Fish handling tips & take the pledge to #keepfishwet
Using barbless hooks, a net, and other gear help reduce stress on fish. Photo credit: Keep Fish Wet.org
As fishing season is already underway, highlighting the importance of proper angling and fish handling tips is a valid reminder this time of year. As many of our steelhead, trout, and salmon species are threatened, IRU believes that angler education is important whether you do or don’t fish. Our recreation culture in Idaho and the Northwest is strong, and there’s a good chance you might end up going fishing or going out with someone else.
IRU is a partner with Keep Fish Wet, an organization that specializes in “helping anglers improve the outcome of each fish they release.” All of their education and tips are rooted in fisheries science when it comes to catching, handling, and releasing fish.
“Science shows that even small changes in how an angler catches, handles, and releases a fish can have positive outcomes once that fish swims away. Not only does using best practices increase survival rates of fish, but it also helps fish return to their normal behavior as quickly as possible after release. Using best practices for catch-and-release is a quick and effective way to put conservation in to practice. Adopting science-based best practices is a personal evolution and work in progress for all of us — especially as science continues to advance as well.”
Here are a few tips to remember when handling fish:
Before you go fishing, think about your target. Avoid fishing for spawning fish who are on their migration journeys. Be wary of warm water as hot temperatures put even more stress on fish, and always follow local regulations.
Before you cast, consider using barbless hooks (some areas and streams require it!), and carry the right gear such as nets which help you release in the water, use hook removal devices, and limit lip grippers. Never handle fish wearing fabric such as sungloves.
Same tips go for taking photos of you and your fish. Remember to make sure your camera is ready to go, make it quick with a one, two, three, and click, and know that the photo is not the priority here, and may not even be allowed in some places or conditions.
Finally, when you catch a fish, try to limit the “fight time” which limits physiological stress. Most importantly, KEEP FISH WET! Do not haul them in over boats, keep them in or right above the water surface line, so that if they slip out of your hands they fall back into the water. Hold them carefully, do not squeeze them or cover their gills. Send of the off gently back to their home.
Finally, switch roles with a fish. Think about how you would feel if you were forced to hold your breath underwater while you were picked up with a hook in your lip and then have your photo taken. Remember, ““The fate of an angled fish upon release is primarily determined by angler behavior.” -Brownscombe et al. 2017.
Take the pledge to #keepfishwet here and have a great season.
