Catch and Release Tips
Always be Gentle
Remove hooks carefully. Never rip out a hook!
Use the “hook shake” technique. Reach into the fish’s mouth and grasp the hook shank with fingers or pliers. Lift the fish and rotate the hook shank down and shake gently, allowing the fish to slide off the hook.
Hooked in the gills, throat, or stomach?
Cut the hook off and leave it in. It will rust out of the fish in a short time period.
Consider using barbless hooks and replacing treble hooks.
Single hooks reduce injury and make live release quicker and easier on the fish.
Using live bait?
Watch your line and set the hook as soon as possible to avoid having the fish swallow the bait.
Don’t wear out the fish!
Exhausted fish are at higher risk of dying after release. Landing and releasing a fish quickly will improve its recovery.
Use the right size net!
Big fish shouldn’t be folded into small nets.
Before releasing a tired fish, cradle it in a swimming position.
Move it gently in an “s” pattern to force fresh water through its gills until the fish is able to maintain an upright position on its own.
Keep the fish in the water, if possible.
Limit the fish’s contact with other objects to protect its slime coating, which is critical to fish health.
Ice fishing?
Avoid exposing the fish to the freezing air. Unhook in the water.
Mind Water Temps
When trout may be stressed by summer heat, target warm water opportunities.
Hooked a Turtle? Here’s What to Do
Vermont’s turtles primarily eat live prey, which means they can get hooked by anglers. This is a problem because turtles are slow at nearly everything they do, including reproducing. The loss of even a few adult turtles could result in population declines or local extinction.
- Be aware and keep your fingers away from the turtle’s mouth.
- Position the turtle on a sturdy surface with its head pointing away from you. Never pick up a turtle by its tail.
- For hooks in the body or limbs, drape a cloth over the turtle’s head.
- Use snips to break the hook or pliers to pinch the barb, then back the hook out.
- If removing the hook is not possible, either transport the turtle to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or cut the fishing line close to the hook.
- Release the turtle as soon as possible at the location where it was captured.
