Catch-and-release has caught on with Missouri anglers

Every Labor Day reminds Dave Duncan of a special fishing trip taken a few years ago. He was fishing at Table Rock when his line suddenly moved sideways, and he set the hook. He said, “I will never forget that moment. A big bass came out of the water and nearly caused me to fall into the lake. I knew it had to be a trophy fish. When I finally got it in the boat, I had my wife shoot a photo or two, then we weighed it, and it tipped the scales at eight pounds, four ounces. It was my largest bass up to then. We discussed whether to bring it home and have it mounted or else release it back to the lake. We thought maybe another fisherman might have a chance to experience the same good feeling. I know I ended up with a special feeling when I slipped the lunker back into the lake. Since that Labor Day, I have caught and released a lot of fish. I will always remember that big bass I caught on Labor Day and the fact we almost didn’t go fishing because we thought since it would be the last big holiday of summer, the lake would be crowded and fishing wouldn’t be very good. I am glad we were wrong.”

Closely allied to fishing for a trophy is the growing concept of releasing part or all of the catch. Catch and release fishing has become a common angling philosophy for quite a number of Missourians. Many scientific experiments on released fish have concluded that properly handled fish can be caught several times.

Releasing fish to fight another time will improve not only your catch rate, but it will also enhance your opportunity to catch a trophy-sized fish. Many anglers experience an exhilarating self-satisfying feeling when a fish is released because they know their action will directly improve fishing.

All fish do not need to be returned to the water; however, there are times when keeping a fish is either unlawful or unnecessary. Many predator species like largemouth bass and muskies are often low in number and are invariably protected by size and harvest limits. By rule, these protected fish must be returned to the water immediately, regardless of their condition. Mother Nature is not wasteful; any mortally injured fish will be used in her plan.

The choice of whether to keep or release a legal-sized fish should be personal. A wise philosophy in dealing with these fish is to keep what you can use and return the remainder. Many anglers feel that throwing a fish out of the freezer or allowing fish to spoil before they can be cleaned is not the attitude of a true sportsman. True fish conservationists use their catch wisely. Severely injured fish should be kept in place of healthy fish during trips where fish are both kept and released. Keep in mind that the release of larger fish will improve angling quality and the chance of catching a trophy fish.

Successful catch-and-release fishing relies on proper fish handling and release. Hooking, catching, handling and releasing can cause the immediate death of a fish or death at a later time even if the fish appears to swim away healthy. Stress, caused by fighting the landing, can cause a fish to go into shock. Shock occurs when the blood circulatory system shuts down, which in turn causes trauma in the other body systems. The end result can be immediate death.

The greatest cause of man-induced fish mortality is from hooking injury. Fish that have been impaled by a hook in the gills and throat, if bleeding, are poor survival candidates. But, if the hook can be easily removed, the fish has a reasonable chance of surviving. Fish that have been hooked in the lips and mouth will normally survive. Most anglers carry tools to properly handle and release fish. A long hook-out or a pair of long-nosed pliers are helpful for dislodging a hook when it is deeply embedded.

Fish that are put on a stringer usually die. However, fish released from live-wells usually survive. The addition of ice to the live-well increases available oxygen and lowers the body temperature and metabolism.

There are several handling techniques that will help release fish successfully. The lip-hold Is a commonly used hold for toothless fish, which immobilizes the fish for easy hook removal. The head-grip technique is handy for all species, especially when handling one with a mouthful of teeth.

The survival rate of fish released by anglers has been studied, and the findings clearly show that with proper handling, even fish caught with bait, not just with flies or barbless hooks, survive at a rate typically above 90 percent.

The fact that fish populations can remain healthy where catch and release is mandated is evidence that the practice works.

Ken White writes about hunting and fishing for the News-Leader. Contact him at kdwhite7@windstream.net.