In order to ascertain what the trout are feeding on, I have recently begun using a tout stomach pump on fish which I intend to return however I seem to have very limited success using the pump in comparison to fish that I have spooned. The spoon normally reveals what has been on the menu that day while the pump only shows me 1 or 2 of flies.

When using the pump I lay the fish on it's side in the net, half fill the pump with water and insert into the fish. I then expel thet water and slowly remove the pump allowing the bulb of the pipette to reinflate. However given the minimal amount sof insects that are being sucked up I have wondered if I am using the pump correctly.

Should I leave the deinfalted pump in the fish to fill up itself? I do not think that it would actually reinflate under it own steam.

In general, does a pump reveal alot less than a spoon?

Am I using the pump correctly?

Chuck it in the bin...............It cannot be any good for the fish if you are going to return it. If you are going to kill the fish then do it quickly and cleanly and use a marrow spoon..............birdsnest

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Fear not if I steal from your side, as of yore, from paradise streams to fish Teifi once more.
BN based in Wolverhampton

My ethics are such that I would never subject a live fish to this un-necessary stress and I always return fish to water as soon as possible.

I'm with Birdsnest on this. If you must inspect the contents of the stomach then knock it on the head and use a spoon.

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Eddie
"We look to Scotland for all our ideas of civilisation."
Voltaire

Sorry but that sounds awful for the fish.
Do the fish a favour and bin it.

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www.tintotroutfishery.co.uk
www.anglersholidaycottages.co.uk

Never pump a trouts stomach if you want to release it, it will die. At worst, pump it's throat, but even then, be careful, if you rupture the oesophagael membrane, the fish will die, even if it swims away after being pumped. He won't be able to feed again. This membrane is between his throat and his stomach. The trouts food sits in the throat for a while before being swallowed, it's like a "crop", in birds, so pumping the throat will give a good indication of it's most recent meal. Please don't try and pump the stomach, it's not the correct thing to do if you want to release the fish.

Returning fish after you have had a pump down its throat shocks me.

Consider what your doing and get rid of the pump and consider your quarry and care for them,
thats the best advice IMO

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Kevin

I'm sure somebody will be along to tell us that live fish can be pumped without harm if done properly (bloody great radio transmitters have been shoved down the throats of salmon without doing any harm) but it's not for me.
If you want to know what they are feeding on look at what is on or in the water, the way the fish rise (if they are rising) and at what is in the mouth of the fish landed (if they are feeding hard enough).

Andy

Don't listen to the bleeding hearts. They have condemned this safe useful fishing apparatus without having tried it. Ask them how many times they have actually witnessed a fish dying after it's use. I have never heard or seen a fish die after the procedure.

Now back to your question. You are not preforming the correct way of using it. Do not force water down the fish's throat. You simply wet the tube for lubrication. Squeeze the air out of the bulb and insert with the bulb pushed together. Stop squeezing the bulb and slowly pull the pump out. Now dip the tube into the water and fill the bulb with water. Place contents into a container and Bob's your uncle!

I appreciate everyone's concern over the welfare of the fish but the fact is that as a vegetarian, unless I have friends or family coming for dinner, I do not want to retain any fish, hence why I use the pump.

I googled the subject and although in theory it seems a barbaric act it was the recommended method by a number of people including marine biologists/ scientists when performing studies.

If anyone can advise me on how to correctly use the pump, please do advise so. Failing that, using a pump is one's own decision and provided used carefully I do not think causes the fish any more harm than hooking, playing and landing.