by Ron Thompson
from The Blackwater Company, British Columbia, Canada

Here are a few things you can keep in mind to minimize stress on the fish you release.

1. Keep the fight time to a minimum, and play the fish to hand as quickly as possible.

2. Use a knotless catch and release net, or better yet, no net at all.

3. Use only barbless hooks. They're easier to set and easier to remove, causing far less tissue damage than barbed hooks.

4. Whenever possible, remove the hook without touching the fish.

5. If you must handle the fish, wet your hands before touching it, and support it carefully. Keep handling to an absolute minimum, and be gentle.

6. When lipping a fish, let it hang vertically so as not to damage the cartilage in its jaw and make it difficult for the fish's mouth to function properly, reducing its chances of survival.

7. If you need to shoot photos, or weigh or tape the fish, do it quickly and gently, and get the fish back in the water immediately.

8. Revive the fish thoroughly before releasing it. In moving water, point fish into current, and in stillwater gently slide it back and forth, to force water through the gills. When the fish tries to swim off, it's probably ready.

9. Keep water temperature in mind. The warmer the water, the more stress on the fish. It becomes even more important to keep them in the water at all times.

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