Catch and Release Mortality (Part 1)

C&R Objective: A healthy release to fight againOne of the aspects of fly fishing that attracted me to the sport, was the ethic of catch and release. I still remember watching Gadabout Gaddis on my family’s black and white television back in the fifties. The Flying Fisherman would keep his share of trout for the pan, but he sure did release plenty.

Growing up as a young worm dunker with my Dad, in search of pan fish and bass, we generally kept what we caught. If it was a “keeper” we kept it. And, it was only on rare occasion that our prey didn’t totally swallow the hook. I remember many a bass that we had to toss back, because they were too small, just to watch them turn belly up and float away.

For some reason, trout seemed to be different. Beautiful. Like a treasure to be cherished and honored. I just got the sense that I was a kinder, gentler soul by letting them slip through my fingers. It gave me satisfaction.

Despite my wife’s requests, I very seldom bring one home. Those that make it into the plastic bag that I keep stashed deep in my vest, do so because they were unable to be revived. It was these periodic failed attempts at revival, that got me to pondering. What’s really going on here? Am I being fair to the adversary? How long CAN you keep a fish out of water before it becomes clinically “brain dead”. Was I just fooling myself about the “releasing” part of catch and release?

I checked in with a fisheries biologist friend of mine. Neal got me started with some interesting reading on catch and release mortality. That was the springboard into Google. More studies, more reading, more insight. Once again, I’m comfortable with my philosophy. But, that new comfort zone will require a few changes on my part. In Part 2 I’ll summarize what I found.