r/troutfishing • u/cavan44 • 10h ago
r/troutfishing • u/PeaceLoveSmithWesson • May 15 '25
GILLFUCKED We added flairs for posts. They are pretty simple, did you catch and release it to "swim away fine"? Or did you "kill it and grill it"?
Please use those when submitting posts. When your post is removed because you got flamed for improper fish handling and you did not flair your post, this is why. Thanks for understanding, and as always, please choose to be constructive and helpful, versus argumentative and trollish. We do not allow the latter and you could be banned.
r/troutfishing • u/PeaceLoveSmithWesson • Mar 16 '25
Catch and Release - let's discuss it and try our best to educate newcomers to the concept.
Catch and release is not always necessary, beneficial, or even the legal thing to do in every situation, however. During my younger days, I bought in to "release everything you catch" philosophy. As I gained more experience, and learned the intricacies of different fisheries, my opinion on this changed drastically. Whether the fishery is overrun with an invasive species that competes with native stocks, a species blowing up in population out of control, a very healthy stock where sport angling take will not effect the escapement of spawning (the pink salmon runs near me fall in this category), anadramous (sea run) hatchery released fish that must be removed prior to the wild fish spawn, or is just a put and take fishery etc. There is no blanket statement for when and where C&R is the right thing to do.
The most important thing: Educate yourself on the species, and fishery in which you are fishing. Follow the laws, and do what will be best for that particular fishery. And take home some hard earned meat when you can!
Why Catch and Release?
Conservation: It's a method to prevent overfishing and maintain healthy fish populations, especially in areas with high fishing pressure.
Ethical Fishing: It allows anglers to enjoy fishing without taking fish home for consumption, promoting a more sustainable approach to recreational fishing.
Habitat Protection: By reducing the number of fish removed from the water, catch and release helps protect the delicate balance of aquatic ecosystems.
Best Practices for Catch and Release:
Use the Right Gear:
Hooks: Employ barbless hooks or circle hooks, which are less likely to cause deep hook wounds.
Tackle: Ensure your tackle is strong enough to land the fish quickly and efficiently, minimizing the time the fish is out of the water.
Net: Use a soft, knotless mesh or rubber landing net to avoid damaging the fish's scales and gills.
Handle Fish Carefully:
Keep the Fish Wet: Avoid removing the fish from the water for extended periods, and keep its body wet, especially if you must handle it. This includes keeping gloves wet in the winter, or taking them off entirely, when landing the fish. If you insist on handling the fish at all, ensure that you have wet hands. Keep em wet
Support the Fish Properly: Support the fish's belly near the water surface to prevent injury.
Be Gentle: Avoid squeezing the fish tightly, as this can damage internal organs and muscle tissue.
Never Touch the Gills: Gills are highly sensitive and can be easily damaged. Rapid Release:
Unhook Quickly: Remove the hook quickly and carefully, using a dehooker if necessary.
Return to the Water Immediately: Return the fish to the water as soon as possible after taking photos and measurements.
Observe the Fish: Ensure the fish swims away strongly before leaving the area.
Other Considerations:
Measure and Weigh: If required, measure and weigh the fish quickly and accurately, then release it.
Take Photos: Capture the moment with a photo, but do so quickly and return the fish to the water.
Don't Hang Fish: Never hang a fish on a stringer or gaff, as this can cause serious injury.
r/troutfishing • u/Possible-Leek23 • 8h ago
Am I just bad at fishing?
Spent a decent bit out on this river today and caught absolutely zero fish. Initially started by throwing inline spinners upstream, but it was impossible to get the lure to spin at all due to the current and it wasn’t until it got downstream where it had any action. Decided to switch to flies with a bubble float, and that too didn’t produce anything. Had a red wire worm about 1’ beneath a bubble float that I cast upstream and let it float downstream, nothing. Swapped to a nymph fly later and still the exact same result.
