[font "Calibri"][font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]Tube Dude started a thread (Trout on ice…a bad thing?) concerning the effects of catch & release of trout while ice fishing. It turned out to be a very informative and civil discussion but fell short of producing any actual scientific studies in this very narrow spectrum (ice fishing for trout) of our sport. I was doing some research looking for some studies along those lines and, like Pat, could not find any specific to this narrow area. However, there is a document that was produced by S. J. Casselman, Fisheries Section, Fish and Wildlife Branch, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, in July 2005 that contains 20 pages of information backed up with a list of references that covers an additional 9 pages. These are facts, figures, examples, pictures, and tabular lethality data on over 35 species of fish. Here is a copy of the Executive Summary: [/#800000][/font]
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[font "Calibri"]The use of catch-and-release practices by anglers is increasing. This increase is a result of both anglers viewing the process as a conservation technique and also because catch-and release practices are being mandated by fisheries managers. Despite the widespread use of catch-and-release, there is generally a lack of understanding regarding the mortality caused by the practice and how variation in catch-and-release techniques may affect the level of mortality.[/font]
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[font "Calibri"]Fortunately, the increase in catch-and-release practice by anglers has coincided with an increase in research examining catch-and-release practices. While most of the studies to date have been species specific, there are general recommendations that can be made based on the available information.[/font]
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[font "Calibri"]While catch-and-release is physiologically stressful, stress and therefore mortality can be minimized by following some general catch-and-release guidelines. Gear should be appropriate for the species being angled, allowing for quick retrieval. The use of barbless hooks and circle hooks should be considered to reduce the amount of time required to release fish. Air exposure should be minimized and fish should be released quickly. Depth of capture, hooking location and bleeding should be taken into account when deciding on whether or not to release a fish.[/font]
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[font "Calibri"]When performed correctly, catch-and-release can be successful with minimal harm to the fish and should be encouraged. However, due to the variation among species in response to catch-and-release techniques, it is recommended that further research is needed to create species specific guidelines.[/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]If you like to read the complete document, you can see it [/#800000][/font][url "http://www.wildtroutstreams.com/CatchRelease/catch_and_release_review_and_guidelines.pdf"][font "Comic Sans MS"][#000000]here[/#000000][/font][/url][font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]. After reading it myself, I would think that this should be required reading for all fisher persons whether you practice catch & release or not. The information is that valuable in my opinion. And some of it will refute things you’ve read here and on other websites regarding this matter. I hope you enjoy the report as much as I did.[/#800000][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]PS: It applies to ALL fishing to include the hard deck.[/#800000][/font]
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[#000050]Excellent arrticle and I also would encourage all anglers to read it from cover to cover. Some interesting quotes:[/#000050]
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[left]"From a review of 118 catch-and-release studies... which, in total, involved over 120,000 fish, the average mortality associated with catch-andrelease
angling was 16.2%."
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[left]"... found that the growth of smallmouth bass was related to the number of hooking events, such that hooking reduced subsequent growth. Mason and Hunt (1967) examined the survival and growth of deeply hooked rainbow trout over a four month period. They found that, of the fish that survived to the end of the experiment, there was no significant decrease in the growth of fish that were released, even for fish in which hooks were left embedded."
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[left][font "TimesNewRoman"]"... found that in largemouth bass, which provide parental care to eggs, fish that were angled incurred increased brood predation and increased likelihood of brood abandonment. Similarly, smallmouth bass have been found to have reduced ability todefend their broods after being angled from their nest ..."
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[left]"In a review of the effectiveness of circle hooks, Cooke and Suski (2004) found that, the use of circle hooks reduced overall mortality rates by approximately 50%, but
that there was variation among species."
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[left]"... also demonstrated that the unhooking times of barbless hooks were significantly shorter than barbed
[left]hooks, however, the same study indicated that anglers landed 22% more fish using barbed hooks than barbless hooks. Similarly, the use of barbless hooks has been found to significantly reduce mortality in trout ... It has also been suggested that barbless hooks reduce tissue damage. Thus, while barbless hooks are generally less harmful to fish, anglers may be reluctant to use them because they perceive that catch rates will suffer."
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[left]"... examined the effect of hook removal on the survival of rainbow trout up to four months after release. Two-thirds of the fish released without hook removal survived, while only 11.5% of the fish which had hooks removed
[left]survived. Additionally, of the fish that survived with hooks left in place, more than half had shed the hooks by the end of the study."
