Why Do It If Not Done Right?
For reasons unclear, the topic of safe fish handling seems to elicit controversy nearly every time I stumble into an online fly fishing forum. Pictures of fish in the dirt, fish held by the gills, and fish held in all other manners of disregard are simultaneously lambasted and celebrated by various posters. Truth be told, most experienced anglers have made up their minds if they care about the welfare of released fish or not. Some of the critiques in these forums could be a bit gentler, as many of the offenders simply lack experience and don’t know any better. But anyone questioning fish handling technique is immediately attacked by keyboard warriors who seem to cherish their right to abuse fish in any way they please before throwing them back mortally wounded. I find it baffling that some anglers wouldn’t want to give our fish friends the very best chance of survival if they decide to release them. What is the point of the whole endeavor if we do otherwise? Go ahead and keep fish to eat from appropriate fisheries, this article is not an indictment of that practice. However, I aim to educate the neophyte angler on proper catch and release practices. Experienced fishermen decided long ago about how conscientious they care to be. Newer anglers usually make mistakes due to naivety, and I find many of these anglers possess good intentions but lack the education to practice safe catch and release.
Go Barbless
Critics of barbless flies will say that there is no scientific evidence that a barbless hook decreases fish mortality, and this statement may be true. I’m aware of no scientific study that proves the benefit of barbless hooks. However, in my opinion, that fact does not invalidate the practice of barbless hooks. It turns out that obtaining quality, reproducible scientific evidence is really quite difficult, and a lack of evidence does not necessarily mean something is wrong. When I’m not fishing, I ply my trade as an emergency room physician. I’m here to tell you that there are numerous common practices in medicine with little or no support in formal research. Antibiotics for most cases of protracted bronchitis? Basically any of the things we do in cardiac arrest cases? Clot busting medications for strokes? All of these practices and many others have scant evidence, or no evidence at all supporting their use. But we often do them anyway. Why? Well, they make sense, and until someone proves the things that make sense do obvious and significant overall harm, we’ll continue to do them.
Fishing barbless is the same in my mind. It just makes sense! My fishing career now spans many years, in various stages of enlightenment. Tens of thousands of fish caught and released tell me that they do better after release if the hook is barbless. Barbless hooks force less fish handling, as the hook slides out easier. They are less likely to cause bleeding if they embed in a sensitive spot like a gill raker or tongue. Barbless hooks don’t traumatize the maxilla and jaw of the fish like barbed ones. I’m all about doing things that make sense, and using barbless hooks makes as much sense as anything when planning to release a fish.
Keep ‘em Wet
Minimizing the time a fish spends outside the water is another concept that simply makes sense when practicing catch and release. In general, I only remove the fish from the water to take a quick picture if warranted. Something I strive for when photographing a fish is to have water streaming off its fins or jaw while the picture is snapped. Not only does this tell me that the fish has only been outside the water for mere seconds, but it makes for a good picture. Keeping the fish submerged is another great option for its health and great pictures alike. I’ve been trending toward underwater photographs and videos so I can produce a memory of the fish without removing it from its environment at all. I just bought a waterproof case with a dome for my iPhone, and I plan to keep fish in the water more than ever before.
Protect the Slime
Another comment I often see on those online forums is that “the fish swam away strong,” when posters defend their poor fish handling. I have no doubt they are telling the truth, but a strongly swimming fish does not necessarily indicate an alive one several weeks later if its protective slime coating was removed during the catch. A fish’s slime is an important part of its immune system, protecting the fish from opportunistic infections. Dry hands, nylon nets, and allowing a fish to flop around on the ground are all factors that can compromise the slime layer. Wet hands and rubber nets keeps the slime on fish and keeps them healthy. With barbless hooks, I can often remove the fly without ever touching the fish, thereby minimizing risk of damage to the slime layer.
Upsize Your Tippet
Certainly, some situations call for 6x or 7x tippet and tiny flies, and there’s no way around that. However, I find that many anglers overestimate the importance of fine tippet, and many fish are just as susceptible with larger lines. I cringe every time I hear someone say that a 20-inch trout took them into their backing, as it’s almost always unnecessary to prolong a fight like that with a trout. Thicker tippet is part of the game plan to shorten fights and will likely improve fish mortality rates after release. I usually use 0x for streamers and 2x or 3x for nymphing. This allows for brief, efficient battles that get the fish to the net quickly without breaking the tippet or unduly tiring the trout. When I downsize to 4x or 5x for some dry fly situations, I can put an unexpected amount of tension on that tippet and usually end the battle fairly quickly, even with fairly large trout.
Watch the Water Temps
This one is often a bit tough because there are certain situations when trout will continue to feed readily at warmer water temperatures, although catching and attempting release during those conditions can be lethal. Many USGS gauges include water temperatures, and this is a resource to utilize before even hitting the water. Some anglers like to split hairs about the exact temperature cut-off that is “safe,” but when water temperatures reach 65 degrees I’m starting to reconsider my plans. Plenty of fisheries continue to provide cool water temperatures throughout the heat of summer. Look to fish tailwaters emerging from the bottoms of deep reservoirs. High elevation waters are always an option. If you must fish the warmer spots, look to get out of the water by noon. Some of my favorite rivers are off limits for several weeks during summer, and it can be difficult to resist the temptation to fish them, but laying off these streams is beneficial in the long run. When I do catch a trout in relatively warm water, I always attempt to resuscitate it in well-oxygenated, moving water before releasing it.
The next time you’re practicing catch and release, ask yourself if you did everything possible to minimize fish mortality. Developing good habits on 12-inch trout will mean that when the two-footer decides to eat, you’ll be well equipped to release the beast unharmed. Doing otherwise is irresponsible and a disservice to our communities and riverine ecosystems.
