I have a question about hooking.I know if you hooked the trout or other fish in the lip and you get it out they will survive if you release them but what if it's deeper? If i cut my line will the fish beable to live with that hook in it's tounge? I know it's just a fish but hey some times i catch some fish trout that you just have to respect well at least i do. And i actually sleep better knowing that i released it back to have some young fry or to give a kid the thrill of bringing in the big one. but i dont want to cut my line if the fish is going to die any ways.

MYK, if the hook is to deep then cut your line as close to the hook as you can. The hook will rust out in time.If fishing with bait and C&R is your game plan don't let them hit too long. I also step up a hook size and go barbless. You will miss more fish but your doing less damage. Tight lines.

I have a standard rule of thumb, If it's bleeding it's a keeper. That's weather I'm using a barbless hook or not. Alot of time's when you hook it deep your doing damage to the fish internally, and damage is done that is not apparent to the naked eye. But that's just my opinion. Take Care.

hooks rust out much more quickly if you don't use stainless steel. of course your hooks then rust easily in your tackle box/ fly box, it's just a choice between killing a fish or being more careful with your gear.

nevermind

tyler

Actually i think 2 of those last ideas are a little off. Not that i am an expert but... Fish that bleed don't all die. I've caught rainbows that had holes in there heads/noses and fish with a single eye missing that were healed up. Just cause their in water doesn't mean their blood doesn't clot.<-not yelling) If it didn't they would all be hemopheliacs.LOL. Seeing a one eyed bow is strange and it surprised me, then i thought....how the hell did that thing live. They can fool ya.

Another is that hooks don't rust out in freshwater fish and i know you'll dissagree but they don't in saltwater either. They get pushed out naturally by the body healing the wound much like stories you hear of people getting glass or metal slivers stuck in their leg or thigh only later to have those same peices come out from the skin in a totally different area like their feet. Strange but it happens. I think the time it takes to heal the wound ultimately determines the fish's ability to eat. I know i couldn't swallow with a hook in my throat, and i doubt they can. Go barbless. It makes the healing process go much faster. If your really worried about it, then don't use bait.

I say if you have any doubt about whether the fish'll live and it's legal keep it. Besides if you hook a fish in the eye or any vital organ the regs say keep it.

Just a reminder if you are fishing for trout with bait when you catch and release your daily limit legally you are done fishing for the day.

io caught a trout up on lake meridian jus a few weekends ago, and it had a hook in its throat from the previous fisher and it was still living, altho it was a tinyegg hook...**berkley boy**

Leave the leader hanging out of it's mouth and about 1/2 it's body length. The tag end will cause less inflamation "outside" the fish.

Also, food can push the shorter tag end towards the poop shoot. When that happens(or there is no leader at all) the hook can twist around and is facing the wrong way... ouch.

Now, if you leave the leader long the hook stays in position to be dislodged by the normal passing of food. A small barbless hook won't even have time to rust.

Source: This is Your Brain on Fish 2002

I'm not saying that they absolutely will die it's just my standard practice. But he is right that is what the reg's say to do. But reg's or not it's just alway's been my practice. Take Care.

Our hooking studies have indicated that 10% of fish hooked and released will die whether that is immediately or delayed.

The most important thing is, and someone mentioned it above, if you are using bait, the first five fish you catch are your limit whether you release them or not.

I'd like to see a rule where releasing when fishing with bait is prohibited. That would alleviate a lot of 'grading' problems I see at lakes.

stace

It would be nice if we could use our better judgement.

In my 15 years of hunting and fishing in washington state. I have only seen two game wardens.

Rules are no good if they can't be enforced.

Laws mean nothing to the lawless.

Stacie,
I think a similar rule is already in place. Admittedly it doesn't require that all fish caught be kept. On page 57 of the regs:
"When fishing with bait, all TROUT (except STEELHEAD) equal to or greater than the minimum size are counted as part of the daily limit whether kept or released."
Of course, I'm sure you realize as well as I do that this is virtually unenforceable as would be a law requiring that all fish be kept; unfortunately adherence depends upon the personal ethic of the individual.

If you want to c&r with bait, I would try the new small size circle hooks. They work when a fish swallows the bait and starts top swim off. Then lift up your rod and reel in. The fish hooks it's self. The hook will imbed in the corner of the jaw. Even powerbait caught fish get it in the corner of the jaw. There is a knack to this type of fishing but I would say with a few days practice, anyone can do it. If c&r with lures, use barbless. I have seen some messed up recaught fish and I think overall if the fish is bleeding lightly, no chunks, it has a better chance of living then in a fry pan. If the blood is chunky or half the belly came out when unhooked, it's an eater.