Wild Steelhead Abuse!

[bcustom1]

Thought the title might get a few extra views . I saw this posted by fishing addicts northwest and thought I should share with all of you. I've always known not to take wild metal out of the water, but this sheds light on some things that I hadn't considered (post-adrenaline rush of catching a wild steelhead, at least). With the precautions most of us take with these fish, I think anyone who enjoys the sport should give this a quick read. Won't take long.

http://www.ginkandgasoline.com/steelhea ... n-know-it/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Gringo Pescador]

Thought the title might get a few extra views . I saw this posted by fishing addicts northwest and thought I should share with all of you. I've always known not to take wild metal out of the water, but this sheds light on some things that I hadn't considered (post-adrenaline rush of catching a wild steelhead, at least). With the precautions most of us take with these fish, I think anyone who enjoys the sport should give this a quick read. Won't take long.

http://www.ginkandgasoline.com/steelhea ... n-know-it/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You beat me to it, I saw this article and thought it would be a good one for here. I think it applies to salmon as well...

[skagit510]

thank you for this. excellent article. i hate seeing fish beached. i like the knee deep approach, now there's some fact to back up my suspicion.

[sickbayer]

Wow that is interesting and good to know. I once read an article about picking up sturgeon out of the water, basically it does serious damage as they're so heavy it crushes their organs. If ever I come across it I'll post it up.

[natetreat]

It makes a lot of sense. That was a good article. It's common practice to bring it to the shallows to tail and let them go like the article says, most people wouldn't even think of the concussion issue. It makes sense, the other day the fish bat fell over the side, and in lieu of a bonk I punched it in the head. It only took one punch and the fish was twitching enough to put in the box. Imagine what the strength of a big steelhead against a rock would do. Knotless net and knee deep release from now on.

[spoonman]

Great article. Thanks f9r sharing. And nate you kn9w I love the fish punching move, recently I was fishing in the sound with my bro and caught a nice silver and decide to bare knuckle it. The thing bit down and twitched around sawing into my hand. Every one at work was asking what happened and I had to explain that I got bit by a coho

[Steelheadin360]

kung po fish punch!

Another problem with bringing a fish into the shallows is rubbing the slime off and sand in the gills. Glad to see there is some awareness about this subject though.

[spoonman]

kung po fish punch!

Another problem with bringing a fish into the shallows is rubbing the slime off and sand in the gills. Glad to see there is some awareness about this subject though.

When you tail a fish I was taught to get your hands wet first to protect the slime coat. Do you guys do this? In your opinion does it really help?

[RiverChromeGS]

i saw this online as well, very good article. Get a knotless net, or land em on a soft bank or in the water... still surprising such a strong, versatile fish that goes through so much in its life can be killed by something like that. Good article to get people aware

[skagit510]

a wet hand is best. better than a tailing glove. cotton is bad

[RiverChromeGS]

ive seen some amazing things steelhead fishing, a lot of it on the Vedder actually. People dragging fish up on the beach 20 feet, checking to see if its wild, and when it is, just sliding it back along the rocks to the water with their boots... definitely not good... its not worth the picture to drag it up on the beach. Ive taken some crap for taking pictures of wild steelhead, but if people actually knew how we landed the fish in the water away from the beach, kept it fully submerged until the camera is ready, take 2 seconds for a photo and release, its actually a very fish-friendly process, much better than most of the releases i see on the water

[RiverChromeGS]

Those fish are beautiful. Wild Steelhead at its best

[racfish]

The two worse abusers Ive seen are Freak and Nate. They catch way too many fish in general.I cant wait till Freak gets married so maybe there will' be fish for me to catch. Hehehehe..

[kromekrusher]

WOW

[4steelhead]

Thank you, it is a very interesting article.

[strider43]

It makes a lot of sense. That was a good article. It's common practice to bring it to the shallows to tail and let them go like the article says, most people wouldn't even think of the concussion issue. It makes sense, the other day the fish bat fell over the side, and in lieu of a bonk I punched it in the head. It only took one punch and the fish was twitching enough to put in the box. Imagine what the strength of a big steelhead against a rock would do. Knotless net and knee deep release from now on.

I recently used my needle nose pliers to bonk a large silver that wouldnt stop flailing. I thought it might calm him down a little. it killed him dead without much force, I was really surprised.

this article will change my landing pratice as I have alway pulled fish onto the bank to un hook them never thinking that they were getting injured