voltaire,

You didn't mention what kind of fish and what size. It certainly makes a difference. For small trout, I usually bring the fish in close and slip a hand under the belly then gently lift the fish. For larger trout I would use a net. For largemouth bass I would bring them in close then "lip" them. For something like a bluegill I would carefully grab them in such a way as I don't get stuck with dorsal spines.

What you almost never want to do is lift a fish out of the water with the rod. Fishing rods are not designed for that purpose. You will put unnecessary strains on the rod, leader and fish if you do that. A fish in the water effectively has no weight. A fish taken out of water suddenly has weight. There is no need to subject the rod, leader, and the fish's own mouth to that weight.