Northwest Fishing Magazine May 2025 Volume 4 Issue 7 - Flipbook - Page 12
REVIVE THE FISH BEFORE
RELEASING. Point the fish into
the current or in standing
water, gently move the fish
forward until its gills are
moving and it maintains its
balance on its own. Let the
fish swim freely from your
hands.
USE APPROPRIATE GEAR. Use
tackle, including line and
rod, that are strong enough
to bring your fish in quickly
and gently.
SAFE HANDLING. Note that
fish have a natural slime on
them, which is a coating
that prevents disease and
protects them. Though
the slime makes the fish
slippery and hard to hold
onto, avoid using any
material, such as a cloth
glove or towel that will
remove the slime from the
fish. This will increase the
odds or chances that the
fish survives.
TAKING A PHOTOGRAPH
WITH YOUR FISH can be a
lovely way to capture
the moment. But try to
minimize handling and
keep the fish in the water
as much as possible with
these tips:
Have help. If someone
is helping you with the
photo, make sure they’ve
composed the shot and
adjusted the camera
settings before you position
the fish. Remember, the
fish must remain in the
water, so the head and
gills should always be
submerged, never leaving
the water.
Get your hands wet before
handling the fish. This will
help protect the delicate
membrane on the fish’s
skin.
Support the fish properly.
Put one hand under the
forward part of its body
and the other at the base of
its tail. Keep the fish in the
water. Do not place fingers
or objects into or under the
gill plates.
