By Daryl Bauer, Fisheries Outreach Program Manager
Frequently, I blog about proper fish handling. Yeah sure, go ahead and tell me that you are keeping them, and it makes no difference. Thing is, you will not be keeping them all. Whether by regulation or choice, at least some of the fish you catch will be released. For the benefit of the fish and our fishing, catch and release needs to be done right.
That is even more true now that water temperatures are at their summer peak.
Handling Summer Fish
Water temperatures on some of our Nebraska waters can rise as high as in the 80s during the peak of our summer heat waves. Depending on the waterbody, these high water temperatures can be stressful to some fish, including cool water species such as northern pike, muskellunge and wipers – especially large wipers. Additional stress from being hooked, fought, and landed by an angler – especially if the fish is played too long and not handled correctly – can be enough to kill the fish.
If you are fishing any Nebraska waters right now for pike, muskies or wipers, be careful about handling those fish if you plan on releasing them. First of all, these fish need to be played and landed as quickly as possible. Catching and releasing big fish on light lines might prove your prowess as an angler, but I would consider it to be very poor form during the heat of the summer. The longer they are played, the more likely the stress will be too much.
That goes double after those fish are landed. If they are going to be released, then they need to be released as soon as possible – no time out of the water, no time fooling around removing hooks and no time for pictures. A few years ago, I caught one of the biggest wipers of my life. Because it absolutely ate the bait, I immediately unhooked the fish and released it without a photograph.
Again, I can’t stress enough the need to suggest that avid warm water fish like pike, muskies or big wipers on some Nebraska waters be released.
If you intend to catch and release these fish, wait until the water cools down to at least the low 70s to fish. The fish will be just as catchable, if not more so then, and they will be a lot less stressed. Until then, be prepared to immediately handle and release a big toothy fish with gear such as an oversized landing net, gloves, pliers, jaw spreaders and hook cutters, so these trophies can be released as quickly as we can.
Never let fish flop on the bottom of the boat or roll in the sand, dirt and leaves.
When you are ready to grip and grin for a quick photo, horizontal holds are best, use both hands!
Best fish-handling practices also applies to those fish you intend to keep for a tasty and nutritious meal of fresh fish. By far, the best way to handle fish you harvest anytime of year, but especially now, is to put ’em on ice!