NWR,

No one who fishes is going to submit that c&r is not without some mortality. The big question is how much? This is where the argument of c&r really exists isn’t it? Some studies would back up the 12% rate. I read a report put out by a local steelhead club that showed less then 2% mortality while catching steelhead for broad stock. These fish were subjected to far more stress then a steelhead caught during a typical c&r season. In my opinion. There are those that will disagree with me.

My point is that the discussions over c&r always seem to come down to whose mortality figures do you want to believe. An exercise in futility. We, as anglers, will never agree.