A good friend and I went fishing today and I hooked a fairly large native fish. I asked my friend help land the fish. While he was landing I asked him to cut the line at the hook because I did not want to harm the fish in any way. He preceeded to grab the fish and run his hands up thru the gill plates and cut the line. While all this is happening, I saw blood on his hands. Immediately afterwards my heart sank and the whole moment is ruined.

Here is the advise I need: How do you tell a friend, kindly, that you don't agree with his landing methods on these beautiful fish. Can someone please tell me, so I feel better, that this particular fish has any chance at living. She seemed to swim away fine, but there was that blood. Also will some of you guys put out the word to some of the naive people out there how to properly relese these wonderful animals. Thanks

You just gotta tell them ... no if's, and's, or but's. There's literature out there that you might suggest he read ... STS has had articles. I'll be putting up a page in the expansion of the "Fishing Resource Center" now knowns as "tips and techniques", IF it ever rains again and I get a couple days at home.

There's a chance the fish may have made it, albeit a slim one. It all depends exactly where the blood was coming from.

On a similar note, I watched a boat today land a fish with a regular net, then let it thrash around against the side of the boat, then pulled the net and fish into the boat, take the fish out, drop it while taking a picture, and then finally throw it back in ... sad, sad, sad!

Whats really sad is they think their doing the right thing. Dropping,handling, suffocating the fish. All that kills the chance for them to live. Your buddy might have tried to release the fish properly, but bottom line he screwed up. Tell him point blank. I have a friend that snagged a fish ever time we went out. He made it look as if he didn't intend to but I knew better. I got pissed and told him off. He doesn't pull that crap when we go out anymore. Now mind you snagging is a far cry from improper release, but the strait forward approach is always best. Thats my 2 cents for what its worth. J.C.B

As a rookie I have yet to see a steelhead. However, I did release all of the salmon I caught this year (well, all but the 1st one). Anyways, if you cut the line at the hook, obviously the hook is going to stay with the fish. Isn't that going to harm the fish??? I'd hate to think of having to spend the rest of my life with a hook in my mouth. I know the "rest of my life" won't be long for a salmon, but what about steelhead?? Does it depend on where the hook is?? I'd like to give my fish the best chance possible for survival, and I am strictly a C&R (catch and release) fisherman. Please advise me on the best way to insure the fish's survival long term.

When you catch a wild fish (or any fish you intend to release) you want to handle it as little as possible. Usually the hook will fall out if you decide to cut the line especially if there barbless.

After cleaning a fish i caught this summer (hatchery) i found a size two rusted hook down his throat. He had obviosly broke someone off a few weeks before i caught him. If the hook is very tough to get out, just cut the line! Look at all the body piercings people have now, surely a fish can live with a hook in him.

I had the same thing happen to me as mentioned above, my friend reached down to pick the fish up by the gills, but i was already on to his scheme and quickly told him to back off while i removed the hook and let it swim away without touching it. Informing "newbies" of the CNR part would always help before going fishing.

- BW

CNR wild fish!

That is truly a sad story and it puts you in a very tough position. I suppose it feels like you want to do the right thing but don't want to PO a friend over a fish. I don't envy you I think you should definitely bring it up, especially because it was native. One way to work it in would be to mention on your next fish that you are going to be careful not to gill the thing so as not to kill it, just a suggestion, good luck. Sorry about the ruined moment.
JRD