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[left]"When fish are caught and retrieved quickly from deep water, injury may result from depressurization. Depressurization can result in over-inflation of the gas bladder, inability to submerge when released, gas embolisms, internal and/or external haemorrhaging and death.
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[left]Freshwater fish have one of two basic types of swim bladders. Fish, [font "TimesNewRoman"]such as carp, esocids [/font]trout and salmon have a duct which connects the swim bladder to the alimentary canal. These fish can expel gas and make buoyancy adjustments more quickly than fish such as, bass, walleye, perch and most panfish which lack a connecting duct and rely on diffusion to deflate their swim
bladder."
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[left][#000000]To release fish that suffer from depressurization a technique known as “fizzing” has been [/#000000][#000000]developed to artificially deflate swim bladders by puncturing the swim bladder with a sharp [/#000000][#000000]instrument. In a review of “fizzing”, Kerr (2001) suggested that the practice should be[/#000000]
[left][#000000]discouraged, as significant damage can result from the procedure, and that fishing deep waters [/#000000][#000000](5-6 m) should be restricted if fish are intended to be released. Kerr (2001) also reviewed several [/#000000][#000000]alternatives to “fizzing” for releasing fish caught from deep water. These involved lowering fish [/#000000][#000000]back to the depth they were caught at for release, by means of a retrievable weight or [/#000000][#000000]submersible cage (Figure 2). While little investigation has gone into determining the [/#000000][#000000]effectiveness of these alternatives, they are recommended over fizzing. To prevent potential[/#000000]
[#000000]decompression, catch-and-release angling for species in deep water should be avoided."[/#000000]
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[left][#000000]"Evidence suggests that catch-and-release mortality is directly related to water [/#000000][#000000]temperature, with mortality increasing at extreme temperatures. In a seasonal comparison of [/#000000][#000000]hooking mortality of bluegill, Muoneke (1992b) found that mortality was greater in the summer[/#000000]
[left][#000000]when water temperatures were highest... [/#000000][#000000]Similarly, mortality in cutthroat trout has been shown to increase from 0 to [/#000000][#000000]8.6% as water temperature increased from 8°C to 16°C (Dotson, 1982). In a meta-analysis of[/#000000]
[left][#000000]black bass mortality associated with tournaments, a strong relationship was found between water[/#000000]
[left][#000000]temperature and both pre-release and post-release mortality (Wilde, 1998). Research from[/#000000]
[left][#000000]walleye tournaments indicates that mortality increases with water temperature and suggests that[/#000000]
[left][#000000]tournaments should be limited to the spring and fall (O’Neil and Pattenden, 1992), or when water[/#000000]
[#000000]temperatures are cooler than 15.6°C (60°F) (Boland, 1994)."[/#000000]
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[left][#000000]"Interestingly, Bettoli and Osborne (1998) found that catch-and-release mortality [/#000000][#000000]in striped bass was linearly related to air temperature but not water temperature, suggesting the [/#000000][#000000]temperature during air exposure may be more important in determining survival than actual[/#000000]
[#000000]water temperature."[/#000000]
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[left]"There has been a similar concern with releasing fish that have been angled during icefishing and exposed to cold temperatures. It has been suggested that eyes and gills can be damaged from freezing on extremely cold days. However, studies examining catch-and-release
[left]survival of walleye during ice-fishing found no evidence of damage or mortality caused by exposure to cold temperatures (Ellis, 2000). Thus, while brief exposure of fish to cold temperatures may not cause mortality or damage, it is best minimize the time that fish are kept
out of the water when ice-fishing."
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[left]"They quantified the effects of netting for a 168 h period after capture and found that there was zero mortality in fish that were landed without a net while fish that were landed with a net experienced a mortality rate of 4 to 14%. There was also increased pectoral and caudal fin abrasion and dermal disturbance (scale and mucus loss). Of the four types of landing net mesh types compared (rubber, knotless nylon, fine knotted nylon and coarse
[left]knotted nylon), the knotted mesh types resulted in greater injury and mortality than rubber or knotless mesh. Thus, injury (and therefore mortality) can be reduced if the use of landing nets is limited to those instances where their use is required to safely land and control fish to prevent
[left]mechanical injury. However, when the use of a landing net is required or preferred, it is best to use one made of rubber or knotless mesh."
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[left]"Rainbow trout that were chased for approximately 10 min had a survival rate of 88%, however this fell to 62% for fish that were subsequently exposed to air for
30 s and survival was only 28% for fish exposed to air for 60 s..."
