Angling Guide - Catch & Release

Catch & Release Most anglers know that handling a fish badly reduces its survival chances, so treat them with respect. These simple guidelines should help:

Most anglers know that handling a fish badly reduces its survival chances, so treat them with respect.

These simple guidelines should help: • Use only barbless, single hooks on flies and spinning lures • Play the fish quickly so as not to exhaust it or distress it • Handle the fish as little as possible and preferably with wet hands and without nets • Don’t take fish onto the riverbank • Keep them in the water as much as possible with gills immersed • Spring salmon and fresh silver fish are especially susceptible to damage and should only be handled if absolutely necessary • Long-nosed forceps and needle-nosed pliers can help remove hooks quickly • Deeply-embedded hooks that are difficult to remove should be cut off from the leader as close to the hook as possible • Recovering fish, or those being released, should be supported gently in the current – head pointing upstream – until their gills are working properly and they’ve regained their balance.

There are a few simple handling rules which will reduce stress for fish: • Never place your finger or thumb in a gill cover • Never squeeze a fish you’re holding or supporting in the water • If you must take a photo, do it quickly and do not remove the fish from the water • Don’t weigh a fish. Estimate its size • Never tail a fish (this will cause spinal damage) • If using a landing net, make sure it’s a knotless one.

Remember, if you’re having difficulty, ask for help.