HAndling and releasing tips
One of the most important things that can protect our fishery is anglers learning how to handle and release trout back into the river properly. Below are some helpful tips that will help the trout swim off safely and survive another day.
Keep them wet
Trout have a protective slime that covers their body and keeps them safe from fungal and bacterial infections. By wetting your hands and making sure the trout stays wet you will not affect their protective slime.
Rubber Net
When netting a trout, it is important to use a rubber net. A rubber net stays wet and slick which protects the trout's slime coating.
Use two hands
Unlike bass, trout have very fragile jaws that can be damaged if you hold the fish by their mouths. Because of this, you want to hold the trout with two hands supporting its body weight. It is also very important to keep your fingers away from their gills as that can be very harmful to the trout.
Reviving the trout
Trout use up most of their energy during the fight to bring them in. Because they use all their energy, it is very important to not just toss them back into the water to release them. Instead, gently hold the trout and allow water to run through its mouth and gills until it is able to swim off on its own.