Netting Natives

[Rip'N'Lips]

All-

On my last fishing trip about 2 weeks ago on the Wilson, I watched a moron in a boat above us hook into a chrome native, play it for 15 minutes, tie up the entire hole, then net it and leave it in the net for a couple minutes while taking pictures.

I probably go overboard on my policy which is if it is a native, why play it, break it. I do the same for chinook, can't keep it, why run the risk of tiring it out and reducing its chance for spawning.

BREAK IT OFF!!!!

Go find a hatchery fish to play. Just my .02...

[Pilar]

Arrgghh!

Did you talk to them about it? Some people just don't know any better. Hard to believe but true. Even more people don't care. Either way embarrassment is a powerful weapon. Don't yell, just call them a bunch of crackers in a calm reasonable tone.

Sorry Roy ... :shocked:

[FM2]

I agree Rip, I have seen more people net nates this year than ever, even folks I know are fishermen.

If your in my boat and a nate is hooked, don't EVEN think about getting the net out.

[ 01-30-2002: Message edited by: FM2 ]</p>

[OneLastCast]

Why would people want to net any kind of fish that they know they are going to release?

Release is always easier in the water.

OneLastCast

[Rip'N'Lips]

Alligator

[Rip'N'Lips]

Alligator-

This was a 15lb + fish that jumped about 10 times and everyone could tell it was a native.

The guy on the rod kept talking about how beautiful a native it was.

About a week before this happened, they pulled out the net on a chinook after the season was closed. I told him not to net it, and he said "of course I won't"...

He didn't agree about the native steelhead though...

[Fishing freak]

I saw something equivalent a couple of weeks ago. 7 or 8 boats lined up at the acclamation pond on the wilson and here comes a boat through with the guy holding the rod yelling coming down. As he past by me ( one of the first boats) I asked him if he had a chinook. He said yeah. Got me to thinking, why in the hell would you pass over everones fishing water with a fish that was going to be released? Why harrass the fish all the way in? Then of course they netted the fish down stream from me and spent 2-3 minutes admiring it???????

[Beer Waggin]

I remember seeing a guy net a native last spring out on the Columbia in a hog line. He was two boats down and early, so my vision was good. Fish slapping the side of the boat while he fiddled around looking for the pliers. When he got it unhooked, he simply grabbed the bottom of the net and shook it until the fish plopped back in the water. I just about came un-glued. I explained to him what he had done, and how harmful that probably was to the fish. He just just shrugged his shoulders. I really wanted to go for a swim.

[David Johnson]

There's a lot of slamming going on here but a lot of people just don't know any better. Yes, I've seen people doing some bad and stupid stuff with fish our there but some just need to be educated.

Some of you are probably going to get all over this but do what you want.

When I have to, I net fish, natives or not. But the reson is safety for the fish or safety for the passangers of my boat. This is mostly in rivers because in open water like bouy 10 or ocean or Columbia I can see that a fish is not clipped and then I use a sort of hay hook to just pop the hook out. After seeing enough fish I can se that they are clipped or not about 85% of the time. And if I'm not sure I run a hand over the back of the fish to feel and make sure before I bring it out of the water.

If I can't get the fish to the beach, or if it's going to be hard to unhook the fish, or if we are going to be in danger(the boat hitting someone or something....)I'm going to net it. But I do it correctly.

Of course the net I use is a soft mesh as apposed to one of those hard nylon nets most people have,those nets remove slime and scales which causes fungal and parisite attack on the fish. I always revive a fish unless it's totally ready to go in the net. If I'm going to do the picture thing it's only out of the water for a few seconds, and I'm the one who handles them. I give the fish full support and you never want to touch it's gills.

I have spent years in school studying fisheries, I've released hundreds of fish and I've spent several season working in hatcheries. Too many people make out the fish to be weaker than they are. In cold water they are very tough. You should see how they are handled by the profesionals at hatcheries, and they live for ever.

For chinook I use a heavy enough leader that you don't have to net them, just grab hold of the leader and unhook the fish with pliers. Of course you will have to have the fish played out for the most part before doing this or face the chances of a hook in the hand. Been there and done that, got the scars to prove it.

All in all, if done correctly there is no adverse effect on netting fish.

[BigSpinner]

I saw a guy with a chinook and he was holding it with his hand in its gills. Took a pic then let it go. The fish was out of the water for about 3min or so. That made me sick. I dont know why some people do this. Come on use your head and think a little. I am fine with some people that net native fish if they know what they are doing like david. I have seen a lot of chrom fish dead and wonder how they died. Well having your hand in its gills will do it I think.

