Always wondered about the real imortance totrout sli

[Leaky33]

What I'm asking is there any factual data about handling trout and disturbing the protective slime on trout and survival??? Just wondering if it's exaggerated? I don't use a net, just drag em on shore, maybe take a pic., remove the fly and return em to the water as soon as possible, and observe them swimming off. Am I killing em? What are their chances? Any factual % data?
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[arctic_grayling]

Here's a review article that cites a ton of studies that have been done on the subject.
http://www.wildtroutstreams.com/CatchRel...elines.pdf

An excerpt:
"Ferguson and Tufts (1992) found that there were direct effects of air exposure duration on mortality of rainbow trout. Rainbow trout that were chased for approximately 10 min had asurvival 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"

I don't see any studies on that review directly regarding the removal of the slime layer and its effect on fish mortality. However, one study showed the use of abrasive nets was associated with increased mortality, presumably related to the removal of the slime layer.

When it comes to catch and release, I just wonder why people don't give fish the best chance to survive. Especially when IMO releasing the fish without ever removing it from the water is easier than dragging the squirmy critters up on shore.

I'm glad you're interested in the subject, and I'd encourage you to make some changes to your releasing practices to improve chances of fish survival.
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[mojorizing]

The slime helps keep parasites and infections down. It's called disease prevention. So are you killing them by dragging them across the shore?
Probably.
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[gstott]

I would use a rubber mesh net and leave them in the water as much as possible. If you handle them, please make sure you wet your hands first.

That's why I like bass, they come with a convenient handle [] BTW, they're starting to wake up in the north. It won't be long until the action is fast.
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[tmas]

[quote arctic_grayling]

When it comes to catch and release, I just wonder why people don't give fish the best chance to survive. [/quote]
Hell, if ya look at it that way, the best chance for the fish to survive is us [#0000BF]deleted[/#0000BF] humans to not feel the need to hook them in the face and yank them around anyway. May as well lock up the tackle and take up golfing.[:p]

Have you guys ever seen them stock trout on high mountain lakes with an airplane? They drop them from several hundred feet going what I figure is atleast 50-60 mph if not faster, makes me wonder if a trout can't handle a couple flops on the bank how would they ever survive a drop and impact like that?

I'm not disagreeing with anyone here, just an observation...
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[Leaky33]

I was really shamed as to my fishing methods until you posted. [:/] That helps a bit. [] I pretty much figured if they were mouth hooked, limited the time out of water and made sure they swam away with the appearance of health that for the most part they were ok.
Even so, I guess I'll modify my c/r and buy a net and try to keep em in the water the best I can. Taking pictures, alone, w/o dropping the camera in the water will be a challenge. [frown]
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[Leaky33]

Just a follow up!!! I would really like to know. [:/] [frown] I would like you guys to take a look at my most recent post " [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=815564;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;page=unread#unread"]Ok, some boring pics- 4/24"[/url], and tell me if I killed most of the ones I took pics, of.
At least I didn't harm Sparky. []
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=815564;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;page=unread#unread"][/url]
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[arctic_grayling]

I don't think you can say this or that fish will survive based off a certain technique of release. Fishing is a blood sport and even the most careful angler will kill a fish now and then. For me, it's all about maximizing chance of survival. The aforementioned article describes several scientifically proven techniques that should decrease mortality.

Good point about the air drops. However, I would argue that the survival rate for those drops is far from 100%. Again, it's not about saving every fish, it's about maximizing survival rates.
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[riverdog]

While I try to minimize mortality when C&R fishing I don't get bent out of shape about it. In the grand scheme of things in Utah most trout waters could use a bit more culling one way or another. It's one thing if it's a trout they're trying to protect or very rare like a golden. There are some waters with brookies that should be catch and mandatory kill.
I say use the net on the cutts on the lower Webe as they're now C&R. If anything else dies from your landing techniques it's just helping the cutts thy're concerned about anyways.
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[CatchermanB]

