fishing on 11-26-12

[kisfish]

 Had to drop the boat off in Astoria and run a few errands over on long beach. With no rain again today got done around 1pm and went fishing. A total of 6 landed.

[lokidog]

Dang, nice... doughnut!  Those fish are awesome as well.  Wish I was closer to try to mooch a ride....   

[singleshot12]

Nice! and look at the size of that doughnut,i woulda been happy with the hole   Looks kinda like the Satsop river too

[Skyvalhunter]

Very nice fish, I hope she didn't eat that whole dougnut herself, severe sugar buzzz

[bankwalker]

Nice! and look at the size of that doughnut,i woulda been happy with the hole   Looks kinda like the Satsop river too

Definitely not the satsop with those water conditions. I sure wish it would hurry up and drop into shape  it's close though

[Encore 280]

Look's like the mudflats at Willapa out in front of Nelson's cannery.

[7mmfan]

Sneaky spot, good job! I love that stretch of water right there. Nice fish   

[kisfish]

yep it's willapa bay, 7mm that strecth has been good.

[BigGoonTuna]

i thought that the salmon deadline on that particular river was about a mile below the hatchery? the regs are kind of vague for that one, but i never fished for salmon there, only steelhead(at least until they stopped planting them)...

[kisfish]

Wouldn't be fishing there if it was closed.  It ain't worth a ticket. All c&r  except for 2 steelhead

[WSU]

Wouldn't be fishing there if it was closed.  It ain't worth a ticket. All c&r  except for 2 steelhead

You released those fish?

[kisfish]

yep.

[WSU]

I'm not intending to be an ass, so don't take my post the wrong way.  Everyone, including me, has to learn proper fish handling technique somehow.  I certainly wasn't born with such knowledge.

You should not be putting your hands inside the gills of fish you are going to release because it can injure and kill them.  Also, from page 13 of the regs, “It is unlawful to totally remove salmon, steelhead, or Dolly Varden/Bull Trout from the water if it is unlawful to retain those fish, or if the angler subsequently releases the salmon, steelhead, Dolly Varden/Bull Trout.”
Even where legal you also should not be holding them out of the water for so long.  Imagine sprinting a mile and then someone holding your head underwater.  Same thing to the fish.  All that said, good job on getting into some nice fish!

[kisfish]

Thanks wsu for the lesson. I will have to work on the release in the water. Whats your best method? Thanks again.

[h20hunter]

Im amazed at how often people post pics like this.....clear violation of regs and the post is still up? What am i missing? If the area is not open for rention you dont pose with the out of the water and your hand shoved up the gills?

[Button Nubbs]

There are many ways to release a fish unharmed but for the love of god man don't put your hands in the gills! This is an all too common occurance on this website.

[singleshot12]

Just don't take the fish out of the water! don't even touch the fish if you don't have to, back the single barbless hook out and send the fish loose. Chances are those Coho died before they spawned

[7mmfan]

Here are a few options for releasing fish without removing them from the water. You were wearing waders so they should be easy for ya.

Since there were 2 of you, one person can tail the fish while the other fights it. When the fish is tired enough (starts to lay on its side) get into knee deep water or so and grab the fish around the wrist of the tail. This can be more effective if you have on a rag wool or cotton glove. Its going to freak but just hold firm and when it calms down you can slide your other hand up under its pec fins, the ones right behind the gills, avoid the gills!

Once you have it that way, its not going anywhere. Have your partner there come down with some pliers and pop the hook out. Fish never has to leave the water.

If your by yourself, just barely slide the head of the fish onto the bank and then give the fish a little slack, and tail it the same way. Quite a bit harder, but can be done easily with practice.

When taking photos of the fish, especially of your partner holding it, hold them the same way you tailed them and keep the very bottom of the fish in the water. The picture taker should get down close to the water level as well to make for good photos. I'll post a couple for reference.

Your other option, which isn't to hard where your fishing there, is just to bring a net. Get a good rubber mesh one that won't hurt them and won't tangle your hooks up into a disaster either. This makes it painless.

This seems like a lot of work, but its worth it if you are releasing these fish.  I've been guiding anglers for over 10 years now and its always frustrating to see fish get abused and then released. They are tougher then we give them credit for but they did just complete a pretty miraculous journey, make it as easy for them as possible now that they are there.

Also, a lot of people on here will bash you for the pics, but fail to offer any real advice. If you don't know, then you just don't, so hopefully this helped. Please feel free to pm me and I'd be happy talk to you. I'll be down that way in January or February sometime to visit family near Bay Center, maybe we can hook up and go try to hook up on some steel!

[JLS]

Here are a few options for releasing fish without removing them from the water. You were wearing waders so they should be easy for ya.

Since there were 2 of you, one person can tail the fish while the other fights it. When the fish is tired enough (starts to lay on its side) get into knee deep water or so and grab the fish around the wrist of the tail. This can be more effective if you have on a rag wool or cotton glove. Its going to freak but just hold firm and when it calms down you can slide your other hand up under its pec fins, the ones right behind the gills, avoid the gills!

Once you have it that way, its not going anywhere. Have your partner there come down with some pliers and pop the hook out. Fish never has to leave the water.

If your by yourself, just barely slide the head of the fish onto the bank and then give the fish a little slack, and tail it the same way. Quite a bit harder, but can be done easily with practice.

When taking photos of the fish, especially of your partner holding it, hold them the same way you tailed them and keep the very bottom of the fish in the water. The picture taker should get down close to the water level as well to make for good photos. I'll post a couple for reference.

Your other option, which isn't to hard where your fishing there, is just to bring a net. Get a good rubber mesh one that won't hurt them and won't tangle your hooks up into a disaster either. This makes it painless.

