 |
 |
|
|
With restricted bag and possession limits for trout now in effect on Western Slope waters, anglers will be releasing more fish back into Colorado lakes and streams than ever before.
"Being able to keep only two trout from streams and four from lakes west of the Continental Divide - down from the previous limit of eight trout - means anglers will have to return a larger portion of their catch back into the water," said Robin Knox, the Division's sport fish coordinator.
As straightforward as the task may seem, however, anglers can take some important steps that will greatly increase the odds of survival for released trout - and the odds of some lucky person catching the fish again.
Handled and released improperly, fish can easily die later as a result of stress and wounding. "Research shows that even moderate handling of a caught fish can result in a full recovery period of more than several days," said Knox.
Specific catch-and-release recommendations may vary, but in general there are three universally accepted guidelines:
Minimize a fish's time out of the water.
When removing hooks, be as gentle as possible to avoid tissue damage.
Keep hand contact with a fish's body to a minimum.
Proper catch-and-release begins before lines are even cast into the water.
Barbless hooks are less likely to become embedded in tissue and are therefore easier to remove, and larger hooks are usually not swallowed as deeply as smaller ones.
Sometimes, however, hooks will inevitably be swallowed and lodge deep within a fish, out of sight and reach. In those instances, said Knox, it is best to simply cut the line as short as possible and leave the hook in. "It can take up to six months, but usually fish will reject the hook and disgorge it, or the hook will rust and disintegrate," he said.
Fishing with natural organic baits, such as worms, crickets and grasshoppers, may increase mortality because fish tend to devour these baits more aggressively, forcing the hook deeper into the gullet.
The same is true of moldable or plastic dough baits and popular scented eggs - a fact that led the Division to classify such baits as "natural" and prohibit their use on special regulation waters where only flies and artificial lures are allowed.
Once hooked, fish should be reeled in as quickly as possible, and not played out until exhausted. "Blood chemistry can become unbalanced very easily by the stress of a drawn out struggle," Knox explained.
While removing a hook, anglers should try to keep fish at least partially submerged to limit the time spent out of the water. Removal is most easily and effectively accomplished with tools such as a disgouger, needle-nose pliers or a hemostat (medical clamps).
Fish can also be injured by an overzealous grip. To correctly remove the hook, gently support the fish's underbelly. Try to avoid touching the gills or depressing the gill covers.
Equally important is to avoid handling a catch with dry hands. "Moistening your hands before handling a fish helps prevent removing the mucous layer that covers a fish's skin," he said. "Without that protective layer, fish are more susceptible to infections."
Often, due to the stress and exhaustion of the fight, fish may not immediately swim away after being released. Knox recommends moving the fish gently from front to back in the water with enough motion to open and close its mouth and flare its gill covers.
When angling for greenback cutthroat trout - which is on both the state and federal list of threatened species - catch-and-release know-how is a must.
The recommendations are not so important for brook trout. Because brookies are so prolific, there is a bonus limit of 10 additional fish, 8-inches or smaller.
Following these guidelines for all other trout, however, should help spread the number of catchable fish among more anglers on the Western Slope.
