Handling Fish Properly
This blog today is out of guilt, pure guilt. As a matter of fact, starting this website is out of guilt. What did I do you ask?
Well let me tell you.
I was fishing with the family last Sunday at one of our favorite fishing holes. I was bait fishing for trout off the bank. The fishing was great and the catching was OK. I try to be very careful about handling the fish, from the hook, the fight, getting them in the net and keeping or releasing. I keep a set of clippers and needle nose on my chest at all times to help with the release of the fish. Well as it so happens, I injured the rainbow I was trying to release, he started to bleed and was going to die. So although small, he was coming home with me for dinner.
I am not a strict catch and release fisherman like some, I enjoy eating fish. But I have some very strict rules.
If I kill it, I keep it. If I keep it, I eat it. If it is hooked deep I cut the line. I never touch a fish with dry hands, it removes their slime. I try to net them in a soft net and keep them in the water. I use barbless hooks or bend the barbs down. I don’t toss them like a football to release them. I don’t drag them up the bank through the rocks, crush it with my hands to show someone and get a picture.
The point is, if there is a chance you will release the fish, send it home alive and well. If you plan on eating the fish, do what you will. The only fish that should be on a stringer are those that have a date with a frying pan.
That is what I am guilty of, forgetting about the fish in the cooler. I forgot to cook it, let it rot, and killed some beers and a cooler in the process.
I ask forgiveness from the fishing gods for my crime and hope that I can save just one fish tomorrow during Utah free fishing day. Be gentle out there people.
Here is a post from the Utah DWR about catch and release: http://wildlife.utah.gov/fishing/catchandreleasetips.php
If your keeping them, treat them good like this picture shows.
Hunt and Fish Utah 
I don’t know where you caught the fish that you bbq in this post. But most the fish I catch here in utah county are so small you can’t fallette them. The fish and game need to grow them to at least 12 inches.6 to 9 inches is not an edible size. They keep raising the price for fishing license, and making the bag limits smaller and planting smaller and smaller fish. Its almost not worth taking your kids fishing anymore in the state of Utah.
Thanks for the comment. I will take that as a compliment on the size of fish on the grill. I can’t tell you where I caught those fish due to fishing etiquette and protection of the honey hole, but what I will say is that you are correct. The size of fish planted leads to their own demise, as people catch them and toss them back due to size. If you find you are catching a lot of planters you could switch up your bait and tactic, or move to a different spot. Or, if you like the feel of catching fish, forget about the size, the kids will love it. It is then our job to teach them how to release the fish to be caught another day.
I will be posting some recipes on here at later dates for the smaller fish, never kept a fish I couldn’t eat.
Here is a link for fishing hotspots:http://wildlife.utah.gov/hotspots/
I think the UDWR is doing a great job! I have also realized they are stocking smaller sized fish, but they are stocking more fish. I know the fish they get from the hatcheries are very expensive, especially if they are grown to large sizes. I would rather have a larger number of smaller fish planted because I don’t like to eat planter fish. When they are planted they don’t taste very good. Once they have lived in the wild for a year or so and gained some size they are much better eating. I definitely think the fishing in Utah is great! I am originally from Southern Idaho and they fishing is terrible up there. I love what the division is doing down here. Since I’ve moved to central Utah I’ve caught way more nice fish.
I agree,they do a good job. We need to send the planters back carefully.