Contest Started - RELEASE FISH TO WIN A REDINGTON RISE REEL!

[flyfishergirl]

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This contest is all about proper care and handling of fish, with an emphasis on releasing the trophy ones UNSCATHED. Face it, we have all seen the grip-n-grin hero shots of our lifetimes. Are those large gamefish still out there? Yes, but certainly not in the numbers of the old days. Why? Well, the majority of people did not have the amount of education available in the past as we do today to be able to properly understand the benefits of catch and release and ramifications of angling as a whole.

Angling kills fish. However, with proper care and attention one can minimize the impact. In fact, if one chooses to fish strictly catch and release barbless hook angling - you are going to give the fish the best possible chance for survival…well, next to not using a hook. My vegan dad and stepmom woulda called me on that.

Of course, there are many learned skills and many common sense rules when it comes to care and handling of fish that applies when landing them. Please share yours with us and win a Redington Rise Fly Reel, courtesy of Redington Fly Fishing.

Rules are…

The contest will run for one week exactly, and the winner will be chosen by flyfishergirl (Hannah Belford) and Pete McDonald of http://www.fishingjones.com.

Parts of this contest are going to be based on honesty. Yep, not a rule…but it needs to be said. Hopefully you submit pics of your fish, not someone else’s.

Contest is open to both sexes and all ages.

Emphasis is on fly caught fish, but the contest is open to all methods of angling for those 16 and under.

You must register on http://www.flyfishergirl.com/forum to be able to participate, and your entry needs to be submitted to viewtopic.php?f=29&t=336&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=a (this topic).

We want to see a minimum of 3 photos and a maximum of 6 per posting.

We also want to see some written information about how you practice proper releasing techniques.

Images can be a maximum of 450 pixels wide and/or 338 high.

You are limited to ONE posting - so make it count!

Points to know are…

The reel is available in your choice of Dark Charcoal, Burnt Orange or Moss with four models to choose from: 3/4, 5/6, 7/8, 9/10.

Technical help in regard to postings and the forum can be found at viewforum.php?f=29

If you are having problems registering or have questions, drop a line to info@flyfishergirl.com

Good luck everyone! I am excited to see what you post. Not only are you going to possibly win a great reel, you are going to help educate others on proper care and handling of fish. Thank you!

[Simon Graham]

For me its very important to arrive at a given fishing area with the best positive mental attitude I can have before I chuck that 1st fly out. Without it your prone to mistakes,and complacency usually sets in. Every fight I have with a fish is different but during the tussle I'm already thinking about where my pliers are, not forgetting to wet my hands before picking the fish up, if needed, but most of all I try to unhook the fish without having to lift it out of the water. Sure they become instinctual practices for a fly-fisherman, But having a routine like this for me, offers every fish I catch a greater chance of a quicker recovery time which in hindsight is probably the most important factor every fisherman should uphold.

[rivertooth]

Catch and Release

The other day I landed a beautiful wild, buck, Kelt; so much life in him! My line went screaming out the guides and he somersaulted two or three times, he fought like a fresh fish. This time of the year, on the Sandy River you have summer fish coming in and winter fish returning to the ocean. With the removal of Marmot Dam we have landed more Kelts then in the past, a good sign for years to come. Kelts should be handled with the up-most care.

Here are a few pointers for catching and releasing wild fish. First, keep the fish in the water and release it as soon as possible; if someone is taking a photo, gentle cradle the upper body with one hand just behind the pectoral fin and with the other hand, hold the fish behind the anal fin. Keep the mouth in the water or even better the entire head in the water. Another tip; use your forceps to get the hook out of the maxilare, without tugging on it, handle the fish as if it was your grandmas china. Lastly, gentle release the fish with the head facing up river and watch it swim away. If it’s a hatchery, kill it. Then you can get as many photos as you want.

Sandy River Buck

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Marty tailed this fish for me because of the awkward location (swimming hole); because it was a wild fish I did not see the need to stress it out any further just to “get in the photo.” This fish was released as quickly as we could get it free from the hook, I got two quick photos of it.

Close up.

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This is a favorite photo because one can see the bow swimming away.

Releasing a Rainbow on the Aniak River, Alaska.

