Handling of Steelhead

[No Bail]

I was tired but couldn't sleep, so I was up early one Saturday morning watching a poor excuse for a fishing show. The manner in which they handled steelhead meant a sure death. Here is the text of my morning message and the reply I received today.

> I'm just wondering if you realize what happened to the steelhead you
> released on your show while fishing the Niagara River? You netted the
fish
> in a hard nylon net, dragged the fish aboard without tailing it, hefted it
> up by grabbing the gill plate and then held the fish up without supporting
> the belly weight. The fish most likely died and did not "live another
day."
> I'm just wondering if you had a clue about the proper manner to catch and
> release. If you are going to release the fish, learn how to let the fish
> survive. Visit www.IFish.net for more information. Just check out the
> archives for information. You could stand a trip with a NW guide to learn
> the proper procedures.


Reply

Thank for the email!!!!!!! You are right I have only done 2 shows for
Steelheads and both times that was the way the guide said to handle the
fish. I will do some home work on (mortality rates in steelhead angling)
handling steelheads and trout in the future. If we ever do a show on
steelhead and trout in the future I will make sure we talk about the correct
and incorrect way to handle these fish. Thanks for calling me out on this. I
DO HEAR YOU and your comments will not go unnoticed.
Thanks again
Good Fishin'
Bob (Dillow)


Goes to show you it never hurts to let a show's producer know how you like their product. I hope the host gets together with an IFish guide for a trip.

[Fishin Magician]

Nice job Randy. Education is Important!!!!

[img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]


John

[B-run]

Sad very sad
Might as well have hyper extended its jaw also like they do to bass on those shows.
Now tell me, if someone with that little of sense for steelhead(or should I say "steelheads") as he called them, can host a tv show on the subject, then I am in the wrong business.

[Grant Scheele]

Wow, sounds like a stand up guy that just didn't know any better. I like guys that are willing to admit mistakes and make better. Grant

[GOT2FISH]

That seems to have worked out well. I was watching one Saturday night were they snaged a cat fish in the belly when they got it to the boat they siad oh I guess this is a keeper. Well good job I hope they change there ways.

[eyeFISH]

Ditto what Grant said. The guy was man enough to own up to the mistake, and courteous enough to give you a well thought-out reply.

[Twitchs_Tackle]

WOW :shocked: Impressive reply! That is very admirable in a person to admit their wrongs and ask for help. I too have noticed the treatment of fish in some of those programs like the one with Mr McNealy and hvae thought about writing a similar letter, I just figured it wouldn't go anywhere.

Inspirational! [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

[rebell]

I watched the same show Saturday morning. It was sad to see what Mr. Dillow was doing with those fish. Problem was that the guy he was fishing with seemed to think that handling steelhead that way was the norm.

I hope they learn and follow up with another show showing how it should be doene.

[3riversBob]

Glad to see that they are willing to learn. Maybe we should put together our own ifish show and show the world what a great place to fish Oregon/Washington is. Oh wait! We don't have any fish here, the rivers are polluted, it rains all the time. This would be a horrible place to fish. No one should come here. Wink Wink!