Survival varies greatly between species with trout being the most fragile locally. I don't like to tell people what they should or shouldn't do with such a renewable and public resource. I myself like to get them back in the water as quick as I can with minimal handling and if they're bleeding pretty heavy they don't go back. A little blood to us is a lot of blood to them and last I checked fish don't swim to an underwater hospital for a quick transfusion. I've always wet my hands, in my early fishing years I did it to keep the slime from sticking to me. Now I do it for them to. Not sure of any facts, but why not try to improve their chances. The only one I know harms fish is sticking your fingers through the gills. The oil on our hands inhibits the gills from absorbing oxygen. I've seen fish dropped from a plane in Wyomings wind rivers and they are way closer to the water than hundreds of feet the lake I was at is small and surrounded by tall pines and they still got within 100ft of the water. It want long before a few floaters made it to where I was fishing and they were very small. Probably no more than 3in. I would guess being that small they would slow down greatly before they hit the water, there wasn't much disturbance on the water when they were dropped.
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[crappielover89]

If you were killing them than there wouldn't be any fish in the lower Provo or mountain lakes and rivers because lower Provo is catch and release and most people in the wind rivers and Uintas practice catch and release. There are a lot of kids that go up there and fish and don't handle fish as gently as you and I would and they are able to get them un the water gills flushed and returned successfully. Now that said I believe that there is a point that is too much handling. Letting the trout flop around on the banks probably isn't the best for them but will probably live if returned in a timely manner what kills them is when there out of the water for a long time as everyone takes a picture with them.like a few others said wet hands take a pic and than return. I don't believe you are doing them any harm.
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[RedNekFishR]

The fish that are air dropped in the high Uintas are grayling not trout.
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[Kent]

[quote RedNekFishR]

The fish that are air dropped in the high Uintas are grayling not trout.

[/quote]

"This aerial stocking effort happens many times during the year. It begins in early July as the DWR drops brook, rainbow, splake and tiger trout into high-mountain lakes. Following this effort in July, small but unique Arctic grayling are stocked into waters across Utah. The aerial stocking ends for the year in September as many different strains of cutthroat trout are dropped into waters across Utah. These cutthroats will help supplement the state’s native trout populations."

[url "http://utah.ptfs.com/awweb/awarchive?type=file&item=10744"]Link[/url]
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[Leaky33]

Ok, I could very well be a thick headed pest on this topic but am trying to get a good feel for what I've done and what I may have to do on occasion in the future. I've shown 2 typical bank landings with pics. I'm thinking these represent a typical landing. Total time out of water, in all probability would be around the 1 min. mark, maybe less and all mouth hooked. Let's assume I did this on 10 fish during early spring, river temps. Let's also say that I tried to minimize handling and all swam off appearing healthy.
Now. please don't get me wrong, I'm going to have a net in the future.!!!! Just trying to get a feel for the big picture and what I've done and future angler techniques that I may have to use. Also, might mention that I've only found 1 trout dead in the shallows in my area and assume gut/gill hooked.
Would appreciate any thoughtful response based on experiences and facts.
Yeah, I know, may be over doing this post. --------- But I believe others may very well learn some valuable fishing stuff. I hope so======--[].

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[bassrods]

I look at it this way.. If you kept them they would be dead but when released they have a chance to live another day..
I have caught trout and other fish that have had a gill tore off at one end and still living and looked to be doing fine...

Keep fishing my friend.. []
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[tmas]

I wasn't aware in Utah that they only stock grayling from the air. As a kid I watched them stock a few lakes that only have trout in them. And I know for a fact that many other states stock trout from the air, a quick online video search will educate you on it s little better.
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[cpierce]

Leaky, it is good that you are concerned, but don't stress too much about it.

Yes, damaging the slime layer may harm the fish in the future. Being out of the water also may stress them. It is good that the water temperature is still cool so they recover quicker.

My guess though is that the fish you caught are probably fine. As BassRods mentioned, you let them go which is better for their survival than if you kept them. [laugh]

I too have caught fish that had some amazing wounds from being caught before. And a few times I have regretted having to release a fish that I am pretty sure didn't make it. Some won't make it, and I would prefer to eat them if the regulations allow keeping them.

You keep fishing and sharing. I love seeing how you and Sparky are doing.
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[Leaky33]

The old fart says-Thanks for the encouragement, gal. It helps more then you know, especially from you. []
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[flygoddess]

I thought you pretty much ate what you caught.
Just remember, wet hands, hold your breath while they are out of water[]

As far as kids fishing, you can sure tell after a weekend or a holiday on any of the lakes in the Uintas as there are a bunch of floaters.
Don't forget, birds will swoop down and feed on them too.

It is a blood sport, but if you are releasing keep it wet and fast. And don't sweat it too much.
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[Leaky33]

Not so. I release most and only keep enought for dinner.
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