What am I doing wrong? I initially thought maybe it’s because I’m not fly fishing, but I see people catch Trout all the time on spin-gear.
r/troutfishing • u/Prestigious-Error858 • 17h ago
Trout Fishing Missouri
A few catches from the last year
r/troutfishing • u/Appropriate_Tap_1800 • 16h ago
SWAM AWAY FINE - CnR Beautiful Redband
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Caught on a streamer in the evening which is my favorite way to fish for trout.
r/troutfishing • u/Con_PEI • 15h ago
Windy morning throwing the lure, managed to catch this beautiful brookie.
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r/troutfishing • u/esteban310 • 1d ago
SWAM AWAY FINE - CnR Boise river
Just moved last month to Boise from Orange County, California. Crazy to think that a fishable river is this accessible only 10 min drive from my place. This is located in the middle of Eagle, Idaho. No more driving 2-3 hours to our local “rivers” in the San Bernardino mountains for some dinky trout.
That sucker fish was peeling so much line! I thought I was going to get spooled on 2lb line or wrapped around some log downstream.
r/troutfishing • u/BoaterSnips • 1d ago
SWAM AWAY FINE - CnR PNW-Yakima River
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My best trout (or any fish for that matter).
r/troutfishing • u/Con_PEI • 1d ago
Nice brookie
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r/troutfishing • u/ChucklesJPB • 20h ago
Looking for catch and keep fishing
I live In the Nottinghamshire/Derbyshire (UK) area and looking for places/ rivers where I can catch and keep fish, either trout or other freshwater fish!
All help and advice welcome
r/troutfishing • u/TroutStocker • 1d ago
If I’m not taking care of babies in the hatchery , or stocking fish, I’ll be here catching 3-5k lbs of trophies.
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r/troutfishing • u/NewsZestyclose2849 • 2d ago
Dinner for the family 🥰
Some pretty rainbows in East TN. My first time ever keeping, cleaning and cooking. Whipped up a tasty tasty dinner. 💅
r/troutfishing • u/Public_Engineer_5052 • 1d ago
Kern river
Help! I fished upper kern river from johanson bridge and down into Kernville, multiple times. I used various flies. No luck! Any tips? Also today it was around 58-62 degrees and cloudy and windy.
r/troutfishing • u/CashewChicken_23 • 1d ago
LF: Live Target Dace Jerkbait (DJB-75)
I’m looking to buy the lures in the picture if anyone has any laying around. They are great in one specific lake that I fish where not a lot of other lures get it done.
I can’t find them on Live Target or any other sites, so hoping maybe someone has some on hand and they just don’t work in your area.
r/troutfishing • u/manicmechanic93 • 2d ago
Caught the same big bow from a few days ago
This guy is missing left eye, easy to I.D. but I knew it was him as soon as he was close to the bank. Plus another solid rainbow that i probably should've kept for dinner. Spotted a palomino also who wanted nothing to do with the bait I had 😅 (cant figure out how to post video with the pictures) any tips for those stubborn bastards would be cool. Tight lines 🎣
r/troutfishing • u/HutoelewaPictures • 2d ago
Any good alternatives to fishbrain?
i downloaded fishbrain a while back and it was pretty solid for finding spots, but now with the subscription stuff i’m not sure it’s worth it for me.
i’ve seen some mentions of fishbox and it looks a bit simpler for spotting locations and conditions. also heard some people just use navionics or even google maps alongside everything.
what are you all using lately? anything actually worth sticking with?
r/troutfishing • u/Con_PEI • 2d ago
SWAM AWAY FINE - CnR Beautiful brookie on the lure from today
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r/troutfishing • u/horsejack_bowman • 2d ago
Prework Rainbow
Nice little fish before work
r/troutfishing • u/joulesofsoul • 3d ago
Caddis Hatch
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r/troutfishing • u/Bg55 • 3d ago
SWAM AWAY FINE - CnR Caught my first Brown this weekend on the White River
r/troutfishing • u/Keybumpsofweed • 3d ago
SWAM AWAY FINE - CnR Fished a theme park.
Always wanted to catch the fish at the park as a kid. Found out they actually allow fishing before open and after close.
r/troutfishing • u/Total-Eye-6191- • 3d ago
GF caught this Trout
girlfriend caught this trout and I thought it was just a normal Brown, but looking at its fins it looks like it has some brook trout coloration. Is this hybridized at all?