Safe Fish Handling: Tips for Lake Trout, Steelhead & Rainbow Trout Release

Question
What is the easiest and least harmful method to recover and release these varieties? I seem to have a hard time subduing these guys for easy hook removal.I use rubberized no-tangle net which helps,but am not familiar with gripping and handling. Second time on this site-appreciate your info.

Answer
Hi John,

Your rubber net is a good idea and try to keep the fish in the water while unhooking.  

Try to avoid putting fingers in the gills.  The base of the tail is a good place to hold on to the Salmonids.  For pictures,  hold the base of the tail with one hand and support the area under the pectoral fins with the other hand.

For unhooking, try putting a wet rag over the eyes.  An old wash cloth is a handy item to keep in the boat or vest.  This seems to calm most fish long enough to pop out a hook.  If all else fails, a firm grip on the head over the gill covers is a good point to take control.

Other than that, yes they are strong powerful fish that are difficult to calm down in the net.  There is a fine line between tiring them out long enough while they are hooked, and fighting them to a point where they are difficult to release.  

Good fishing!

Marc