Hey, All,

When I get ready to unhook a fish I plan to release, I always wet my hands before handling the fish. I have found this leaves virtually no slime on my hands, which tells me that slime is likely staying on the fish, where it belongs. The fish also seem to thrash around a lot less when I handle them wet. Right or wrong, I have convinced myself this is the only way to go.

When I watch fishing on TV, I rarely see people wet their hands before grabbing hold. This makes me wonder if it's me or everyone else who is crazy.

What say the rest of you? Am I a fish handling saint or a misguided fool with wet sleeves?

All about confidence in fish handling... firm grasp and not flinching when the fish tries to lunge away.

Wet hands make the fish more slippery and difficult to grasp without good confident technique. An experienced fish handler generally won't have a problem with a wet hand, but a novice is likely to let go, allowing the fish to thrash, beat itself on the rocks, or simply require multiple time-consuming attempts to get the fish under control.

Best is obviously a no-touch quick release with a de-hooker, but if a hero shot is desired, it's sometimes MUCH quicker for the inexperienced to have dry hands, a soft mesh liner, or a fabric/wool glove to make it easier to handle the fish.

Thank you for pointing out that, lest I forget, the ultimate technique involves no contact at all.

That certainly gave me some food for thought. Thanks for the insight. As of now, however, I am still wetting my hands....

I am assuming that we are discussing fish to be released. If so I find that if I'm taking care of the fish to be release properly they are all ready wet and there is not a need to wet my hands. I find it difficult to grasp the fish I'm going to released without getting my hands wet before touching the fish.

And yes I'm another that at the end of a successful day usually has wet sleeves.

Tight lines
curt

I agree with wetting your hands if you're going to release the fish. It doesn't seem like a problem remember to get them wet, especially if you keep the fish in the water, your hands are going to be wet anyway.

Regarding wet sleeve? I don't wear cotton long sleeves on the river ever, ever, ever... I have been wearing that Simms insulated shell. I've had my arm in the river a time or two releasing a fish. It will dry out a short time later. The fleece shirt I was wearing under it took a little longer to dry out.

Unless a pic is in the formula, a quick twist of the split ring plier sends a fish on its way without touching it. I seldom carry a camera, but have taken a pic or two from time to time. Since I usually fish by myself, handling fish that are to be released is almost a non-entitly.

There seems to be two lines of thought about wetting hands. I would guess that from a fish's point of view, wetter is better.

They usually get wet just before the grip & grin.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

Yes, always.

By far, the biggest threats to a steelhead to be released are a mortal bleed and overexhaustion (hypoxia and lactic acidosis). If you can do it quick with a wet hand, great. I usually compromise and use a wet glove. Every time I go gloveless, I get frustrated by how much longer it takes me to get control of the fish for the release, especially with big wild steelhead.

It's definitely been a good day when no matter how good my rainjacket works, I'm wet up to my elbows inside of it. Nuf sed.

Fish on...

Todd

my favorite is when you see them grab the fish with a towel.....

I have a no handling policy, just pull the hook with pliers and kick them back down the beach with my boot. If I pull them up too far, it requires several kicks.

I have a similiar no-handling policy too......but I always curse at the fish sternly for biting my hook before I kick 'em back in the water

Yes but do you wet your boot prior to kicking them?

I like a tailing glove by the way,

fb

Flea,
I have nothing to add to this thread other than the fact that by appearance and candor I swear that you are Jon Gruden

Always wet your hands. That is the biggest thing I teach with my clients. The other thing that drives me nuts is gloves, wool and fleece glove absorb all the slim from the fish like a sponge. If you plan on releasing fish wet your hands. If you can't handle fish then make sure you have a rubber net below the fish when you pick the fish up for photos. This will protect the fish from hitting rocks or the boat if you drop it. I see more fish injuried and killed from hitting the corner of a set box. Slim is important to a fish, and the fact is that in the northwest most of the guys fishing through out the winter chase steelhead or salmon. Fish that either die after spawning or return to the ocean. This makes it tough to see what happens to the fish 2-6 months down the road. Our rainbows in alaska that we fish for all year long show signs why not to wear glove and why to wet your hands. They have not slim to protect them, they get a fungus and slowly die to illness.

Don't forget the several kicks it takes to get the fish up onto the rocks. I try to minimize this with a little move I call "the field goal"

+1


I go w/ the wet glove route, way better grip for me. Wet hand on a big nate tail & it will squirt out on me 90% of the time. Unless the thing holds really still.

Just limpwristed I guess.........



c/22

I wet my lips before I kiss em goodbye

We have a winner!