Jeremy,

[Tilla]

I'm kinda thinkin' where do you read about proper releasing techniques? I am not so sure that everyone out there has thought all this through. It makes sense when you look at it, but for the first time or two it may not occur to the normal Joe.
Fish Freak, I think that is too much logic for someone who may be excited about either his first or only fish. Granted it makes sense though, but now he is downstream and out of your way.
Do you cut the line when a native has a K 14 quickfish or wigglewart in and on it? If you try to remove it without a net it seems to tear a lot of fish up.

[brshooter]

Where do you read about proper catch an release techniques? Page 53 of the 2002 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations. It talkes about barbless hooks, landing your catch, removing your hook, and reviving your catch. Sure, most of us are educated in the proper techniques, I just wish that page was located in the first page of every zone instead of only one page. Most people just look at the regulations for a particular zone. They don't read the whole thing, so they probably don't even see the page.

[rags]

I don't think there is anything wrong in netting a native if you do it the correct way. I think it is better to net the fish and leave the fish in the water, carefully remove the hook, remove the fish from the net and revive. I've handled many natives this way with no problems. I have seen many fish improperly handled thrashing the water by the boat struggling to get free while the angler is ripping the hook out. Sometimes getting the fish in the net quiets them so you can remove the hook and release. Wet your hands before handling the fish or wear a good pair of wool gloves (wet) to get a grip on the fish so you can hanle them gently amd revive. These fish a tougher than you think.

[DanS]

Very well put, D.J. There are many things to consider when it comes to netting any fish. Use your head, take it easy on any fish you release, and quit pretending wild fish are so fragile they die any time they are handled. That doesn't mean a half-hour photo session, or a drop in the bottom of your boat is called for either. Just be careful, and most likely the fish won't be any worse for wear.

[David Johnson]

Right on with your posts Dans and rags.


If netting a fish the right way is bad how come all those fish taken for the brood stock program live?

Well over 90% of the fish taken for the brood stock program live to spawn and then are released back into the river after they are caught, then netted, then placed on a tether or into a live well, then put into a net and carried to the holding pond, then netted later to be transported to the hatchery, and then netted again and milked by a hatchery worker.

[periwinkle]

So how does the 'old guy' fishing alone from a boat handle this 'no net situation'???? :whazzup:

[First Bite]

Go post David. I think the key is for people to be educated about the proper way to catch & release native fish...before they hook one. I do most of my fishing from the bank and the first thing I do when I hook a fish is to look for a safe place to land it. I carry needle nose pliers hooked onto rubber tubing that I fasten to my vest. Before I get the fish close to the bank, I have my pliers ready. Carefully ease the fish into the shallows and with a wet hand grab in front of the tail fin and with the other hand dislodge the hook. If done correctly the fish stays in the water and stress is kept to a minimum.

I rarely use mono that is rated less then 10# for native steelhead. If I get a very tough fighting fish, I'll crank down the drag and put as much pressure on the fish in order to bring it in as soon as possible. If the fish gets off, so be it.

Mark

[David Johnson]

Dito for my bank fishing Mark.

[Riff]

In reply, I've caught quite a few natives and since I dont own a boat I'll play em for a few then release them while in the water(If I know that natives are prevailant in the fishery I will use barbless hooks while trying to catch them.
The notion that natives are too fragile to handle a few sloppy nettings is hogwash and if they were as to be affected then they were very poorly handled and stood a small chance of spawning or had otherwise already done so. Just my taughts.

-----Nature is the squarest opponent---- :smile:

[Riff]

Oh and by the way, why leave a fish with something in its mouth that would hinder it surviving? Land then release! They made it that far they can handle it, if your nice.

[Alligator]

Rip N,

Question,

Seriously, how do you know it's a native until it’s brought to the boat? I refer to playing the fish for 15 minutes.

Also, I've felt it better to remove the hook and leader if it’s easy to remove quickly.

I have no problem with cutting the line if a few of you can convince me its best. I really don't know which is best?????

Thanks for your help, P.S. It wasn't me on the Wilson. I sound guilty don't I?

les

[Phish_on]

Depending on the situation, you can do a lot more damage "landing and releasing" than just lettin' wear a hook for a while.

Bottom line, good releases take practice. Of course you have to give a rat's *** to begin with.