This seems like a lot of work, but its worth it if you are releasing these fish.  I've been guiding anglers for over 10 years now and its always frustrating to see fish get abused and then released. They are tougher then we give them credit for but they did just complete a pretty miraculous journey, make it as easy for them as possible now that they are there.

Also, a lot of people on here will bash you for the pics, but fail to offer any real advice. If you don't know, then you just don't, so hopefully this helped. Please feel free to pm me and I'd be happy talk to you. I'll be down that way in January or February sometime to visit family near Bay Center, maybe we can hook up and go try to hook up on some steel!

Thank you for providing some constructive and helpful input here !  In reading this, I got the impression the OP just didn't know better?  It's nice and refreshing to see a kind and classy offer to help.

Not to hijack, but here's a funny story about releasing fish.  I was fishing the Snake River in Yellowstone NP.  I caught and released a nice cuttie.  I thought he was fine when I released him, but he went down through the riffle a little disoriented.  Next thing I know, KAWAPP!  An osprey nails this fish and has sushi for lunch

[Swannytheswan]

Thank you for providing some constructive and helpful input here !  In reading this, I got the impression the OP just didn't know better?  It's nice and refreshing to see a kind and classy offer to help.

 
and kudos for taking constructive criticism and instruction well...not to many do that these days it's to easy on the internet to fly off the handle and start throwing names around. Good on ya Kisfish!

[wrangler]

mark my words. someday this forum will be submitted as evidence in a lawsuit against the hunting and fishing community as a whole. sometimes i wanna just bury my head in the sand after seeing some of the bs that ends up on here. what a joke. oh ps, thanks for taking down the pic of the dying fish in closed waters. jesus h wtf people!    oh and pss you think the gamies and wdfw directors/employes dont look at this forum? your crazy. no wonder we get flipped so much bs from the wardens and everyone else. almost can't blame em after seeing some of the stuff on here in the last couple months. 

[TangoU]

Here are a few options for releasing fish without removing them from the water. You were wearing waders so they should be easy for ya.

...

Hey 7mmfan, Two things: 1) I'm a fan, too.   2) Also a thanks and kudos for posting some very helpful advice to the OP.  Responses like yours are what makes reading the rest of the trash talk bearable.   

[WSU]

Sounds like kisfish didn't know any better.  Like I said, people aren't born with the knowledge on how to properly handle fish.  Good for him for asking for advice and trying to learn.  I don't see why people feel the need to bash him after he asks for advice?  I'm the first one to bash someone who knows better or should know better, but kisfish is trying to do the right thing.   

[h20hunter]

I think the bashing was because not knowing is not a valid excuse. Especially since pics were posted on a public forum.....

[kisfish]

Thanks 7mm on the proper fish release technique. I will be putting it to good use. All I can say is I have learned from my mistake and moving forward I will be much more informed. I can't change the past only what happens going forward. I have been over the regs with a fine tooth comb and have a much clearer understanding. My fault for not doing that first

[h20hunter]

Good outlook.....be safe out there and happy fishing.....

[singleshot12]

Sounds like kisfish didn't know any better.  Like I said, people aren't born with the knowledge on how to properly handle fish.  Good for him for asking for advice and trying to learn.  I don't see why people feel the need to bash him after he asks for advice?  I'm the first one to bash someone who knows better or should know better, but kisfish is trying to do the right thing.   

My opinion is people should learn those sort of things before taking up fishing especially on a C&R river. It is the ethical and responsible thing to do. So some sort of bashing should be in order. Nothing irks me much more than seeing people c&r fish after fish and end up seeing half of them go belly up. It is clearly stated in the regs how to properly release a fish. No excuse for not knowing

[h20hunter]

I would say the OP has been politely bashed.....took their lumps.....and moved on from the experience.

[WSU]

Sounds like kisfish didn't know any better.  Like I said, people aren't born with the knowledge on how to properly handle fish.  Good for him for asking for advice and trying to learn.  I don't see why people feel the need to bash him after he asks for advice?  I'm the first one to bash someone who knows better or should know better, but kisfish is trying to do the right thing.   

My opinion is people should learn those sort of things before taking up fishing especially on a C&R river. It is the ethical and responsible thing to do. So some sort of bashing should be in order. Nothing irks me much more than seeing people c&r fish after fish and end up seeing half of them go belly up. It is clearly stated in the regs how to properly release a fish. No excuse for not knowing

I agree, but think that educating him (which he proved receptive to) is more effective than simply bashing him.  I'm willing to be a lot less fish will be harmed now that some people took the time to educate the OP on the proper thing to do instead of just ripping him for doing it wrong.

[7mmfan]

Right on kisfish, glad to see a cool guy willing to take some advice. Go back up there and knock em dead and post some pictures on here to shut up all the bashers. Also, take a second to stage the photo so that NO ONE can figure out where you're at, just a thought     I fish the Wynoochee and Satsop a lot as well, pm if you're interested in a trip, would be happy to share a boat with you for a day.

If you live down there you may know some of my family. They've been down there for a long time and work in the oyster business.

Take it easy.

[Heartsblood]

Yeah but...... didja really hafta remove the donut picture??? 

[kisfish]

Yeah but...... didja really hafta remove the donut picture??? 

Heartsblood, I will get a pic of the doughnut on the next fishing trip for ya.

[BigGoonTuna]

...and if i came across as busting your chops, i wasn't.  just more curious than anything.  don't get out on that river much these days...but did pop a couple steelhead a little further north on monday

[kisfish]

I am going to try for steelhead in a few weeks. I have never caught one but been reading up on how to catch them. I would like to put one in the smoker. Went out this morning and dropped a couple crab pots. Rough and wet ride. Kicking around the idea of razor clamming tonight. Waiting to see how hard it's going to rain.