I am going to start fishing catch and release at my local trout fishery and was wondering whether it is best to use a landing net or not??

any advice on this matter would be much appreciated

Are you having a laugh?

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Over here in the states we cannot use nets with any heavy cording or knots, we have to use a soft net or rubber type material to protect the slime of the fish. I find a net is very useful for C/R because you can leave the fish in the water and never touch her.

Kevin

I c&r a lot at my local fishery (10 out earlier today!) & I only use the net around 50% of the time, and even then unless deeply hooked I try to keep the fish in the water.

Always use barbless (or flattened barb) hooks.

Try to play the fish hard as you can, so you can get it in reasonably quickly.

During the fight you should be able to ascertain whether the fish needs to be landed or if you should try to unhook in the water. If you notice whilst playing the trout an exposed eye & hook shank sticking out of the side of the fishes' mouth, this means that you should definitely attempt to unhook in the water without a net.

What I do is as soon as the fish starts to come in easily on it's side I get down low as I can on the bank, preferably with my feet in the water & my bum on the bank.
When the fish is an arm's length away, I run my hand down the last 6 inches of leader to the fly & attempt to unhook the fish with a firm backward motion on the fly.
If this doesn't work then I put the rod down & grip the fish with both hands at the surface & "wobble" the hook out by jiggling it slightly from side to side whilst pushing it backwards.
This always works with barbless hooks.
Once unhooked, hold the fish upright under water until it kicks away firmly.

If the fish if deeply hooked, then its quickly out on the grassy bank, wet hands, forceps & after unhooking I hold the fish upright under water until it firmly kicks away.

We have to use nets similar to the ones in the states, knotless, but I never, or very seldom, use a net, always release the fish in the water, never even touch it with my hands ......

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[url]http://www.rnsubmus.co.uk/[/url]

Simply amazing

Always use barbless hooks, and never allow a fish to come up on the bank or grass, it is best to cut off the fly then risk hurting the fish while it is struggling on the shoreline.

---------- Post added at 02:03 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:02 PM ----------

But it does sound like you are fishing for mostly stocked fish over there. Here in Montana we are only fishing for natives, there isn't a stocking program any longer.

[quote=peepingcaddis;657133]Are you having a laugh?[/QUON


No but I guess you are

---------- Post added at 02:42 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:40 PM ----------

What's seems to amaze you

Well that`s me now an ex reader of Total Flyfisher!!.What`s wrong with the question?I fish small fisheries all over the UK and find different rules regarding nets being used for catch and release.Two examples are Rosslynlee where they do not allow you to net any fish,regardless of wether it`s 2lb or double figures and Aldernuek where Wilma supplies the nets and will also come and net your fish for you if she is not busy.I have no problem with either fisheries rule but even with 20 years fishing catch & release i sometimes wonder who is right and who is wrong.Mr Cullen i for one find your sarcasm rather misplaced!!!Wee Joey

[quote=bigdon01;657303]Seems like your question is too mundane to deserve an answer,from the experts in everything, but manners. We`re not all like that bigdon01 Peter Oh welcome to the forum bigdon01.