I thought I'd ask for a few pointers on the tail grab technique. Maybe I'm too worried about squishing the fish but I find fish slipping out early when I'm releasing them so I tend to also use the other hand. I have let a few go before they are ready and it leaves me wondering if they'll be okay.
Do I just squeeze harder? Is it normal for the fish to slip? What about smaller fish? Is there a different technique for the smaller fish when releasing? I mean little 8-10 inchers, I just grab their body right now. I can't picture doing a two finger and thumb grab but I thought I'd ask.
If by little fish you mean trout, just turn them over, get your barbless hook back put your hand back in the water and flip them up right and Mother nature will do the rest. Don't play little ones to exhaustion either that helps a lot.
More often than not they will come off the hook as soon as you release the tension.
if it's a big fish slowly guide it towards u then gently grab the fishes tail with a firm but gentle grip the slower u do things the calmer the fish will be and if your gonna lift it out of the water for a pic slowly put your other hand on it's belly then lift(p.s u can almost tickle there stomach and it will calm them down)
Yes, I'm mainly talking about trout but I'd like to do it while pike fishing too. With pike I tend to just take the hook off and let them swim away instead of tail grabbing them until they recover but I'd like to start tail grabbing them too. Pike do seem more durable.
Right now with the little trout, I grab their body while their still in the water, slip out the fly and let them swim away. I'll try the upside down technique.
if it's a big fish slowly guide it towards u then gently grab the fishes tail with a firm but gentle grip the slower u do things the calmer the fish will be and if your gonna lift it out of the water for a pic slowly put your other hand on it's belly then lift(p.s u can almost tickle there stomach and it will calm them down)
Wow, ha, that's the first time I've heard of that (the tickling bit). I'll have to try that as well.
this only works for bigger trout/salmon.
around 22-32 inches browns.
you can buy a tailing glove to help you out
and wet your hands before you grab there tail so it dosent take off slime.
for smaller trout dont do this.
support there body when there up
theres no need for a hard grip either and dont play them right out
bring em in and throw it off baalnce then grab
Tail grab
Turn them upside down
Linear Mode
