Lessons learned/Catch and release

[tlbradford]

sometimes you can do it just right and they still go belly up down stream. Thats with fish hooked in the corner of the mouth with no barbs , just leaving it in the water and grabbing the hook with my plier .

Most likely from the lactic acid build-up that was described above.  If you fight them until they roll over on their side, you usually must take some time to revive them until they swim off under their own power.

[bucklucky]

They are very fiesty and not worn out at all. Its one of those quick fights , dont play em out that long half a minute maybee. Fishin with a 3 foot ultra ultra light rod and 2 pound test line. 8 to 14 inch trout, as soon as the hook is out there is no reviving they are gone like a shot. 

[tlbradford]

Gotcha 

[Antlershed]

Here are a couple pics from yesterday that show how you can still get a good picture of a fish that must be released while being cautious of the fish and obeying the law. Just don't forget to get your hands plenty wet.

[MountainWalk]

try not to put him on a hot ass metal or plastic ruler or tape either.

[Gobble]

My buddy got read the riot act by a game warden this year.  He watched him catch, fight and land a native steelhead . The game warden pointed out that first , he used a non - native safe fish net, 2 he lifted it out of the water only a couple inches. The Warden told him he knew deap down that it wasnt a true native but if he cought him up on the peninsula he would have ticketed him. The Warden was pretty much yelling at him The whole time. They are seriouse about that stuff and for a good reason.

Yeah, I appreciate the gamies checking on stuff like this, but yelling the whole time...?  Maybe that gamie needs to get another job career started.... I always worry about law enforcement officers who cannot keep their cool. IMHO, a steady calm approach would be better. Sometimes a whisper is remembered better than screeching. Law enforcement in a situation like this is more of an education of the sportsman, and should be done respectfully....  Not writing a ticket so you can tear someones head off is not appropriate. The message about taking care of the fish is lost.

Do you remember the gammies name? My wifes uncle is a gammie, I may know him...Hell it might even be him 

[KillBilly]

Sounds like Greg Haaw

[PolarBear]

When in doubt, practice "fillet and release"! 

[billythekidrock]

When in doubt, practice "fillet and release"! 

Belive it or not but that phrase and practice was introduced to my by a WA DFW employee and a low level manager. 

[Antlershed]

Sounds like Greg Haaw

Seems like he is pretty well known around here....