How do you release salmon and trout ?

[Valv]

I just got back from salmon fishing trip (see thread in Wisconsin forum). I was wondering how can you release salmon and trout and practice C&R with them ?

We caught A LOT of fish and will take a while to eat it, so we won't need it anymore for a while (a year or so)

[hcrider]

Sometimes with smaller rainbows out of stocked designated lakes, I've been able to release them unharmed. I'd say about 50% of them are going to die no matter what, it's just the nature of how we're fishing them.

I've seen it done successfully with lakers and salmon on Superior, but really I think most of those fish probably die anyway. Unless you are very careful with them and the water is very cold, I think the stress of hauling them up from the depths is just too much for them.

For the most part, my Lake Superior and other inland trout fishing is a "Catch and Kill" operation...sorry if that's not what you wanted to hear.

HC

[Valv]

HC, I don't have an issue with C&K, just felt that it would have been nicer saving them on many occasions. I guess many relatives and friends will get som fresh salmon soon.

I know about depth and air bladder, plus adding stress of fight and other factors I can see how they will not make to survive, in fact they die in the livewell within few minutes.

I just thought maybe the "Salmon fishing Gurus" have some to suggest.

[hcrider]

I'm certainly open to the suggestion of C&R also, it's just been my experience that they are usually doomed unless you can obviously tell that they are unharmed...somehow.

Good topic anyway, if others have suggestions about it I'd like to hear. Unless it's PETA saying we shouldn't be fishing 'em at all because they suffer too much in the first place!

HC

[Ralph Wiggum]

Valv, I'd be happy to take any extra salmon off of your hands if it's burdening you

[cashcrews]

I lose enough trout and salmon while reeling them in, that I feel I do an adequate job of "releasing" them relatively unharmed.

[Valv]

Ralph, I KNEW it was coming.....I knew it....

and I suspected it was coming from you.....

Fact is I have 50/60lbs of meat in the freezer, and was my first trip there, if I choose to do 3 or 4 trips a year, I practically can start a "Fishetarian" diet.

I believe PETA already is involved with this site, in fact all of us are PETA members.

People Eating (very) Tasty Animals, that's the group, right ?

I haven't heard of anything else with that name

[Ralph Wiggum]

Ah, the fishetarian diet! I actually know some people whose cholesterol has gone down 100 points because they've moved to Seattle where seafood is a staple. I'd love it!

[TSCTSC]

According to a charter captain and first mate from the Great Lakes, the proper way to release these fish is basically a no-touch technique and no net too. Bring the fish in holding by the line/leader/swivel/lure and then unhook using pliers. If you are lucky, u can shake it off.

I am a C&R fisherman but in the great lakes, I no longer practice it for the following reasons (in no particular order of priority) :

1. A bit too difficult to do proper C&R if the fish is heavy, large, strong and struggling too much.

2. It has been my observation too that all of them die in the livewell after a while, unlike bass, catfish or other gamefish that I have caught in land which invariably survive. So I guess the high mortality rate after catching them is one of the factors.

3. Too dam* much work bringing them up

4. They live only a maximum of 4 years and die spawning

5. The salmon are "planted" fish

I am also hoping to be able to do C&R, as filleting them and storing the meat is becoming a problem. But with the new info from the above threads that the mortality is 50%, I think that I would be inclined to continue to keep them, unless I master the art of proper C&R with the larger salmon.