SAFELY CATCHING, PHOTOGRAPHING & RELEASING FISH by Jim Roberts Catching · ALWAYS use only BARBLESS HOOKS, FLIES and LURES · Avoid touching the gills! · Play the fish as little as possible, so as not to cause it needless stress. Bring it bank/boat side ASAP. Net it head-first, or better still use a release cradle, or Bran's Conservation Fish Measurer · Use forceps, needle-nose pliers or a hook removal tool to remove the fly, hook or lure · Make sure your hands are always wet when touching the fish to avoid removing the fish’s protective slime coating · Handle the fish as little as possible, and bring it out of the water for as short a time as possible (10-15 sec max). Take two photographs. Measuring and Photographing Your Trophy for a Reproduction CarvingThree Steps: Plan Ahead, Measure, Photograph & Release
· PLAN AHEAD - Fish with a buddy. Each of you should have the following at hand: · Pliers or hook removal tool · Net or release cradle · Plastic or cloth tape measure and plastic caliper (available as part of our *Catch & Release Field Kit* ) · Camera (with film loaded, ready to shoot - this is important!) · Pen & paper to record measurements · TAKE MEASUREMENTS - As soon as the fish is at the boat or bank-side, take the overall length and thickness measurements while the fish is still in the water and recuperating from capture. · Overall length is measured from the foremost extremity of the snout along the side to the extreme end of the tail. The easiest way to do this is to roll the fish gently on its side and to use the tape measure. · Thickness measurements should be taken as follows: 1. Centre of body directly behind the gill plate 2. Centre of body directly in front of the dorsal fin 3. Centre of body directly above the leading edge of the anal fin 4. Centre of body in the middle of the caudal peduncle (base of the tail)
Fish Measurement and Color Log If you cannot, or are unwilling to use the caliper, then simply record the overall length and the girth (body circumference in front of the dorsal fin)
· PHOTOGRAPHING: The MINIMUM requirement is one clear side-view color photograph, ideally taken so that the body is fully extended, and that both the pectoral and pelvic fins are visible. This photograph is best taken with the fish out of water, held up horizontally by the angler with one hand behind the gill plate and the other in front of the anal fin. A fancy camera is not necessary. Just make sure the camera has film in it and is ready to go. Even a "disposable" camera will give adequate results. · Do not lay the fish down in the boat or on the bank. · Keep your hands wet and keep the fish out of the water as little as possible (10-15 sec max). Take a minimum of two exposures. · Obviously, the more photos you can take to obtain details of the fish, the better, however, less is more in this case for the protection of the fish.
· RELEASING: Once the photography is completed, release the fish as quickly as possible. If there is a current flowing, hold the fish with its head pointing upstream. If you are fishing a lake or still water, gently move the fish back and forth so that oxygenated water can flow over the gills. When the fish regains its strength, hold it gently until it can swim out of your hands under its own power. Namaycush Carvers Catch and Release Field Kit: contains a tape measure, a plastic caliper, and a color/measurement log sheet housed in a water resistant plastic pouch. The kit is available for a limited time, for $4.00 US or $6.00 Canadian, postage paid. If you live outside of North America, please contact us for shipping costs. Write to: Namaycush Carvers Field Kit Offer, 45-1265 Cherry Point Rd., RR2, Cowichan Bay, B.C., V0R1N2, Canada, or contact us by email. Congratulate yourself on catching and releasing a wild and noble fish DON’T KILL IT—CAPTURE IT FOREVER—AS A TROPHY REPRODUCTION CARVING FROM NAMAYCUSH CARVERS
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