| When anyone starts fishing there is always the | | | | 1. You should aim to catch your fish as quickly as |
| pressure to catch a fish, be it a trout, bass or | | | | possible. The longer the struggle the more tired |
| salmon; and obviously that is the main point of | | | | your fish will be and exhaustion will limit its ability |
| the whole exercise. However when your fishing | | | | to recover. So your play and the time involved in |
| begins to turn into a sport, when the whole | | | | the release should be short. |
| experience goes beyond the actual "catching" of | | | | 2. Remove the hook (preferably a single barb less |
| your fish (and the first one will always remain | | | | hook) while your fish is still in the water. This has |
| embedded in your mind), then you begin to enjoy | | | | some advantages for the fish. First and foremost |
| and appreciate many other things. One of these | | | | you haven't removed it from its natural habitat. |
| things is releasing a fish you have just caught. | | | | 3. There are times when it is impossible to keep it |
| There are many places where the fishing is | | | | in the water so make sure before you touch it, |
| exclusively catch and release, and at first sight it | | | | that your hands are wet. Avoid holding it with dry |
| sounds simple enough. You cast your lure, the fish | | | | hands. Dry hands will hurt its skin that is covered |
| is hooked, you reel it in, remove the hook and let | | | | with its own oils and at water temperature. |
| it go. As if things were that simple. | | | | Otherwise after release it runs the risk of fungi. |
| So the first thing you should be aware of is why | | | | 4. Treat it gently and softly. A strong grip, but |
| "release" at all. The main reason is to help keep | | | | without applying pressure as you can cause |
| the stock levels of that species in the river or | | | | internal damage. Avoid the gills and eye sockets. |
| lake and an integral part of that is so that it can | | | | 5. Try and hold it against the current so that the |
| reproduce and multiply. A hurt or damaged fish | | | | water flows through it gills. Many times the fish will |
| has a limited future. | | | | be unconscious, so after removing the hook, |
| As an angler you should be able to release your | | | | move it back and forth so it can breathe. You will |
| catch with the least possible impact on it so that | | | | notice immediately it reacts so don't abandon it |
| it not only survives, but thrives. | | | | until it has reacted. Fishing is a sport and so |
| Here are 5 Tips to help you increase your "catch | | | | sportsman like conduct should be applied to all |
| and release" technique. | | | | those involved, large and small, family and other |
| The first one will be during the catch, the others | | | | animals. A good release technique will preserve |
| after. | | | | our sport and teach others some of the simple |
| | | | but good things in life. |