Safely Catching,
Photographing and Releasing Fish
DON'T KILL IT - CAPTURE
IT FOREVER - AS A TROPHY REPRODUCTION CARVING BY JIM ROBERTS
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| CATCHING |
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ALWAYS use only BARBLESS HOOKS, FLIES and LURES
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Avoid touching the gills!
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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.
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Use forceps, needle-nose pliers or a hook removal tool to remove the fly, hook or lure
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Make sure your hands are always wet when touching the fish to avoid removing the fish’s protective slime coating
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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)
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Take
at least two photographs
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MEASURING AND PHOTOGRAPHING
YOUR TROPHY FOR A REPRODUCTION CARVING
Four Steps: Plan ahead,
Measure, Photograph and Release (PMPR) |
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1. Plan Ahead: Always
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
▪ Camera (with film loaded, ready to shoot
- this is important)
▪ Paper and pen/pencil to record
measurements
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2. MEASURE: 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.
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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.
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Thickness measurements should be taken as follows:
▪ Centre of
body directly behind the gill plate
▪ Centre of
body directly in front of the dorsal plate
▪ Centre of
body directly above the leading edge of the anal fin
▪ Centre of
body in the middle of the caudal peduncle (base of the tail)
▪ Fish Measurement and Color Log Form -
(Coming soon)
*If you cannot, or are
unwilling to use a caliper, then record the overall length and girth
(body circumference in front of the dorsal fin).
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3.
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 that 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.
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4. RELEASE: 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. Congratulate yourself on catching a wild
and noble fish !
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