catch and release steelhead mortality

[coldfeet]

For those that need more convincing about trying to keep steel in the water check out Dr. Bruce Tuft's study on mortality of played out rainbow.

Here's a condensed version if you want to read the study the title is in this article- too long for me to type

http://forum.skagitmaster.com/index.php?topic=330.0

 

[[email protected]]

this will happen with ANY fish that is played out, not just steel. its only natural, the longer the fight, the more lactic acid builds up. our muscles do that same thing, just not as quickly

 

[Giuga10]

Simply wow!

 

[Dugger]

Fantastic stuff!

I feel barbless DOES indeed lessen the mortality rate of caught fish is for the simple reason the lure comes out faster once boated and you would rarely break that 60 second threshold when having the fish out of the water. Barbless I find means less tissue damage as well.

In my boat I have a rubber net which I utilize for larger (non panfish) species and I love it. I try to take most of my larger fish pictures as they lay in the water in the net and never come out of the water. A few big drum I will lay in my boat for a quick pic, but I think I have to rethink that technique.

Every OFF member must read this article

 

[rich_ace_G]

some fish just won't quit energy line test what have you. barbless hooks makes a difference.

 

[Giuga10]

Definitely gonna utilize this info next time I'm on the water. Great read!

 

[miles]

Its very sad for me to think of some of the steelhead I might have unintentionally killed this season.

I knew the amount of time you had the fish out of water certainly had a strong effect on the morality of the fish but I was unaware it was so very so big.

When I know the fish is close a stopwatch almost starts in my head, its a race to get it back.

I am happy I opted to pass on the photo opportunity so many times as I believe that will often stretch out the time out of water.
Many fish I landed I believe spent less than 30 seconds out.

This expaines why in some places its against the law to even remove wild steelhead from the water whatsoever.

Thanks for the read coldfeet

 

[Graham Bristow]

As a Musky, Bass and Trout guide I take a lot of pictures for my customers and I honestly beleive handling the fish properly is the key to the fish's survival and that if done right the survival rate is good. I know release works if it's done right because I've caught the same musky, same pike, the same trout and the same steelhead multiple times over hours,days, month and even years. In fact I've caught the same steelhead 3 times in about 2 hours and I've caught another steelhead 2 times in 2 drifts along with many others I've caught 2 or more times in the same day. I even have many brown trout in the rivers that I've caught multiple times in a season, so yes, catch and release works if it's done right.. There's a few things to remember and do when handling a fish but in my opinion the key to a successfull release is a net... A net that's big enough that you can leave the fishes head in the water during the whole release process except for the 20 or 30 seconds for a picture.

In fact something I do with all my fish is leave them in the net for a few extra minutes to let them catch their breath before I lift them out for a picture or 2.. I think of it as if you ran around the block as fast as you could and then jumped into a pool and tried to hold your breath when you're already out of breath, it's pretty tough to do and you wont last long under water... to me that's the same as a fish that's fought a good long fight then pulled out of the water too quickly. Sometimes I even leave my musky in the net for 5 or 10 minutes before I let my customers pick them up out of the water for a picture. This allows the fish to rest and catch it's breath before it's forced to hold it's breath for a quick picture or 2... Might be something to consider if you want to take a picture.. I release about a 1000 fish a year and I know it works for me because I've seen and caught the same trout and muskies year after year... Here's the same fish from last year which was caugh a few days apart and I caught him again this year. Good luck and keep releasing them.