Maxxon's Ramblings from the OG: Catch and Release

Welcome to Maxxon's Ramblings from the OG. Fact, opinion, some truth, BS; you decide for yourself. As a fly fisherman, one of the things I've always appreciated is the ability to pick and choose whether or not I keep a fish or release a fish. I practice catch and release, and I remember the day that I made the conscious decision to never kill fish intentionally again unless I was planning on eating them.

The Case for Barbless Hooks

If we' plan on releasing fish, there's steps that we can take beforehand that will make releasing a fish better for the fish. Let's talk about hooks, specifically barbless hooks versus barbed hooks.

• Easier Release: That hook comes out so much easier if there is no barb.
  
  

• Less Trauma: I bend my barb down enough to make it easier for that hook to come out to release that fish unharmed with as little damage as possible.
  
  

• Personal Safety: If you stick yourself, it's a lot nicer to pull out a barbless hook than to remove it with the barb.
  
  

Fair Contest: Losing a fish because of slack in my system is not so much a concern. If the fish gets off, I take my hat off and I salute that fish.

Handling with Respect

The key here is to handle that fish as little as possible. You need to respect the fish and release him properly with as little trauma as possible.

• Avoid Exhaustion: You don't wanna fight him to exhaustion, because if you do that, chances are that fish is gonna die after you release it.
  
  

• Protect the Slime: Think about not removing his protective slime on his body by overhandling him. Wet your hands before handling the fish, but make sure you do not increase your grip.
  
  

• Avoid Squeezing: Because a wet, slimy fish is difficult to grip, people often squeeze them hard. This can cause internal organ damage and will eventually kill the fish.
  
  

• Stay Off the Bank: Don't pull it up on the bank and let him roll around in the dirt, as that's a sure case of killing a fish.

The Goal of Survival

The whole purpose of catch and release is to be able to keep that fish alive once he's released. Many times I won't even net a fish. I'll bring him up to me and use a tool which allows me to take the hook out of his mouth without ever touching the fish.

If you decide to take a photo, you must be respectful of the fish and ensure you do not hold it out of the water for too long. Your memories are more important than a picture to show off to friends. If you get a photo, that is great, but if not, there is always another fish. Ultimately, you will feel much better years later thinking about the fish that survived rather than the ones you may have killed. Let's treat him properly, let him live another day, and maybe we'll enjoy him again.

If you're ready to practice responsible catch and release, start with the right gear.