You need go over there more to experience her ugly face most of the time. This place is a Casino. I had 18 smallmouth day two times in the row, then followed by 16, 14 smallmouth. But, normally, catch a limit of 5 smallmouth is very hard.
really??? ive got 16 lakers in 4 trips!!!! im having multiple fish days!!
one day i caught 8 lakers in 2 hours
Nice fish and great photos. I really like the one of the ice on the reel and line. That said, you constructively should take better care of those fish.
Trout don't have jaws like bass, and holding them up by the lure or their jaw is a bad idea that can cause a lot of damage. Grip by the tail and support the body under the pectoral fins to minimize damage.
Dragging them onto land is a bad practice as they lose their protective slime to the ground and can hit their head on the rocks and the ground. Even laying them on the ground post capture is a bad practice. I read a recent study that said most trout mortality post capture was caused by the trout hitting it's head on something during landing. Most of the time it was the ground. They don't have thick skulls and don't absorb hits well. Typically they died a couple hours later from brain swelling even when they swam away appearing fine. A hand grab or landing net (particularly a rubber one meant to protect their slime) is very helpful in avoiding head trauma. The time out of water is also a huge factor in survival. A net can help you keep them breathing after what amounts to a sprint. Imagine spiriting up a hill and then having a bag put over your head for a couple of minutes the next time you hold them out of water so you can consider the time they are out.
Wetting your hands is also a good idea prior to handling any trout as it helps to not remove as much of their protective slime. You grabbed them dry. Wetting protects them from disease and parasites. Just a quick wetting prior to picking them up is all it takes.
Also watch for bleeders. That last picture with the trout with the bloody jaw- I hope you harvested that one. It's dead either way.
I mean this constructively so take it as you will. Nothing wrong with doing everything you can to make sure you catch them another day. I love trout and just want to help others handle them well. I've done some dumb things to fish over the years, and I'm glad people told me better ways to treat them.
Trout don't have jaws like bass, and holding them up by the lure or their jaw is a bad idea that can cause a lot of damage. Grip by the tail and support the body under the pectoral fins to minimize damage.
Dragging them onto land is a bad practice as they lose their protective slime to the ground and can hit their head on the rocks and the ground. Even laying them on the ground post capture is a bad practice. I read a recent study that said most trout mortality post capture was caused by the trout hitting it's head on something during landing. Most of the time it was the ground. They don't have thick skulls and don't absorb hits well. Typically they died a couple hours later from brain swelling even when they swam away appearing fine. A hand grab or landing net (particularly a rubber one meant to protect their slime) is very helpful in avoiding head trauma. The time out of water is also a huge factor in survival. A net can help you keep them breathing after what amounts to a sprint. Imagine spiriting up a hill and then having a bag put over your head for a couple of minutes the next time you hold them out of water so you can consider the time they are out.
Wetting your hands is also a good idea prior to handling any trout as it helps to not remove as much of their protective slime. You grabbed them dry. Wetting protects them from disease and parasites. Just a quick wetting prior to picking them up is all it takes.
Also watch for bleeders. That last picture with the trout with the bloody jaw- I hope you harvested that one. It's dead either way.
I mean this constructively so take it as you will. Nothing wrong with doing everything you can to make sure you catch them another day. I love trout and just want to help others handle them well. I've done some dumb things to fish over the years, and I'm glad people told me better ways to treat them.
Bring a net to shore fishing is not my option. I do have a fly fishing wooden net. If I wade fly fishing trout I would use it. The laker has strong wiggle movement after landing. It is difficult to control. It poked itself bleeding sometimes. I usually grab its neck tight as soon as possible. I hear what you said. Trout is meat fish to many people. Sometimes you shouldn't worry too much. I rarely see dead fish floating. Someone says bass tournament hurts bass population. I don't think so. 10 to 20% dead fish will definitely float up and wash to the shoreline. I guess none report that happened.
Bring a net to shore fishing is not my option. I do have a fly fishing wooden net. If I wade fly fishing trout I would use it. The laker has strong wiggle movement after landing. It is difficult to control. It poked itself bleeding sometimes. I usually grab its neck tight as soon as possible. I hear what you said. Trout is meat fish to many people. Sometimes you shouldn't worry too much. I rarely see dead fish floating. Someone says bass tournament hurts bass population. I don't think so. 10 to 20% dead fish will definitely float up and wash to the shoreline. I guess none report that happened.
Yeah- I know how Lakers act. You are in my backyard there. I still bring a net to land them. Not sure why you can't (or just won't). If it is in the best interest of letting the fish survive why not do it?
The idea that 'sometimes you shouldn't worry too much' is indifference. Indifference is why a lot of places suck to fish now. Indifference is why I walk around the res picking up other people's trash and worm containers. Indifference sucks. I don't know you, but I hope you aren't that indifferent. Help a fish out and do what you can so you can gift that fish to the next kid who catches it. It doesn't take any more effort than what you are doing now. Use the best practices to help the fish out. And, I have seen the floaters in your live well videos so you have to admit that it happens.
All I am saying that is if there are way to keep a fish alive that you don't plan on eating than as a sportsman you should do it. Otherwise, you aren't a true sportsman.