Netting Natives

[GOT2FISH]

If fishing on a rocky bank with out a boat do you think its easier on the fish to be netted and released or banged up agianst the rocks to be released. Honest question! Myself I think it would be less stresssful in a net. A'm I wrong.

[Fish Hawg]

I don't think so.

[rock bottom]

I think to wade out a little and tail the fish with a proper wet glove on or wet hand would be the proper way. Not to say this technique is correct either but this is how I was taught to do it.

[Sublime]

Maybe a Rubber net, like they use in bass fishing.

However, perhaps look for a sandy beach somewhere downstream capable of getting to. I realize there won't always be a nice beach to wade out and unhook the fish, so for that part, I'd like to hear everyones' input as well.

[RichH]

My preference is to tail them though at times a net might be the only way to safely land them. As has been pointed out in other posts, the fish taken for broodstock are frequently netted and seem to suffer no ill effect.

My personal ethics dictate that I try to tail every one.

[slabhunter]

Siwash, Put the rod in the same hand as the net handle. And once you turn the fish belly up the "lights go out" for about 30 seconds. That will give plenty of time to gently remove the hook. :grin:

[thefishnfool]

Hey yall-
I am normally against the use of nets but this is one case where IF USED PROPERLY could be advantagous. I know when fishing with my buddy in the sled we use a net and I think you save way more fish that you hurt. Like Amerman said the biggest factor in releasing fish is to not play them too long. Wiping slime off is a problem but in fish like winter steelhead this usually won't affect them in the time it takes them to spawn and leave. Lactic Acid build up is the highest cause of mortality which is caused by playing them too long. Just under any circumstances don't lift the fish with the net. Just use it curtail it, leave it in the water and unhook it. The added stress of playing the fish the extra amount of time in that situation to land it could potentially be lethal. Either way you are probably ok as steelhead and salmon are much hardier than people give them credit for. Even in places that I fish in the summer time for steelhead when the water is very warm and the dissolved oxygen content is low I VERY rarely see a dead fish. Just my .02

Tim

[RichH]

One thing that was floated out there is cutting the line. I do that frequently if I'm driftfishing and can get the fish close but don't necessarily want to touch it. Seems to me I remember Scott saying something about cutting the line on broodstock fish and the hooks being out by the time he transfers them from the tank to the pond.

Obviously you don't want to do that with plugs or anything with a treble. [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img]

[Ty]

Netting is your best option. If u can tail them great too. However ussually the fish has to be more exhaused to tail them to be tailed..

I don't think cutting the line is a good idea.... If the fish is exhusted it will need to be rivived and if it is not revived it will drift down stream and may not be able to right itself and drown in some slow water even if the fish swims off.

[dampainter]

netting....unless you can tail em. netting seems like they have less chance to get banged up plus don`t have to worry bout breaking your line and losing a good lure or retieing etc...

[FishFood]

I say you just bring out the little oxygen tank like they have on the sidelines at football games, give 'em a little oxygen, swat 'em on the butt and put 'em back in the game

:grin:

[C-lice]

I think it has to be a situational thing. I'd generally say you shouldn't net the fish unless there's no other way to land it.

I also think that it's unreasonable to limit your fishing by passing up holes where a net may be required.

If a fisherman takes the time to learn how to handle fish properly and then does what he thinks is best, I don't think he should be criticized.

[drano100]

Why not just cut the line before the fish bangs into the rocks or goes into the net? If you know it is a wild fish why put it in a net or on a beach if you don't have too. I must have caught 70 wild summer steelhead last year and cut all most all off. Fishing both from a boat and bank, for the cost of a hook it seemed better for the fish to be release it this way. I will add these fish were caught on a single hook and not plugs or spinners but I feel that as little handeling as possible is best. I know guys pulling plugs and spinners don't like to cut lines because of cost and I can understand that, I also know that I will hear alot about the need to revive fish that are hooked. Let me add that I tend to fish with gear that allows me to get the fish to the boat or bank as fast as possible, the longer the fight the more stressed the fish will be and then they will need some help reviving. To answer you question I feel the lesser of the two evils would be to net it and keep it in the water just don't see how banging it up the rocks would be good for the fish.

[Tillerboy]

I use a rubber landing net. It doesn't allow them to get tangled up in the net and they settle right down once in the bag.

You can find them at Sportsman's warehouse.

If it's a native it never comes over the side of my boat. Too precious a resource to bring aboard for a photo.

[Amerman]

I think you are better off netting the fish as you described. Point one is you will land the fish quicker than you will if you try to tail it. Number two you can keep the fish from banging on the rocks. Number three you will not add any extra pressure (or ripping if the hook is in a soft part of the mouth) by trying to grab the leader. any methood netting a wild fish, beaching or grabbing the leader can be done wrong and can be done right. I have seen to many people who don't want to net a native so the play it extra long, slide it way up on the bank letting flop around in the rocks or mud or simply just grab the leader and yard the fish in ( this can cause the hook to rip loose or slip creating a large cut that the fish can die from).

When we transport native fish for the broodstock we net them while landing. Transport them in a live well net them again to put them in the holding tank, The ODFW nets them out of the tank and puts them in the truck. From the truck they are netted and put in a hatchery tank, then when they are ready to be spawned they are netted again. We have a very low mortality on these native, but each step is done right and the fish are handled with care. Never bring a netted fish that is to be release into the boat or even lift it out of the water with it in the net.

Again what ever you do care for the fish, take time to revive it and treat it with care.

[slabhunter]

Bring the fish close with the landing net. With wet hand tail the fish belly-up in the water. The fish will be disoriented and calm long enough to allow hook removal(gently-do not put fingers in gills.) If deeply hooked just cut the leader. Gently turn the fish upright. Release the fish facing upstream after its equilibrium is maintained.

[Siwash]

I've debated this sort of thing with myself a lot, since I often fish alone and almost always from the bank. I've avoided the net option since I typically do too much bushwhacking to be wrestling with it all the time. So, that generally leaves some combination of tailing and/or beaching, both of which present problems. On the one hand, you could play the fish out longer so it becomes easier to handle, but that's no good because you don't want to tire the poor critter out too badly. So instead you try to horse it in a little on the "green" side, but then it's less cooperative when you're trying to get it unhooked. Once in awhile it works out so I can cleanly flip the hook out with my pliers while the fish is still upright in the shallows and it swims off just fine, but that's rare. Either I can't get a good grasp on the hook, or it'll make another flip or run and wrap the line on something, and/or maybe I'll need to grab the fish anyway to help revive it, or whatever. Of course, there's also the issue of what to do w/ the rod, while you're at it. Anyone got any better insights?

[SHOUGALNITE]

I personaly never net natives. Fish flop around in the net and sometimes get very entangled in the net. It may take longer to get the fish out of the twisted net than a nice release out of the net.