Ive been fishing since i was a kid but almost always for bass and panfish and exclusively catch and release. Last year i decided to spend some time targeting trout in the small rivers and streams im town. Ive been pretty lucky and had some success last year and scored my first of the year this afternoon.
And it died.
Bass and panfish always swim off fine as long as theyre not really guthooked, but id say about 50% of the trout i catch go belly up after minimal fights while hooked in the lip/mouth. I try really hard to “keep em wet” and handle minimally, and as lightly as i can but they just sort of die.
What can i do to release more trout back into the stream?
Pic is of Trouty (the name i gave this Trout). RIP. He will go to my friend’s freezer because fish is barely food.
And it died.
Bass and panfish always swim off fine as long as theyre not really guthooked, but id say about 50% of the trout i catch go belly up after minimal fights while hooked in the lip/mouth. I try really hard to “keep em wet” and handle minimally, and as lightly as i can but they just sort of die.
What can i do to release more trout back into the stream?
Pic is of Trouty (the name i gave this Trout). RIP. He will go to my friend’s freezer because fish is barely food.