Contrary to what its name may suggest, effective C&R practices attempt at all cost to prevent the fish from contacting terra-firma. The aim is to get the fish into a position where the hook can be removed in a controlled manner and where it can be handled without compromising its health. In my experience, using a landing net is by far the best way to achieve this.
However, not all landing nets are created equally and may even damage fish if they are too small or constructed from abrasive materials. When purchasing a net make sure it is large enough for the species you intend on targeting. Once safely in the net, it should ideally be wide and deep enough to accommodate the full length of the fish without forcing it to bend into unnatural positions. This will also allow the fish some movement in the net when submerged and promote better revival.
To ensure that minimal protective slime is removed and to prevent skin damage during landing, you should also try to avoid abrasive or knotted/weaved net meshing materials. Rubber or rubber coated nylon nets are by far the most fish friendly nets. They are soft and pliable, have smooth surfaces and are non-absorbent. They remove very little if any of the protective slime coating from the fish. Additionally, unlike regular nylon mesh nets, rubber nets don’t smell and hooks are much easier to remove if they get caught in the net.
In some instances, we may not be able to carry a net with us or have a net big enough to safely handle very large fish. In these cases, we need to get creative in the ways we land fish and may often need the help of a fishing buddy to effectively land fish safely. If possible, a fish sling/cradle should be used to cradle large fish in the water. Easily constructed from a couple of dowel sticks and thick plastic sheeting (the type of stuff that shower curtains are made of), an effective fish cradle/sling can be fashioned to suit your needs. A sling is best used when fishing with a friend, as they can approach the fish from behind or downstream with the sling open and you can simply guide the fish into the sling. Large fish can then easily be handled in the water while still breathing. The sling also confines the fish to a degree and prevents it from thrashing around and potentially injuring itself or the anglers.
Landing:
Make sure your net is both big enough and deep enough for the size of the fish you are targeting.
66 SERIOUSFUN@JFFC SEPT 2018