Fly Fishing British Columbia Fishing Links
Links and Info - We are on a catch and release river and practice the following catch and release steps with all fish.
Handling Fish and during a catch and release:
Using correctly sized barbless hooks, for quick, easy hook removal is a key element to catch and release fishing. Avoiding the use of landing nets; if landing nets must be used use specially designed catch-and-release landing nets.
1) If at all possible, leave the fish in the water and unhook it without touching it (use your hemostats or pliers)
2) To get pictures or measure your catch handle your fish carefully and keep it over water at all times. If you handle the fish, make sure that you wet your hands. Only touch your fish with wet hands or wet surfaces like gloves or a wet towel. Avoiding touching the fish with dry surfaces (shirt or wader fronts) or putting them down on dry surfaces like rocks and sand. Avoiding hanging fish from their jaw/mouth/gills.
3) Take a photo of your fish. Minimizing time out of the water to 20 seconds. Get the camera and photographer all set before lifting the fish out of the water. Remember keep the fish over the water at all times.
4) Keep the fish in the water to record a measurement of the fish's length and girth.
5) Be sure to take a few extra minutes to revive and release all fish. Point your fish into the current while it breathes. Support your fish by its mid section gently, in a upright position into the current until it swims out of your hands
What not to do:
1. Squeeze a fish.
2. Throw a fish back into the water like a piece of wood.
3. Put your fingers into the gills.
4. Let the fish flop around on the ground.
The effects of catch and release vary from species to species. A number of scientific studies have shown extremely high survival rates for released fish if handled correctly and particularly if caught on artificial baits such as lures.
Fish Weight Calculator
No length/weight formula can ever replace an accurate scale. However, the following calculators should enable to you to get a fair estimate that's within about 10 percent of the actual weight.
Use this calculator for figuring the weight of your fish.
The algorithm used is (length x girth x girth and divided by R = W) where:
L = Length in inches
G = Girth in inches (if girth is not known use L X .58 to estimate)
R = 800 for trout, 750 for steelhead, 650 for Salmon and 1200 for Sturgeon.
W = Weight in pounds
| The chart below from the British Columbia Fraser River White Sturgeon study program and shows a length/weight/age estimate. |
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