I had a pretty good day at the creek this morning, above access #2. Only fished for about 3 hours but I landed 3, and lost 2. I was happy that I finally found a spot where I didn't see any redds. So I knew i was in for some good fishing. Here is a pic of the 17 " bow I caught right when I was leaving..
All off a size 22 black WD40, it always works like a charm.
it has been a while since I fished the creek,so it was my understanding that between the end of nov to the second week in april that fishery is catch and release and barbless ,and by the looks of the fishes eyes he was not releasable,so did you in fact do so or take him. if so my appologies for even asking if not that is a no no,and now you know. and did you revive him or just release just curious dd
Ouch! The reason the fishes eyes look all odd is because my damn camera was on flash mode, i hate when it does that, makes the pics look like trash, but just so you know that fish is right next to the water, and was out of the water for only maybe 10 to 15 seconds Is this to long? If so let me know. I've seen many pics of fish next to rods, So I didnt think I was doing anything harmful to the fish. And I always catch and release, never keep.
If you intend to release a trout unharmed back into the creek then 15 seconds out of water is pushing it. Imagine running for however long it took to catch that fish then suddenly holding your breath for 15 seconds. It's kind of apples to oranges but you get the idea.
On another note, placing said fish on the rocks, dirt, sticks and dried leaves isn't doing it any favors either.
deaddrift was being mellow
Robert
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Winter eats heat the way darkness swallows light. The terrors of failed power and frozen stems are stymied with fire, smoke and white ash.
This discussion does raise some good points. I often see pictures taken where the fish is lying in shallow water rather than on the ground. Is this an acceptable approach? I usually don't take pictures when I am fishing alone, since it can be a challenge, but on occasion I have left the fish in the net and in the water, so it is floating in the net while I shoot. Since photographs are pretty common, any advice as to the best way to accomplish this with minimal stress to the fish?
As to taking pics of fish the best way would have to be someone else taking your pic as you keep the fish in the water lift it (dont put a death grip on it either) take pic , release. Seem like the net idea isn't bad at all. I personally have brought in many fish up onto land I know this isn't the best approach but I always let them swim away with alot of their own power. As for being way too stressful dont think so atleast no more stressful than getting hooked by some tasty treat and fought off by some alien. A few weeks ago I was fishing slow water and was fighting a spunky little 14"er (or a way too stressed out 14"er) and he ran himself into a rock so hard all on his own needless to say he lost his spunk. He still swam away on his own. So go catch em fight em and hell yeah take a photo of em. I enjoy the photo's as I shoud take more myself and post them. Maybe later today fish we're rising at dusk last night. 3 takes 0 to hand only had 45 minutes. Anyway nice fish Nic, great job and dont worry that fish is swimming and eating again today.
All of my fish pics have the "cloudy eye" and its because of the camera not stress. I usually take pics of my fish if possible (usually requireing another person) and I used to do it just like this. I was informed that when a fish is "beached" its chances of survival are greatly reduced, so I no longer take photos like this unless I am keeping the fish for food. Dont worry about it nobody is the "perfect fisherman" anyway!
Sorry. I wasnt trying to be a jerk, but putting the fish on the shore like that is bad for them. It effects the fish's protective slime. I have had my camera do the same thing to the eye. But I have to say ... that is a good looking fish.
It was through online forums like this that I learned how stressful it was on the fish to take them out of the water for even a short period of time.
That was an interesting story about the fish bonking itself on the head during the fight, I had one rainbow on the Middle Fork Stan earlier this year that jumped clear of the water by about 3 or 4 times it's body length, it was going to come straight down head first on a rock so I had to give it a quick tug to make sure it cleared the rock.
I had anther rainbow this summer on the South Yuba that was jumping like crazy, I got it in, got it off the hook and released it very quickly but when it swam away it descended back into the hole swimming in spirals, bumping into the bottom. It was out of reach before I could respond, must of bonked it's head on the way in.
Another 'bow on the Pitt got the tippet wrapped around one of it's pectoral fins, the combination of the current, the fight, and the fine monofilament severed the fin right off.
I enjoy fishing but experience some pangs of guilt when the fish get injured. If someone made an effective no-hook trout fly out of velcro or skippy peanut butter that stuck to the roof of a fishes mouth I'd be all over it.
I always leave my fish in the net in some water to take a pic. and you should always wet your hands before handling a trout, to avoid removing it's protective slim coat. remember to cut off your tippet if a fish takes it deep, i mean whats a dollar 1.75 fly worth compared to a fish that can be caught another day.
