Landing Trout With Your Bare Hands?

[TroutRinger]

Does anyone know a good technique to land and hold trout with one hand? Too many times when I hook trout that I don't intend to keep I am forced to use the net to land them, and once they are in the net, they start flopping around, getting the line tangled, and rubbing off their slime onto the net. After all this happens, I end up just keeping it because I know it is probably going to die anyway. I have one of those Rapala Lockin Grip fish grabbers that I use for bass and catfish but have never tried it while wading for trout.

[jdmidwest]

Depends on what type of lure is used. If the hook is big enough, just grab it with forceps and shake the fish off. If it is a fly, I use barbless hooks and just grab the fly with my fingers or a Ketchum Release tool. I don't even touch the fish in most cases. A net is handy if the flies are small or the fish is hooked in something other that the lip. As long as the net and your hands are wet, the slime coat should be okay. I have on occaision lipped smaller trout with some success, larger ones will tear your thumb with the teeth.

[D.T.]

I rarely use a net any more. I fished One summer with Lincoln Hunt when he was working at lilleys. The first day we went out he had a fly rod, wading shoes and a small chest pack (no waders on Taney). I learned to fish light with him. He would land fish a never had a net. He would run his hand up under the trout from the back and hold them upside down which seemed to subdue the fish. I have since used that method and it seems to work well. As jdmidwest said the best way is to grab the fly and pull it with out touching the fish. If that doesnt work try holding them upside down next time.

Dave

[drew03cmc]

You are brave to post something about landing a fish without a net on this website...you might get crucified as a barbarian! Use the way mentioned above, that is all I do.

[Bman]

The abouve tips are right on. The biggest trick is the upside down trick. Wet your hand first.

[Danoinark]

You are brave to post something about landing a fish without a net on this website...you might get crucified as a barbarian!

O, Good Grief....

[Greg]

I saw a study some time back that you actually cause less harm to a trout by landing it by hand as opposed to a net. Especially if it is done carefully. But the study said either way is OK if done carefully. I can't remember where I saw this but it was a study done on trout mortality and catch and release. This particular study did show that most released trout do survive.

Personally I carry a fairly large net but only use it on bigger fish. I hand release all the smaller trout or other fish. I generally wet my hand first and just barely lift them out of the water (don't squeeze) then twist the hook loose (if it is debarbed it is much easier). Sometimes the fish squirms loose but it just falls a few inches back into the water and I just start again. With bigger fish I use a net but if the net is wet first and the netting is a soft material I think the fish will ultimately be fine.

I hope that helps.

Greg

[jdmidwest]

About the only time I use a net is when I am retaining trout for food. That goes for any fish. Nets just get in the way, smack you in the back of the head walking thru brush.

The key is BARBLESS HOOKS, they come out easily. They come out of anything easily yet I don't think I have ever lost a fish due to a barbless hook. I have breathed sighs of relief when I pull them out of fingers, clothing, tackle, or friends.

I cringe when I look at some pics on here showing someone holding a non-legal size fish by the body for a photo op. The slime coat is messed up, and innards are mashed because of the pressure needed to hold on to a small, slimy, flopping fish. A net would have been a better option in that case. And whatever you do, don't let them flop around on the bank in the rocks.

[Don]

Yep, this topic has been around before. If I remember correctly, I stated I wasn't a man because I had to use a net and therefore I was just a lesbian trapped in a man's body .

Anyhow, my cousin is flyrod experienced 20 plus yrs and doesn't use a net for most fish, only for bigguns. I tried for about a month and lost a ton of flies and alot of fish so I am back to the net. I guess I wasn't patient enough. Keep the net wet and keep the fish in water when unhooking and releasing. No harm done with or without the net if the fish is respected and taken care of before release.

Don

[NoLuck]

Hey Fellers,

Most of the times I just land them and grab the hook with my 2 fingers and release the fish. But sometimes the hook is stubborn and a size 18 or 20 midge in a trouts upper lip doesn't turn too well to back out. If its a bigger fish you can wet your hand first then just gently lift the trout under the belly and that makes them settle down enough to remove the hook. I always smash the barbs on my hooks. I just makes sense!! You can remove the hook easier and you hook more fish. It just seems like the smaller fish are the ones that wiggle about the most. Someone already mentioned turning them upside down and that works pretty good on small fish. You can set them in the water upside down and they still seem paralyzed. Turn it over and they shoot off like a rocket.

Heck all this talk about fishing is making me want to go fishin!!

Rich