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We Encourage
Catch & Release
The advent of
catch-and-release has been great for the sport of fishing.
It has literally re-cycled fish/opportunity for other anglers.
However, there is a proper method to returning fish to the
water after you catch them, that assures the fish's chances
of survival.
Here
are some important tips to remember:
-
Don't play or fight a fish any longer than necessary. This way when you do catch and release the fish, it's not fatigued or stressed.
-
Do not touch or handle the fish any more than necessary. Doing so removes a protective slime coat that helps protect the fish from disease. It might be a good idea to wet your hands before handling the fish.
NOTE: For the same reason the use of dip nets is not encouraged with fish you plan to release. And if you do use nets, those with rubber webbing seem to be less harmful in this regard than those made of twine.
- If
a hook is swallowed, cut it off as closely to the eye of
the hook as possible and release the fish, rather than trying
to remove the hook. Studies have shown fish have a better
chance of survival if you do this.
-
There is nothing wrong with taking photos of a catch, but consider that the fish cannot breathe out of water. Take the photo and return the fish to water as soon as possible.
-
Fishing with barbless hooks aid in the survival rate of caught and released fish. The same is true of anglers using circle hooks. These hooks are designed to turn when taken by the fish and hook it in the corner of the mouth rather than be swallowed.
Ask the Expert: Steve Chaconas
Question:
I've seen recently that pros use fluorocarbon for jerk baits
to get it deeper. I certainly see that point, but with so much
less stretch do you believe flouro can cause problems on your
hook set (even with a soft rod)? Also, rather than using fluoro,
why not just use a slightly deeper diving bait to get deeper?
Dan,
Virginia
Answer:
Line choices involving fluorocarbon are tricky. There are two
main features of flouro that impact your bait. Line diameter,
and density (flouro sinks) allow baits to go a bit deeper, not
having to go to a deeper lipped bait...a possible performance
issue. Less flouro stretch offers better sensitivity, more action
on the bait, and better hooksets. The disadvantage of less stretch
is that it puts more pressure on the hooks in a fish and makes
it tougher to land them if you don't have give elsewhere.
Another consideration is how suspending baits behave in different
temperatures. Some suspend, some sink, others rise slowly. If
this is a key, then flouro will definitely have an impact on
how the bait behaves. If you want to slow the descent, then
a thicker mono might help! If you want it to sink slowly, then
flouro might help. Before you use a particular line, you must
first determine what you are trying to accomplish. There are
no hard rules for fishermen...the fish will set those!
Perhaps flouro's relative invisibility under water might help
as jerkbaits are generally a clear water bait. Another thing
to consider is many flouros are blended with other fibers to
offer a wider range...making the choice either more confusing
or more specific.
All that said, with the proper matched line, and rod, and with
an educated angler, knowing what the features offer and what
they sacrifice, flouro can be a useful tool.
Capt. Steve
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