Hi All, Whilst posting threads on the North American forum, This post was added by a chap called Dang Old King. This is some sound advice, for where ever you fish and what you fish for.

Best Regards

Stuart

Re: What are you using to insulate your hands from the cold?

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I know I'm a new guy too this Board but I have been around many forums.

This topic is a sticky wicket for sure.

Gloves and fish slime.Unless your harvesting your catch,I would highly recommend Non absorbent gloves.

Or if you remove your absorbent gloves prior to handling your catch,Your doing the fish and fellow anglers a favor.

Most of the rivers I fish are C&R The rules in Colorado state the fish must be returned to the water immediately.

I wish it said unharmed and immediately. I cant tell you how many fish I've seen in spring and mid summer,that have finger and thumb prints on them from the previous winters

battles with man.

Tail rot and skin rot on a trophy's makes me sad on several different levels.

1. For the fish, what a horrible way to suffer as parasites eat away at your skin & flesh. Ethical and humane were words from a recent C&R thread.

Most of the fish I see, that have been damaged by mishandling, live in slack and back water eddy's trying to stay up right to grab the slightest morsel's that pass.All are dying and just waiting for that

last gasp if you will.

2 For the future angler that missed out on such an amazing creature.Uneducated anglers create the problem but they fish where I fish so it has become my problem.

I saw a book the other day.The author of the book uses a bright colored bandanna to knuckle his fish.I couldn't believe it.

My son recently presented me with a pair of Sims fingerless retractable mittens..I've used them once so far but removed them prior to handling my catch.

This removal has a two fold purpose..One keeps the glove dry,two leaves the fish unscathed.

I was very comfortable in the winter with an "Old Electricians" trick I being the Old Electrician..

The use of latex gloves and those tiny jersey wool type gloves.

1st apply a pair of latex..traps the heat in your hand

2nd apply jersey/stretchy type... keeps your rubber covered hand warm

3rd apply 2nd layer of latex..keeps the cloth dry and provides a semi tacky surface so you can manipulate line and reel.

This method works. Keeps you warm,you don't have to remove gloves and protects that ever crucial layer of slime on our finned friends.

Just my 2 cents worth

Smudger, you're in serious danger of becoming our Latex Gloves Correspondent... starting to look a bit like a fetish mate
Steve

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There's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot.

This is NOT sound advice, it's complete cobblers.

There is no scientifc evidence whatsoever to back up this fly fishing urban legend that somehow "removing the protective slime" by handling fish will leave them prone to infection. It's complete **** and we need to stop repeating it because it provides ammo by making it appear as though we are causing great harm through C&R, which is scientifically proved NOT to be the case.

Obviously, as any boob knows, damaging the fish by using a knotted net or by rough handling will harm them, but gentle handling does not harm fish as long as thier skin is not abraded or damaged.

This urban legend has been challenged on other boards in the US and absolutely none of those who swore it was true could produce any scientific evidence whatsoever to back up the claim. Personally, Smudger, I would ask you to consider your post in light of the fact that by posting this you are (albeit obviously unwittingly) spreading an urban legend and this sort of thing can have broader impact that we don't want or need.

Grouse

Not sure about the urban legend but if it is so , could you explain why when I kill a fish my handprint is inevitably left on the back of the head where I am holding it whilst I use a priest ?

tightlines jonboy.

Obviously when you are gripping a fish with one hand to conk it with the other, you are exerting far greater force than anyone would use in handling a fish that is too be released. I've released many fish, probably thousands and I've never left a handprint in even one of them.

One thing that must be kept in mind is that this urban legend really falls apart if you think about it at a scale. We have many rivers near me that are either slot limit restricted or 100% C&R and many have been this way for 10 years or more. They are not stocked and rely 100% on natural reproduction.

So if this wild urban legend were true, these rivers would be totally devoid of fish by now or nearly so. But in fact, there are more trout now than ever.

Grouse

Hi FG,

I, like Stuart (Smudger) also read the post on the American forum! I also thought it would be of interest to most anglers here in the UK, and although there may be no scientific evidence to substantiate the likely hood of prolonged damage to a fish by handling, at least it will make us aware of the possibility of it; and ensure we all take more care when handling fish before releasing them back to their environment.

A more gentile approach is the answer, but a good article, that may prompt us to take more care when practising C&R.

Hi FG, This thread is intended to highlight the issue, regarding careful handling of "Our" fish. You and I both know, that there are people out there, with bad C&R practises.

We see this everyday, when a fish swims by, with finger marks on it. These fish aren't born with these. Theyv'e been put there by "Bad Handling", from less caring individuals, than ourselves.

By highlighting the issue, hopefully someone will think, before they grab a fish and squeeze.

Best Regards

Stuart

Catch and release:

Barbless hooks are used despite if I am C&R or one for the pot.

If the fish is for the pot then it is lift out of the water int he net, chapped, then unhooked and placed in a bass bag back in the water.

If C&R the fish is in the net, in the water and unhooked by removing the hook, no handling whatsoever. Easier if they are hooked in the jaws but if they are hooked inside the mouth then I take hold of the tippet, pull it taught, use long nosed forceps and unhook it that way. The net is then moved into deep water where the fish is assessed for realease. I always use stronger than needed tippet to get the fish in quick to avoid over playing the fish or breakage so usually the fish will swim around in the net for a bit. If not then I reach under the net, right the fish with the palm of my hand and with my other hand create a current towards the fish to ensure plenty of oxygen is being sent through it's gills. When the fish is ready for release I simply turn the net inside out in the water and off it swims to fight another day. At no point have I lifted it, gripped it or got any slime on my hands. It's not that hard.

How can anyone fish with gloves on? It takes all the tiny feedback vibrations you get through the line when casting, shooting line, retrieving and those delicate takes.

I'm in agreement with both of you about the need for care in handling fish to be released. That wasn't my point.

Again, the author of the post above is spreading the false information that handling a fish with gloves harms the fish by "removing the protective slime".

Once again, there appears to be no scientific evidence of this.

I agree with you completely that applying crushing force with your hands, using a knotted net that causes abrasion or skin damage, beaching fish, dropping fish, extended grip-n-grin photo sessions, etc, have the potential to cause damage to the fish.

But this urban legend about the "removal of protective slime" and its potential to cause infection appears to be completely without merit. So why continue to risk damage to the sport by repeating it?

I'm all in favor of good catch and release practices. But I'm not in favor of spreading urban legends that make it appear as though C&R has some hidden mortality factor, when in fact it does not. Believe it or not, we need not only worry about the antis, but there are also still meat fishing factions within angling who are always looking for excuses to have regulations returned to the bad ol' conk-em-all days.

Grouse

Hi Grouse, i have to say that i disagree with you. If the slime was of no consequence to the health of the fish, why have it? also, as you rightly say, knotted nets damage fish? I would argue that this is largely because they scrape away the slime on the fish's side.? I have also heard that a dry hand on a fish without heavy scales can 'burn' it, and there's no doubt that i have seen fungussed fish with hand print like marks on them.

I for one ALWAYS wet my hands when returning a fish, and think it's best practice to do so. I believe it's disingenious to suggest one can handle a fish with dry hands or even rub it like John Wilson is so adept at doing, and not damage the fish in any way.

Just my penneth.

Alex