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[font "TimesNewRoman,Bold"][size 4][font "TimesNewRoman,Bold"][size 4]The closing guidelines from the article:[/size][/font][/size][/font]
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[font "TimesNewRoman,Bold"][size 4][font "TimesNewRoman,Bold"][size 4]"Catch-and-Release Guidelines
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[left]Most catch-and-release research to date has focused on examining species-specific responses to potential factors which affect mortality. However, due to the large number of studies that have been completed to date, a number of general trends are emerging. Thus, while
[left]caution should be used when applying species-specific findings to other species, the following recommendations are, given the available knowledge base, general guidelines to be used to reduce catch-and-release mortality for most species.
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[left]Angling Techniques
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[left]• [/font][font "TimesNewRoman"]Circle hooks should be used as they will minimize the chance of deep hooking.
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[left]• [/font][font "TimesNewRoman"]Barbless hooks are recommended as they are easier to remove and therefore reduce handling time.
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[left]• [/font][font "TimesNewRoman"]The use of live/organic bait should be discouraged as it increases the likelihood of deephooking.
[/font][font "SymbolMT"]
[left]• [/font][font "TimesNewRoman"]The use of artificial lures should be encouraged.
[/font][font "SymbolMT"]
[left]• [/font][font "TimesNewRoman"]Fishing lines must not be left unattended as unattended lines have a greater chance of deeply hooking a fish.
[/font][font "SymbolMT"]
[left]• [/font][font "TimesNewRoman"]Fishing line used should be appropriate to the species of fish being sought. This will prevent line breaking and reduce playing time.
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[left]• [/font][font "TimesNewRoman"]Avoid angling during extreme water temperatures, both hot and cold, if you plan on releasing your catch.
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[left]Landing a Fish
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[left]• [/font][font "TimesNewRoman"]Angled fish should be retrieved as quickly as possible to prevent fish exhaustion.
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[left]• [/font][font "TimesNewRoman"]Fish should be landed by hand where possible.
[/font][font "SymbolMT"]
[left]• [/font][font "TimesNewRoman"]Where a landing net is required, it should be knotless and preferably made of soft rubber.
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[left]• [/font][font "TimesNewRoman"]When landing extremely large fish (e.g. muskellunge), the use of landing cradle should be considered.
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[left]Handling and Photographing a Fish
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[left]• [/font][font "TimesNewRoman"]Keep fish in the water as much as possible to minimize air exposure.
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[left]• [/font][font "TimesNewRoman"]Never place your fingers through gills or in the eyes.
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[left]• [/font][font "TimesNewRoman"]Don’t hold heavy fish by the jaw as this may damage the jaw and vertebrae.
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[left]• [/font][font "TimesNewRoman"]Hold large fish horizontally and support its body to avoid damage to the internal organs.
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[left]• [/font][font "TimesNewRoman"]Use wet hands or wet cloth gloves to handle the fish.
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[left]• [/font][font "TimesNewRoman"]Have camera ready prior to landing fish to minimize air exposure.
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[left]• [/font][font "TimesNewRoman"]If possible, photograph the fish while in water.
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[left]Unhooking a Fish
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[left]• [/font][font "TimesNewRoman"]Have longnose pliers available to back the hook out.
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[left]• [/font][font "TimesNewRoman"]Remove the hook quickly, keeping the fish underwater.
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[left]• [/font][font "TimesNewRoman"]If the fish is deeply hooked, cut the line and release the fish as quickly as possible.
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[left]• [/font][font "TimesNewRoman"]Avoid using stainless steel hooks as they take longer to corrode if left in the fish.
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[left]Depressurization
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[left]• [/font][font "TimesNewRoman"]Avoid fishing deeper (5-6 m) waters if you intend to release your catch.
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[left]• [/font][font "TimesNewRoman"]Consider depth of capture when deciding on whether or not to release a fish.
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[left]• [/font][font "TimesNewRoman"]Release the fish quickly after it is landed.
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[left]• [/font][font "TimesNewRoman"]Avoid artificial swim bladder deflation (“fizzing”).
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[left]Revival
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[left]• [/font][font "TimesNewRoman"]If there is current, hold the fish upright, facing into the current.
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[left]• [/font][font "TimesNewRoman"]If there isn’t any current, gently move fish back and forth in the water until gill movements return to normal and it is able to maintain its balance.
[/font][font "SymbolMT"]• [/font][font "TimesNewRoman"]When the fish begins to struggle, let it swim away."
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