded hooks and allow them to dissolve. Cut the line if the fish is hooked in the throat or stomach. Fish are much more likely to survive if deeply embedded hooks are left in place and allowed to dissolve.

• If the hook is in the jaw or lip, hold the fish gently at the base of the head just behind the gill covers and remove the hook with needlenose pliers. Be very careful not to squeeze the fish.

I have chosen to practice total C&R for the Nipigon brook Trout for a variety of reasons, and my experience and records I keep of all releases for the MNR Tagging Program indicate that catch and release works if done properly. My data indicates, that in some fishing "hot spots" recaptures can be as high as 40%. Granted, if I caught a world record brook trout, I might consider keep it, after all...I'm human!

• Don't drop the fish in the boat or allow it to thrash around on the shore. Fish bruise easily, and damage to internal organs can be fatal.

• Never lift fish by the eye sockets or gills. Use both hands to support the fish's weight evenly.

• Wet your hands before lifting the fish. If it is necessary to set the fish down, place it on a smooth, wet surface.

• For difficult fish a good tip to try is to tail and invert the fish (belly up) in the water. This will disorient and pacify the fish long enough to remove the hook.

• An unconscious fish can be revived by holding it upright in the water. Don't release the fish until you are sure it can swim away on its own. Make sure to release the fish slowly into calm water.

• A fish that can be legally kept should not be released if it is bleeding heavily. Remember that you can't intentionally fish for any species during its closed season.

• Know when to leave a hook in a fish. For deeply hooked fish is better to cut the leader as close to the hook as possible than to tear flesh in a critical spot by removing the hook. After awhile, hooks that are left in will rust and fall out. Avoid using corrosion resistant hooks such as stainless steel. Also avoid using treble hooks as the extra two points increase the chance of hitting blood vessels and require more handling to remove.

Catch and Release Works

 

Two photos taken two years apart, & obviously of the same fish. Same general location as these fish are usually territorial.

Notice the scar along its back. Your guess is as good as mine, but I think it is probably from a prop.

It also grew conciderably during those two years. It grew 4.5" and gained almost 2 lbs.

Interesting to note that I'm wearing the same clothes. Hopefully, they have been washed. Reminds me of that saying,

 

"Old fishermen never die,
they just smell that way."

Looks like I gained a little weight too.

Guidofisherman

" A fish taken, is a fish gone forever".

An implanted floy tag with a 5 digit tracking number and the other side says,

"LET ME GO"

"A fish is too valuable to only be caught once."
Lee Wulff

Catch and Release