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To Save Fish, Defeat Them Quickly
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June 10, 2009
To Save Fish, Defeat Them Quickly
No more than one minute.
That's how long it should take you to land 99 percent of the trout you hook. At least that's a goal to strive toward.
Thing is, the length of the fight is one of the top factors in determining whether a trout will survive after being caught and released. The longer the fight, the longer the odds. (The other factors are water temperature, warmer is worse, and how the fish is hooked.)
I often hear people say, "I caught this fish... and it took me 15 minutes to land it." That's one thing when you're talking about a tuna or a marlin in the ocean. On the river or the lake, that's like saying to me, "I need to learn how to fight trout better."
Size up on your tippet. Don't be afraid to bend that rod. And here's a tip: When that fish's head comes up, especially when it breaks the water surface, it has no more leverage... be firm on fish when the head comes up, and you can skate them right into the net.
One minute. The fish will ultimately thank you for whipping them faster. And so will I and many other anglers who fish after you.
Deeter
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Comments (12)
Good advice.
Might I add that a good catch and release landing net will cut your fight time by precious minutes and safely cradle a fish while you take the hook out.
I have in the past couple years read more and more about this issue on the steelhead blogs. It has come to the point that if you fight a fish too long someone might kindly mention that you are just showing off. Which is good.
I can't remember the last time I tied on 6x.
Good advice! Maybe fighting, releasing, and reviving a fish could be turned into a video tip?
Is there any relationship between how long a fish takes to swim off if it is exhausted (and then revived gently) and how likely it is to make it?
Or you could actually eat the darned thing.
I'm a large and unlucky guy, but even I occasionally catch more than I can realistically (or legally) eat, or a fish that's just to big 'n' purdy to chow on. In which cases, I want the fish to live, despite my manhandling.
Deeter,
Point well taken. But I'd like to submit a 4th criteria that determines fishing mortality: how the fish is handled before it's released. We've all cringed while witnessing the finger-in-the-gills holding technique, the 10-minute photo op, the drop to the gravel, then kick to the water fumblebum...etc.
Have you ever used one of those de-hooking tools? I haven't used the commercial ones - Ketchum Release, etc. - but a buddy made me a tool that works very, very well. With a barbless hook, I can bring the fish to me and release it without ever touching it or bringing it out of the water.
Agreed 100%. Horse 'em, baby.
Just think of yourself being yanked underwater by the mouth. Wouldn't you want to be disconnected and returned promptly?
That one minute is all we should ask of our passion...
I think the best tip in here is USE HEAVIER TIPPET!! I've fished the so-called "dream streams" with tippet as large as 3x - and caught plenty of fish, and big fish.
As far as I'm concerned, there are very few places that you MUST fish with 6x flourocarbon tippet - and I'd rather not do it, just for the reasons listed in this article.
Good tips and good article.
i dont see how it could take more than a minute unnless it was pretty big
I agree with you 100% but untill moving I didn't have trout in my locale.I wonder how this applies to carp or catfish.Are they really tougher?Or are they just as sensitive.I don't know but they are definetly uglier.
This is often something that is missed... something that applies to all fish. The longer the fight time, the more tired the fish gets. Think again next time you brag about the fight time.
Post a Comment
Good advice.
Might I add that a good catch and release landing net will cut your fight time by precious minutes and safely cradle a fish while you take the hook out.
I have in the past couple years read more and more about this issue on the steelhead blogs. It has come to the point that if you fight a fish too long someone might kindly mention that you are just showing off. Which is good.
I can't remember the last time I tied on 6x.
Good advice! Maybe fighting, releasing, and reviving a fish could be turned into a video tip?
Is there any relationship between how long a fish takes to swim off if it is exhausted (and then revived gently) and how likely it is to make it?
Or you could actually eat the darned thing.
I'm a large and unlucky guy, but even I occasionally catch more than I can realistically (or legally) eat, or a fish that's just to big 'n' purdy to chow on. In which cases, I want the fish to live, despite my manhandling.
Deeter,
Point well taken. But I'd like to submit a 4th criteria that determines fishing mortality: how the fish is handled before it's released. We've all cringed while witnessing the finger-in-the-gills holding technique, the 10-minute photo op, the drop to the gravel, then kick to the water fumblebum...etc.
Have you ever used one of those de-hooking tools? I haven't used the commercial ones - Ketchum Release, etc. - but a buddy made me a tool that works very, very well. With a barbless hook, I can bring the fish to me and release it without ever touching it or bringing it out of the water.
Agreed 100%. Horse 'em, baby.
Just think of yourself being yanked underwater by the mouth. Wouldn't you want to be disconnected and returned promptly?
That one minute is all we should ask of our passion...
I think the best tip in here is USE HEAVIER TIPPET!! I've fished the so-called "dream streams" with tippet as large as 3x - and caught plenty of fish, and big fish.
As far as I'm concerned, there are very few places that you MUST fish with 6x flourocarbon tippet - and I'd rather not do it, just for the reasons listed in this article.
Good tips and good article.
i dont see how it could take more than a minute unnless it was pretty big
I agree with you 100% but untill moving I didn't have trout in my locale.I wonder how this applies to carp or catfish.Are they really tougher?Or are they just as sensitive.I don't know but they are definetly uglier.
This is often something that is missed... something that applies to all fish. The longer the fight time, the more tired the fish gets. Think again next time you brag about the fight time.
Post a Comment