What would you do? Floating fish...

[2big4u]

Hypothetical...

You catch a walleye at PCR on a barbless jig with a 3" gulp shad. the fish takes the hook deep and you can not get the hook out without damaging the fish, so you cut the hook and spend the time to revive it only to have it float (die) on you when you release it. Pine Coulee has a limit of 0 for walleye... Do you waste the fish and leave it to float, do you ice it and hope not to get caught, do you photograph and document the fish and take it with you, prepared to explain to a CO what happened?

I haven't had it happen yet but every fish I catch increases the odd that it will happen at some point...

[fisher Gord]

Yes it will happen, obay the law release the fish, the body will join the other end of the food chain, feeding little stuff instead of the fisherman.

[TimC]

I'll still release it.

If a CO let people go like this, many would claim or try to gut hook the fish and take it home.

[allenford]

cut the line and let her go.

[209x50]

Let it go.

[Paul C]

I have cut the hook on the upper part of shank only leaving the lower part of hook in. The result is less metal for the fishes stomach emzynes to break down. Cutting the line is good but if you can cut the hook is even better. I caught a 3 lb rainbow and the line was still in the fish intestines. I found plastic will do far more damage than metal.
Happy Fishing !!

[OutwardBound]

Yup, release the fish, let the food chain and nature take it's course. If ppl used this as a loophole by mortally wounding on c&r lakes or on undersized fish you can bet there would be a detrimental hit to the populations and more poaching/rule bending than ever. Regs say put it back-put it back.

Danni

[hockeyfish]

if its black put it back

[JessePat]

Cast it back out with the fish attached hoping you will catch an even bigger fish! No no, definitely put it back, ha ha

[michelle]

Cut the line and put it back. Then I feel sad if it dies.

[2big4u]

Sucks but the law is the law... 0 limit means 0 limit...
Off to bloody my yak at PCR and Clear Lake.

[michelle]

Originally Posted by 2big4u

Sucks but the law is the law... 0 limit means 0 limit...
Off to bloody my yak at PCR and Clear Lake.

Have fun!