C & R ice fishing??

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AaronKrick

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I know that you can do c and r ice fishing, but is there a risk to the fish? I think i might try ice fishing this winter, but would the fish survive?

Im a strict catch and release fisherman.
 
Fish being cold blooded are very lethargic with winter. The risk of injury to the fish is much higher for several reasons. In summer you can revive the fish and watch it take off, ice fishing all you have is a hole, there's no telling it's swimming away. Colder water holds more oxygen, but it takes turbulence to get the oxygen into the water, and most lakes are totally covered with ice. Next, most weeds have died off, they generate alot of the oxygen for the lake. When a fish is caught and pulled out of the water that's near 0C, the air will be considerably colder add a windchill and the fish's chance's of survival decrease minute by minute.

C and R can be done but it has to be quick. Don't play it too long so the fish still has energy. Put it back ASAP b/c the water is warmer then the surrounding air.

I'd try ice fishing again myself if I get the chance and C & R. Hope I've helped.
 
Fish being cold blooded are very lethargic with winter. The risk of injury to the fish is much higher for several reasons. In summer you can revive the fish and watch it take off, ice fishing all you have is a hole, there's no telling it's swimming away. Colder water holds more oxygen, but it takes turbulence to get the oxygen into the water, and most lakes are totally covered with ice. Next, most weeds have died off, they generate alot of the oxygen for the lake. When a fish is caught and pulled out of the water that's near 0C, the air will be considerably colder add a windchill and the fish's chance's of survival decrease minute by minute.

C and R can be done but it has to be quick. Don't play it too long so the fish still has energy. Put it back ASAP b/c the water is warmer then the surrounding air.

I'd try ice fishing again myself if I get the chance and C & R. Hope I've helped.
Thanks. If i got an ice fishing rod what lb line should i put on it for perch? Thanks again!
 
Id stick with nothing more theb 4lbs test for perch but if there are pike and walleye around dont be afraid to use 6 or 8. I use 4lbs and thats what I got my walleye on.
 
Wallies and Pike are the same just cant turn in thw hole so put them in head first and make sure its quick especially if its cold dont want them to freeze. Being cold blooded they freeze up pretty quick
 
Catfish said:
I know that you can do c and r ice fishing, but is there a risk to the fish? I think i might try ice fishing this winter, but would the fish survive?

Im a strict catch and release fisherman.
.
 
c&r is fine for ice fishing as long as you don't pull the fish up to fast from deep water, if you see the fishes swim bladder (air bladder) in their mouth then you've brought it up to fast and that fish will most likely die if you put it back, this happens a lot with perch and walleye. Hope this helps.
Ok i'll try to not make them barf :lol:
 
if you plan on releasing perch and walleye then i would say fish no deeper than 35 ft. funny thing about fish you can sometimes freeze them and they will come back to life in your kithcen sink.
 
if you plan on releasing perch and walleye then i would say fish no deeper than 35 ft. funny thing about fish you can sometimes freeze them and they will come back to life in your kithcen sink.
Really? Lol thats funny, never had it happen to me! But I don't keep alot if fish! But I dont doubt it one bit, I have had fish make noises after I got home but thats about it. And it was in the summer!
 
I've had pike start swimming in the sink 5 hours after they were caught and frozen. One time I put one in an aquarium, but it eventually died.
 

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