Confronting bad fish handling...

[Deju]

I'm at a loss. I've raked my brain back and forth but can't come up with a general plan for communicating with other fisherman on the stream who I find are mishandleing and endangering the fish they release.

Not that I'm some kind of catch and release god. I keep and kill fish from time to time. But I do my best and I believe the majority of the fish I catch are released in generally good health. I take the time to revive a fish, extract hooks, never touch the gills, support the body while firmly holding the tail, and return them to the water in a reasonable amount of time. Infact, I can vividly remember each fish I've injured beyond healthy release in the last year and each wen't to my own or a neighbor angler's creel.

My biggest jive is with anglers who do one of two things and usually both:
Handle fish by the gills. And second, just throw fish in the water so that they may revive themselves.

Sometimes I'm beside myself with anger, but I have no idea how to approach the situation outside of a full on physical attack.

Has anyone a bit of advice? Is there a way to educate those who don't know better and at least shame those who do without resorting to physical confrontation?

[wvboy]

Just be kind to them and coach them. I landed a nice steelie 2 weeks ago. Im a C&R fisherman and know how to handle a fish properly but the excitement of this beautiful fish had me in awe and i found myself no properly reviving this fish. Two other anglers watched me battle this fish from the bank. These two guys started to politely coach me and later thanked me for releasing such a great fish....I totally respected that.

[metalslayer]

I'd go for the attack:D

[The Griz]

Instead of looking at the negatives, let's look at the positives. Education is the key. It can happen as slowly as one person at a time, or it can reach out to many, many more in a single effort. You yourself, can lead by example and just keep plugging away at it. And/or you can sign up for seminars help up here to learn proper release techniques, and so much more. Or, let's think about doing something like this......

If there was a possibility of a special insert as an addendum to the yearly
fishing rules and regs booklet you get with your license, that had good descriptions of release techniques....in a somewhat condensed version, what would you want it to say? (Your description of a good revive and release technique) Try writing your description as short and to the point as if it were going to be taken word for word and put in the sylabus for 2007-08.

[Adrenalinerush]

[QUOTE=The Griz;72208]Instead of looking at the negatives, let's look at the positives. Education is the key. It can happen as slowly as one person at a time, or it can reach out to many, many more in a single effort. You yourself, can lead by example and just keep plugging away at it. And/or you can sign up for seminars help up here to learn proper release techniques, and so much more. Or, let's think about doing something like this......

If there was a possibility of a special insert as an addendum to the yearly
fishing rules and regs booklet you get with your license, that had good descriptions of release techniques....in a somewhat condensed version, what would you want it to say? (Your description of a good revive and release technique) Try writing your description as short and to the point as if it were going to be taken word for word and put in the sylabus for 2007-08.[/QUOe


Good idea Fred, that reaffirms the proper techniques in your mind. Also, people learn by watching. If the see you gentle pull a fish back and forth in the water while holding it by the tail and you explain what your doing, and why, they usually catch on pretty quick.:D

[JWicky]

You know.... telling people how to properly handle fish is one thing. Most of us have been shown or told how to do it. Executing a proper release is another thing entirely. I had a fish last week that I dropped twice (no more than an inch or two to the waterover a net) before getting it under control to release it properly. I felt stupid and bad. It's not that I don't know how to do it I just wasn't properly equipped with good gloves or handling bag. It swam off strong (no comments Slayer) after a few seconds and I guess (hope) it lived to fight again.
A side note to that, the guys across the river made comments to the effect that I grabbed it by the gills. I didn't and never do unless I intend to keep it.
I don't know how to solve this problem, probably because I may be part of it. Telling someone how to do it only solves half the issue. Doing it is another thing entirely.

[Tempe]

Instead of looking at the negatives, let's look at the positives. Education is the key. It can happen as slowly as one person at a time, or it can reach out to many, many more in a single effort. You yourself, can lead by example and just keep plugging away at it. And/or you can sign up for seminars help up here to learn proper release techniques, and so much more. Or, let's think about doing something like this......

If there was a possibility of a special insert as an addendum to the yearly
fishing rules and regs booklet you get with your license, that had good descriptions of release techniques....in a somewhat condensed version, what would you want it to say? (Your description of a good revive and release technique) Try writing your description as short and to the point as if it were going to be taken word for word and put in the sylabus for 2007-08.

The Great Oz has spoken...and we should all learn and listen. Thank you Griz.

[Deju]

Instead of looking at the negatives, let's look at the positives. Education is the key. It can happen as slowly as one person at a time, or it can reach out to many, many more in a single effort. You yourself, can lead by example and just keep plugging away at it. And/or you can sign up for seminars help up here to learn proper release techniques, and so much more. Or, let's think about doing something like this......