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Have Fun, RT

[Trout Huntress]

Catch and Release is great but only if we truly understand why. To protect and enhance a fishery, any fishery, ensures our children and grandchildren will enjoy the same fishing opportunities we have. It matters not wether it is a prime steelhead fishery or our favorite smallmouth bass fishery in the midwest...the result of harvesting too many fish or mishandling fish will have the same negative impact...loss of fish!
As an instructor here in Indiana I take time to explain to each student the proper care and handling of any fish..even blue gill. Obviously some fish are more resiliant than others, but nonetheless they deserve the same treatment.
For me it begins with proper angling practices...often times using too light of tippet will result in over exhausting fish that even if C&R is practiced the fish will not survive. Fishing in extremely hot weather conditions is also harmful to fish. As for releasing the fish, obviously a fast release is most desirable ,particularly when a fish is not even taken out of the water. I like to grab the hook and gently guide it back out of the fishes mouth the same direction it went it and letting the fish off. If a fish is exhausted then cradling it in the water(while wearing a glove) is suggested, facing the fish into gentle current and waiting for him to swim away is one way to ensure he has sufficently recovered.
Fish barbless, single hooks, it's gentler on the fish as well as human flesh.

It is not necessary to take photos of every fish caught....how many photos can you possibly have while holding what appears to be an average fish? Photographed fish should be released as quickly and as careful as possible. Keep in mind that the true joy of catching fish comes from the memory of the moment and place where you are, and not so much from the heroic photographs.

Practice Catch and Release...teach your children to do the same...Spread the word and give back whenever possible.

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[flyfishergirl]

Greetings to Simon. Welcome to our forum, and thanks for sharing your c&r practices with us.

Would you like to add pics to your post to participate in the contest? Just was wondering if you had issues with your post?... If you meant to add pics let me know.

Hey girls, great postings! Both of you had a point that i had never previously thought of...so thank you! I will make a posting about the points that i loved after the contest is over.

Thanks for participating, and good luck all!

[yuhina]

Great stories from above posts. I really enjoy viewing all the great fish photo and hear all the stories!

I agree, "C&R and Proper Handle the Fish"is a mental training and a philosophy. There are alway something to improve based on our knowledge. Here is the story,
Two years ago, when the translucent rubber net just came out. I was so excited about it, because I have heard the rubber net is so easy to use and also easy to the fish. My first trip with this "ghost net" is in a spring creek with my brother BG. It was a small gin clear creek with a lot of water vegetation in there. With the help of the net, it really make the landing work much easier and we all can tell this exercise really give the fish less stress. We had a great time to land those small trophy quickly and the light on the photos also turns our well. Another tip I like it to photo the fish in the water, I am not sure how fish feel but it has add some special effects to the photo, it become watery and colorful.

[flyfishergirl]

Wow, wicked photos!!!!! Nice! Thanks for posting yuhina. You are quite the artist in many ways, photography being evident.

[flyfishergirl]

Only 36 more hours to go people!!!

This is for a good cause, so please help to educate others about proper care and handling of fish when practicing catch and release angling.

We need your input!

[utahcutthroat]

Hi all...
New guy here. I hope I slid in before the cutt off, its 11:57 mtn time ; )... doesn't really matter, its for a good cause right! My buddy Yuhina contacted me and told me about this awesome idea. I think is a great photo topic and a really cool way to promote C&R and proper fish handling. Kudos to all for the efforts, some really cool pictures and thoughts have been shared.

A few shots....

Catch and Release is an just a way of life for some. Letting a fish go and gentle handling have always been apart of the fishing experience. It's great to see that large trophy fish swimming off into the sunset, but for the many, trophy's are not a reality. The local and exotic wild place is a gem hidden amongst the glam-fish. Quietly tucked away in pristine water lies a different kind of trophy... a pure strain native Cutthroat. These small creatures of water get the same respect and the larger breeds and require the same amount of reverence when handling. Although for these fish, their life depends on breeding, not growing to be a trophy wall hanger, but for their genes to survive the test of time.

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A few other release shots...

One of the last strong hold for Cutthroat in the west... South Fork of the Snake. It's always a pleasure and an honor watching these fish swim away. The department of fish and wildlife now asks you to now kill Rainbow Trout as they are crossbreeding with this sensitive fish. Just a thought I had while I was looking for photos to post.....I wonder how many catch and release core fisherman will sacrifice one non-native specie to save a another... something to think about in the future as we follow the water and chase the fish.

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The last of the release shots... self sustaining wild brown fishery high in the desert of Utah.

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Thanks for hosting this wonderful topic in an unique way.

BG
**** EDIT -I suck at formatting these things, sorry for the sloppy post ; )

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[flyfishergirl]

Hey Utah, i will respond to you properly in the a.m. (massive tired right now - excuse me).

but in the meantime - contest is open until (our) midnight (ish) tomorrow (Friday). I am not a dragon, so anything submitted before Sat at 6 pm (deciding time) is fair game. If you are on a massive time difference, just please post before 6 pm our time (PST) on Saturday, May 30.

Love all of your postings and help people - thank you so very much!