thats bell the evil one haha

Suggesting the best possible C&R technique (and by the way, what's used by the best guides) does not suggest you have a target on your head. Don't net & if you have to, use the most gentle possible net. No big deal & no target.

Pretty fish.

-S

just to clarify, my above "no net" comment was not meant to be directed at John. Just more of a global comment about quick releasing natives if it is possible. I know sometimes it is not possible to gently tail a fish- or to reach with pliers for a quick unhook. And certainly a soft or rubber knotless is better than dragging it on a beach, taking it out of the water for a couple photos, dropping it a couple times, letting it roll around, then picking it back up and releasing.

I like rotten chum. every time I see that guy out on the Sky he is always very courteous!

I am passionate enough about these fish to take care of them like my own baby...don't have any babies yet but I swear one day we'll have a chrome one...everyone has their own ideas about the best handling procedures...net them don't them opinions...knotless nets or not, wool gloves or no gloves, barbless or barbed, bait or no bait...there is a fine line between fishing for them or becoming too passionate about them to even fish for them at all. I sit on that line and this rotten chum humpty dumpty ass of mine wants to fall either way...I bet there are others out there who agree with me.

I use a cotton knotless net, and I'm all for netting them...I'm far more worried about the lactic acid buildup of playing a fish to exhaustion than I am about them rolling around in a soft cotton net, which they very rarely do.

Fish on...

Todd

Wasted shot.... Mug down guy.

Take a cue from Abu & not kay kay.

Beautiful little gal.

Mf

Nice fish, RC. Good to see that there is a fair amount of wild fish this early in the year. I hope this El Nino and the warmer temps is a benefit for the increased survival of this run.

WORD.

Some people play them till they literally can't swash their tail one more time and then grip their tail wrist for a grip and grin. I personally think subdueing them as quick as possible with a net or kicking their butts with 20lb. test is the better way to go. Can't say that I have been a perfect example of how to handle a given situation however but I try to do the best I can.

I play it both ways depending on surroundings & the size of the fish. Just like to get the fish on its way as fast as possible. I have a mesh net that is gentle on the fish.

For whatever reason, that is a hillarious image. I can just picture that happening to any PP'er. Just hand the wife the camera and go for the grip-n-grin!