Step 6:
Picture Proof
When preparing for a picture of your fish,
be sure to wet your hands. A fish’s slime is
its immune system’s first layer of defense.
By wetting your hands, you are preserving
its defense system.
Be sure to have a firm grip on the fish, sup-
porting its tail and “chest” area. Holding
fish by the gills is a big no-no if you intend
to release the fish. And don’t lift them by
the tail either as doing so breaks down
their body structure.
When shooting photos of a fish make sure
your camera is ready to function. I always
like to follow the, “one, two, three, lift”
technique, so that cameraman and angler
are on the same page. While hoisting the
fish, keep a net below it, precaution against
unpredictable fish flops. Do not keep the
fish out of water. If the camera needs an
adjustment, place fish in the net and keep
it in the water.
Before holding any fish out of water, note
the air temperature. If it’s below the freez-
ing point a fish can be severely damaged.
Step 7:
Revive
If all steps are followed correctly, reviv-
ing a fish should be easy. Many times, the
moment you take the fish out of the net, it
shoots off like it knows the drill.
22
Other times, a fish is tired and seems un-
willing to leave. We know how badly we
all want to throw another cast when the
fishing is good, but take the time to fully
revive a fish. Sometimes you may spend a
few minutes with a trout or salmon or steel-
head. Keep them level in the water, pointed
upstream, or broadside in gentle water, and
move them gently back and forth. You’ll
feel their strength returning.
Step 8:
Release
There is something special about watching
a monster trout—or any fish for that mat-
ter—making a strong run from your hands
to the river. It’s my favorite part of the
whole experience.
I find that significantly loosening your hold,
while still supporting the fish, translates to
a fish that he or she is free. So, make sure
that the fish is healthy before releasing your
grip; make sure that the fish is choosing to
swim away, and that you’re not forcing it
to. If you let go of the fish before it’s recov-
ered, it might go belly-up, just out of reach.
Catch-and-release isn’t for everyone, all
the time, and there is nothing wrong with
that—some of us like to eat fish. But, there
will be times when even those of us who
like to eat fish will be required to practice
catch-and-release. If you follow