Handling, Reviving & Releasing

[WalkersKiller]

Hi guys thought I would share this article I recently posted on my site with you:

How To Handle & Safely Release Trout So They Survive! 

Trout are well know for not doing very well after a fight on fly tackle. The larger Trout are especially difficult to release... A lot of anglers who practice the art of Fly Fishing prefer to release their fish, especially the larger species. However not many anglers know how to release these Trout properly, although they have an idea.

Landing The Fish When you are getting ready to land a Trout it is important to have a net if you are planning on releasing the fish. Guide the trout into the open net while it is in the water, rather than scooping it up or trying to net it, this minimises any damage to the fish and also minimises the chance of the leader snapping or the Trout shaking the fly.

Handling Trout Once the Trout is in the net, wet your hands thoroughly and try not to touch the fish. I, however, like to get a photo of the fish so I wet my hands and hold it gently underneath, supporting its wait but not squeezing it to hard, just hard enough to ensure the fish does not jump out of my hands. I normally will hold the fish a few centimeters above the water in case it does slip out. Remove the hook, not by force, but by pulling the hook out the exact direction it went in. Barbless hooks are a lot easier to remove and more Trout friendly.

Reviving & Releasing Trout There is a lot of confusion about this, but many people revive Trout in the wrong way, by pulling it back and forth through the water, yes this does supply oxygen to the gills but will often drown the fish as the water goes into the gills, so it might swim off strongly but the chances are that it might 'drown' a bit later on. The best way to revive it is to place it in the water and gently rub both your fingers down the side of the fish over its gills. This gets the gills moving and allows the fish to get oxygen, they swim off strongly after this. Make sure the Trout pushes its way out of your hands, often they move off slowly and then end up upside down.

WK 

[Jakes]

Nice post Gareth, now I just have to go for a Fly fishing session with you to practice the release technique ... 

 

[WalkersKiller]

Nice post Gareth, now I just have to go for a Fly fishing session with you to practice the release technique ... 

 

Thanks Jakes, when the trout start spawning again next year I will take you for a session 

[E.T.]

I will tell you one thing and maybe after these pics you will understand that I don't like stockie venues!!!
The fish are weak and they die for nothing. I know how to revive fish and at this venue I had a Bow swim back to me 5 times before disappearing into the depths.
This was middle winter so I will let the pics do the talking....
Nice Pose before release



About to release



Reviving



More Reviving

[E.T.]

The fish swims off only to go and lie upside down between the grass on the bottom of the pond....



Can you imagine how cold that water was



All is lost, that fish just didn't want to live!!!

[E.T.]

Same crap happened with this small trout at a different venue!!!

I stripped down to my undies, swam in dove the bloody thing out and revived the hell out of it!!!!
So stockies???? Screw that!!!

[E.T.]

Another thing is that I stopped fishing in jeans

[Big Van]

Hi WK good on you for this posting on releasing fish alive and in good health. Most important is to handle fish with wet hands. Actually better not to handle at all. I have lost lots of fish (rands) with guys mishandling fish. That is why some farms do not allow catch and release. The biggest problem is that guys are to lazy to get into the water and revive the fish.
ET you are any time welcome at Leeuwkloof by showing how committed you are to make sure that the fish is revived. Wintertime with a cold and wet onnie and cold family jewels is not nice, well done on you.
Tight Lines   

[WalkersKiller]

Thanks Big Van! Handling these fish are very important! Oh and you can expect me at your place in April next year when the Trout start to spawn 

[E.T.]

ET you are any time welcome at Leeuwkloof by showing how committed you are to make sure that the fish is revived. Wintertime with a cold and wet onnie and cold family jewels is not nice, well done on you.
Tight Lines 

Let me know when the Bass and the Yellows are starting to misbehave and I will come through for sure. I have late November open.

[schloshd1]

Great post WK but due to certain pics of a graphic nature i wish that i had NEVER opened this thread!

[WalkersKiller]

Great post WK but due to certain pics of a graphic nature i wish that i had NEVER opened this thread!

[E.T.]

Great post WK but due to certain pics of a graphic nature i wish that i had NEVER opened this thread!

Sorry, my bad!!! Yes nature doesn't look good in the above pics. That veld sure as hell could have been greener

[briansflyfishing]

Some sound advise that all Fly fishers should take note of.
......and sometimes remind ourselves about.