If there was a possibility of a special insert as an addendum to the yearly
fishing rules and regs booklet you get with your license, that had good descriptions of release techniques....in a somewhat condensed version, what would you want it to say? (Your description of a good revive and release technique) Try writing your description as short and to the point as if it were going to be taken word for word and put in the sylabus for 2007-08.


I think that's a great idea. I'm going to take a shot at writing a rough draft on that. Maybe we could work collectively in this thread to refine a good concise catch&release pamphlet/flyer.

However, my main gripe is with anglers who are GROSSLEY mishandleing fish on the stream. In my mind if you're thinking about the principles of catch and release then dropping a fish here and there and such is just a part of the game. It's when I see guys catch 30 Steelhead over a few hours and pick each one up by the gill plate and then just toss them back in to flounder. I think these guys think that just because the fish swim away and they do it quickly that they'll be ok, but I can't imagine many of those fish are making it through the day. How would one interject in a non confrontational way in those scenarios? Especially when they're usually older gentlemen and you're a long haired young guy?:)

[Eric**]

I watched a guy drop a fish from chest height onto the ground while unhooking it then kick it not once but twice back into the water. I said loud enough for everyone to hear me, " What an a$$hole " and got some looks but as you know, this guy isnt going to stop this kind of behaviour anythime soon. As the old saying goes once an a$$hole always an A$$hole.

[KingofKings]

The way I see it if you think someone is doing something wrong, because they don't know what is right, speak up. But most of these things that we see are those people that won't change. Those that don't respect the fishery, and don't respect their surroundings. These are the same scumbags that throw their wrappers all over. They won't see it again, so why should they care!

[metalslayer]

Try firing a warning shot:D--and Wickey--if someone's trying to do the right thing i don't have a prob w/ it;)

[shotnoyz]

I think that's a great idea. I'm going to take a shot at writing a rough draft on that. Maybe we could work collectively in this thread to refine a good concise catch&release pamphlet/flyer.

However, my main gripe is with anglers who are GROSSLEY mishandleing fish on the stream. In my mind if you're thinking about the principles of catch and release then dropping a fish here and there and such is just a part of the game. It's when I see guys catch 30 Steelhead over a few hours and pick each one up by the gill plate and then just toss them back in to flounder. I think these guys think that just because the fish swim away and they do it quickly that they'll be ok, but I can't imagine many of those fish are making it through the day. How would one interject in a non confrontational way in those scenarios? Especially when they're usually older gentlemen and you're a long haired young guy?:)

You might ask the DEC for its approval, and to post it on the boards at the parking lots. I'm sure a lot of the Pulaski fly shops would also allow posting if you ask them and they agree with the content. Getting the DEC approval is paramount.

[shotnoyz]

Try firing a warning shot:D--and Wickey--if someone's trying to do the right thing i don't have a prob w/ it;)

Big JWicky is acutely conscientious about handling the fish. I know him fairly well. If he said he didn't grab the fish by the gill, he didn't. And so when he was accused of it, it stung his pride, his sense of propriety.

Now, if those boys had been too mouthy, it was good for them that they were across the river.

I, too, agree with their sentiment about sticking digits into fish orifices. So, too, I am sure does JWicky.

[champlain fisher]

[QUOTE=The Griz;72208]Instead of looking at the negatives, let's look at the positives. Education is the key. It can happen as slowly as one person at a time, or it can reach out to many, many more in a single effort. You yourself, can lead by example and just keep plugging away at it. And/or you can sign up for seminars help up here to learn proper release techniques, and so much more. Or, let's think about doing something like this......

If there was a possibility of a special insert as an addendum to the yearly
fishing rules and regs booklet you get with your license, that had good descriptions of release techniques....in a somewhat condensed version, what would you want it to say? (Your description of a good revive and release technique) Try writing your description as short and to the point as if it were going to be taken word for word and put in the sylabus for 2007-08.[/QUOe


Good idea Fred, that reaffirms the proper techniques in your mind. Also, people learn by watching. If the see you gentle pull a fish back and forth in the water while holding it by the tail and you explain what your doing, and why, they usually catch on pretty quick.:D

Hope your not showing people to move the fish back and forth when trying to revive them as that is not a good partice. The gills on a fish are not made to have water pushed through them backwards. By doing that you risk rupturing the small fillaments on the gills. Yes it swam away strong but that really increases the odds of it being the last time. Hold the fish head first into the current until it is ready to swim off, dont move it back and forth.

[Biggie]

Good point Champlain!