Bear Lake - poor fish handling

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well heck just to throw my 2 cents in for what it's worth, and cause everyone else has. I do agree with what the OP said in the beginning, carefully handling a fish is best. That being said though, fish can survive a lot more then most people think. Particularly when conditions are right, I.e. cold water, cold air, and a slowed metabolism as a result of all this dang cold. Fish will metobolize the oxygen in their blood slower when they are cold, so for all the worriers, take at least a little comfort that the mis handled fish was caught on a cold winters day, from water that was just above freezing. If it had been summer the fish would have a lower chance of survival.

Additionally, I have seen fish that looked like they were torn in half then glued back together and somehow they survived. Cold water fish, particularly of the salmonoid family are pretty hardy, so I would bet that fish is fine. Like I said just my 2 cents.
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