Fishnphysician's avatar photo is a good example of how a fish can be in the water and still provide a quality photo.

FYI, Alaska beat Washington to the punch on this one by several years, Sparkey. Although it is not a statewide regulation, the law prohibiting the removal of fish from the water applies to steelhead and king salmon that will be released. This rule has been instituted basically anywhere "the masses" fish.

While I don't think it hurts to pull a fish out of the water for a few seconds (notice the water is still dripping from the fish in the first pic) for a photo, it's pretty tough to regulate "best handling practices" beyond what can be practically enforced. There are just too many variations of what some guys think a fish can withstand.

"No fish out of water" is the most enforceable rule to get around all the potential abuses... basically the least common denominator of the various methods. Will there still be abuses? You betcha! Like the disgusting t.i.c. photo posted last month showing the vertically hanging gill-grab with just the tip of the tail touching the water. I suppose some guys will actually emulate that "release method" out of spite, declaring it to be completely legal.

In Alaska, I believe the wording in the regs goes something like "may not be removed from the water and must be released unharmed.

Everyone of you knows what the intent of "Sparkey's Law" was meant to be in spirit. He put the best interests of the fish before hyperinflated egoes. I commend him for pushing it through. Now it's up to each of us to put it into practice the best that we can.

So is a steelhead thrashing around in the shallow(silty) water next to the beach better than playing one until on its side? This rule is going to kill more fish than save them. I can see it now, everyone will be playing fish until near death so it is easier to keep them in the water. The feather flickers who lobbied this rule have that technique down to a science. This rule sucks

Now let's try that with a PFD and rain gear in some choppy water fishing alone......or shall we add to the reg......"no one shall fish alone"?

Sigh ...

We can all think of situations where following the law becomes dangerous:

I'm merging onto the highway in front of a convoy of tractor-trailers. My choices are to exceed the speed limit, or slam on my brakes and potentially lose control. So, are speed limits stupid or "gay?"

I'm running out of the Everett jetty at no-wake speed, when I notice water coming into the boat because the drain plug fell out. My choices are to idle back to the ramp and hope my bilge pump keeps up, or put the boat on plane and high-tail it back to the ramp. So, is the no-wake rule stupid or "gay?"

Each of us has to make a personal decision in cases like this. You take responsibility for the decision, and you accept the consequences. I think that 90% of the time, following the new fish-out-of-water rule is easy and safe, except you don't get to display your fish. When I took a charter out of Sitka last year, the crew released maybe 100 fish while they stayed in the water, and there was never a point where it became dangerous, even though we were in 3-4' seas. Maybe we all have to take the time to learn to do this better, but that's the cost of living in a regulated society.

Not meaning to denegrate anyone, just trying to point out that you can still use your judgment, and choose to break the law when complying with it is too dangerous for your particular situation. That's different than just rejecting it completely because it MIGHT be dangerous in SOME circumstances.

Also a good example of a calm day on the water.... wouldn't be the same photo the other 95% of the time when the waters rough. I also like how far over the side he is hanging, another no no where I fish! (a pfd would be a good idea) The rule is stupid and unenforcable... Its funny how the rules are tighter for caring for fish than they are for children! What a messed up world we live in.

You know FnP's avatar wouldn't be nearly as impressive if it weren't such a gall darn big fish... You hold a 10#er half under water and photo it, I bet it dont look near as coool...

Love that photo FnP...

Without looking up the regs. Does this rule apply to all fish to be released or are we talking just steelhead?

One quick clarification...

I do know that certain states such as Alaska have had in effect fish handling rules along the lines of what was passed on Friday. But, those regulations are what and species specific.

I labeled it one of the most progressive and enlightened regulations in the country because it covers all salmon/steelhead that are going to be released in rivers, lakes, streams and Puget Sound.

> When releasing steelhead or salmon that cannot be retained under state
law,
> anglers will have to follow new handling procedures approved today by the
> commission. Measures adopted by the commission prohibit completely
removing
> salmon or steelhead caught in lakes or streams from the water or pulling
> them into a boat in Puget Sound prior to release.

Does the law really say "that cannot be retained" that makes my hero shots of chum in the canal legal, because I can retain them if I wish.

Different subject Aunty,
Yes, trebles are the tools of snaggers so eliminate them in snagger prone areas. Dont just eliminate them period. Fishing the estuaries of the canal it is not uncommon to only have a couple of bites during a day. I want every chance I can get to make that hookup stick. I have fished side by side with siwash, trebles do hook up more often than the siwash.

Just because it is a treble doesn't mean it has to snag!

Sparkey,

I propose that you post your ideas for new regulations here on this forum or other sites prior to submission, if only to gain perspective from other fishermen and women on how that new rule might affect them.

In the end your reg. proposal would be more viable and because you will have feedback from a large sampling of the anglers affected by the change.

I applaud your efforts, but use the power of the internet little brutha!

I'm sorry - but this new law is taking a club to the problem of fish mortality during the catch and release process.

I can't believe that lifting a fish out of the water for 10 seconds to take a photo is a significant killer (statistically) of salmon and steelhead - when compared to all the other ways they are killed by fishermen, predators, water conditions, habitat conditions, dams, etc., etc..

And....while well intentioned, some anglers are going to kill more fish trying to release them in the water than they do lifting them out of the water.

Your intentions were good Sparkey - but I really believe the end result is a bad one for anglers and a fairly non-significant one for the fish populations we all want to recover.

Just my 2 cents worth -

JK

I don't agree with the "sparky law" either but some people might say that holding a nice wild fish out of the water like in your avatar is mistreating a willd steelhead even if is not against the law

Excellent post Doc,

It really is not that difficult to remove hooks (especially barbless) in a timely manner from a fish. I fish out of a 25 ft boat that I cannot touch the water from, doesn't matter, I have a "shaker stick" that is a pool cue (big end) with a large (either 14/0 or 16/0) barbless hook attached to the end, very easy to reach down the line and basically try to pick the fish up by the hook thats in the fishes mouth, the fishes own weight drops them off the hook(s). I do this in any water conditions, if its safe enough to be out there fishing then don't biotch about it being unsafe to unhook a fish.

I did, last spring, post some of a few of my proposals on the BB. I recieved nasty emails, did not recieve much postive (as in helpful) response etc., so I went forward with my ideas. Never once did I recieve an email that said "Good idea but maybe word it this way or include this or include that..."

PLUS, the final regulation that was passed on Friday was much more widespread that my proposal. My proposal, and you can look in the WDFW rules packet to verify it, said "Wild steelhead may not be fully removed from the water if they are to be released."

Nowhere did I propose this regulation to cover saltwater and salmon.

And, am I not correct, that indentical regulations were in effect this past summer in Marine Areas 5 & 6 for chinook?...and I do not remember hearing about anyone losing their life due to the regulation and nor do I remember ever hearing anyone on this board raising such a fit about this regulation as they have the past few days.

Plus, the saltwater regulation, from what I've read, only covers Puget Sound.

AK Kings

You need to get some digital video footage of exactly what you described. I'm sure our esteemed webmaster would gladly donate some space for you to post that clip for all of us to learn from!

unfortunately all my toys are in storage in Ak. won't be there till mid-May. Its pretty simple really, just the butt end of a pool cue that I attach a large hook to with a Turks-head knot and some epoxy, it works well as both a hook releaser or a small gaff for salmon, I gaff 75-80% of all salmon (kings included) with this "shaker stick.

Alot of guides up there adopted this technique from commercial trollers, they NEVER net salmon.

Hey AK Kings, how about shooting us some nice video of pool-cue releases while you are up there. I believe it will be very helpful to post.

Thanks