There are a lot of catch and release tools out there these days such as Kechum hook release , Lippa tools , rubber landing net’s and other’s. What do you think is the best or most effective tool and or method to aid in the landing and release of a trout?
I posted this a little while ago, simple but very effective, one of the BIG KEYS is to keep the fish in the water and keep the fight short and of course take the time needed to revive …I know that is more then one BIG KEY but it is a complicated question in truth…
I use barbless hooks and lip the fish with my thumb and forefinger, slide the hook out (with a forceps when necessary) then slide the fish back into the water. I seldom use a net but I also seldom catch big fish.
Good topic. For me the first thing is to leave the fish in the water.
I agree with Rockthief, now growing up on warm water fish you just grab the bottom lip but trout have those aggravating little teeth. Has anyone ever used on of those thumb covers on a zinger? It appears to be leather.
Thump the fish on the head wit my big buck knife handle, and release it into my creel!
Seriously, I always wet my hands well prior to handling a fish. If the net comes out, it is kept wet and I do my best to keep the fish in the water while removing the hook. I usually have no problems with hooks as they are barbless. If the hook is well anchored, I’ll turn the fish upsidedown (usually they will settle right down upon inverting them) and remove the hook with smooth forceps. I also believe in a keeping the fight time to a minimum. I get really frustrated with those who “showboat” fish into a lactic stupor. EGOs and ignorance are a trout two worst enemies on the river!
aa
With trout I do two things that help with a healthy release.
Keep the fish in the water.
And never touch it with my hands.
I pull the fish within reach, grab the fly with my forceps, and one quick flip and the fish swims away.
Sometimes I damage a fly…I have lots of those. Sometimes I accidently cut the tippet…again I have lots of flies and the fly will fall out of the fish quickly anyway.
I don’t do this for the fish though. It’s nice that it keeps them healthy and all that, but I’m primarily concerend with keeping that yucky fish slime and the attendant stink off of me…I don’t ever net a trout that I’m not going to kill.
With bass I just lip them, unhook them, and put them back.
Buddy
Wet your hands…cradle the fish as gently as possible…and stop overthinking things.
aa
I absolutely love your last line it is filled with so much truth that it hurts…it could be the opening line on any good speech on trout handling. May I use it ?
I am a strong advocate for fillet and release!
At least with salmon… 
Many of my trout just seem to unhook themselves, mostly before I can honestly claim to have caught them!
Don’t do more harm than you have to, but fish are resilient critters, much more so than many would believe or is politically correct to admit, and many survive a lot worse in their short, brutal lives than being gently handled or netted. Bear in mind that you have just deliberately stabbed them with a sharp object and dragged them from their home. In many cases I would rather pick up a fish and unhook it in a few seconds than let it flop around in the water at my feet while I try to find the hook with a hemostat or hook remover. And I agree on landing them as rapidly as possible rather than “playing” them to exhaustion.
Do what you feel is best, and understand that just because you feel it should be done one way does not mean that the other anglers around you feel that it needs to be that way as well.
If you use dynamite you don’t run the risk on loosing your nice Buck Knife!;):lol:
Seriously, I practice the same technique as you. Very sound!
I use the Ketchem Release
The fish stays in the water and the fly remains intact.
A couple of seasons ago I made the mistake of ‘lipping’ a big brook trout
That sucka had some big pointy toofies :shock:
I’ll never do that again
Those thumb protectors were called Walton’s Thumb
They’re not made anymore
You certainly may use it all you like. Thankyou for the kind sentiment!
aa
i like barbless hooks for catch and release. leave the fish in the water, grab the hook and release.
I find the fish prefer when you let them go before you actually catch them.
I searched for and found this on the TU website: http://tu.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/tu.cfg/php/enduser/fattach_get.php?p_sid=iQe9qpUj&p_li=&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_tbl=9&p_id=79&p_created=1188845651&p_olh=0
I did a Google search under Catch and Release Techniques and many good links came up.
What’s interesting is that TU use to say to use a net and turn the fish upside down and use the net to grasp the fish. I noticed that this new piece says not to use a net - interesting.
I still found this on the web here: http://www.tu.org/about-us/education/trout-101/harvest
Solution: Educate anglers about proper catch-and-release techniques.
TU councils and chapters provide an invaluable outlet for catch-and release education. Through demonstrations, printed materials, video productions, Web sites and word of mouth, TU promotes catch-and-release to its members and other interested anglers. Here are the basics:
[ul]
[li]Don’t play fish to exhaustion. To prevent a fatal lactic acid build up, bring fish in quickly and use a landing net.[/li][li]Handle fish with wet hands, grasping them across the back and head.[/li][li]Don’t remove swallowed hooks; just cut the line.[/li][li]Don’t keep the fish out of the water for more than 10-15 seconds.[/li][li]When placing fish back in moving water, face them upstream in their natural position.[/li][/ul]Interesting change in positions again.