More and more anglers today are releasing their catch back into the water to fight another day. To increase the odds of these fish surviving, it is important that all anglers have some essential catch and release tackle at their disposal, whether they're fishing on shore, or in a boat. Here are some tips on tackle to keep on hand when fishing.
First, I strongly recommend a good landing net. This means going tangle-free! More time untangling hooks, lines, lures, and fish from nets means more headaches for the fisherman and more time out of the water for the fish. The longer a fish is out of the water, the more stress and the greater the possibility of causing harm before releasing it. Loki tangle-free nets (with the treated mesh and stiffer bag) and Lucky Strike rubber nets are two of the most popular nets on the market today. These nets minimize the amount of slime that you take off the fish. The chances of gills, gill rakers, and fins getting caught in the mesh or fin-splitting are considerably reduced. This decreases the chance of infection and helps ensure the release of a healthy fish. Although theses nets are slightly higher priced than conventional ones (nylon, kurlon, and poly), they are justifiable in that they will make your fishing experience virtually tangle-free. Also, landing cradles are becoming increasingly popular. Not only Musky hunters are using them. They are being used more and more by anglers going for catfish, lake trout and pike. These cradles allow you to weigh big fish horizontally (the natural way) with very little stress rather than vertically (unnatural), which can be harmful.
Second, a good pair of long needlenose pliers is an indispensable tool for releasing deeply hooked fish. For example, you don't want to put your hands into a toothy pike or musky's mouth and trust that you'll have all your fingers intact when you remove the hook! If the pliers have side-cutters built into them, these can be used to cut deep treble hooks off of crankbaits, spoons, or spinners. Over a short period of time, the deep treble hooks will gradually dissolve without harm to the fish. One of the hottest items on the market this year is the new Rapala long needlenose plier. These pliers are made of high quality stainless steel that will last for years, and come with belt-attachable sheaths. Also commonly used are long hook removers, such as Baker Hook-Outs, which allow you to remove deeply imbedded hooks and are very popular for catfish, bullheads, and freshwater drum (silver bass). Forceps, once mastered, are another excellent tool that will allow you to remove small hooks without harming delicate fish like trout or perch, or live bait rig hooks from walleye and sauger.
Third, a pair of jaw spreaders is a dandy tool to have in the fishing box. This tool holds a fish’s mouth open so that you can take the hook out. They are most commonly used by pike and musky fishermen. If the ends of the spreaders are slightly sharp, a handy tip is to melt some wax into a ball on the ends to prevent them from penetrating into the sides of the fish’s mouth and possibly causing an infection.
Fourth, a landing glove is a good idea for firmly holding fish and protecting your hands at the same time. Many fishing tackle companies have gloves designed for such a purpose. I use full-fingered rag wool gloves. When wet, these gloves afford me a good grip and minimize the amount of slime that is removed from the fish.
Overall, these tools should allow you to have a more pleasant catch and release fishing experience. See you on the water!
P.S. Don't forget your camera for that trophy of a lifetime!