highlights
Active Member
I'm glad you took the "schooling" so well there Hoot.
No disrespect as it seems you do genuinely care.
Another thing to remember when holding those mature fish up for pictures. ( especially the big ones ) If you merely hold the fish by it's caudal wrist while allowing the head to hang (while you unhook it), you will hear a very unpleasant popping sound. This is called spinal separation. It's ugly. Those big ripe fish are breaking down and the muscle fibre that once supported the skeletal structure is no longer able to do it's job and protect the ridgidity of the fish. Like Kelly said, cradle the fish just behind the pectoral fins ahead of the belly ( full of eggs ) and with a firm grip in the wrist. Best to allow the water to partially absorb the weight of the fish as well by holding it with it's belly still in the water.
I know many guys that still claim that they will carefully hold the fish by it's gill plate without doing any harm. What the experts neglect to tell you is that it's not only touching the gill filaments that is dangerous for the fish, but the sheer weight of the fish will damage the carotid artery by basically ripping it. The fish will die of internal bleeding even if you do not see visible ripping. ( the damage happens where the underside of the fish comes to a point between the gills just back of the lower jaw) This tears very easily under the weight of a mature fish.
One last thing for all avid river goers....... watch where you wade. You are likley tromping on freshly seeded gravel. Millions of eggs will get destroyed if you are not careful.
Well thats about it for now.
Hootey keep those things in mind and we would of course love to see some good quality pictures in the future.
Hope this helps and reminds all of us who toss gear on the flow.
HL
No disrespect as it seems you do genuinely care.
Another thing to remember when holding those mature fish up for pictures. ( especially the big ones ) If you merely hold the fish by it's caudal wrist while allowing the head to hang (while you unhook it), you will hear a very unpleasant popping sound. This is called spinal separation. It's ugly. Those big ripe fish are breaking down and the muscle fibre that once supported the skeletal structure is no longer able to do it's job and protect the ridgidity of the fish. Like Kelly said, cradle the fish just behind the pectoral fins ahead of the belly ( full of eggs ) and with a firm grip in the wrist. Best to allow the water to partially absorb the weight of the fish as well by holding it with it's belly still in the water.
I know many guys that still claim that they will carefully hold the fish by it's gill plate without doing any harm. What the experts neglect to tell you is that it's not only touching the gill filaments that is dangerous for the fish, but the sheer weight of the fish will damage the carotid artery by basically ripping it. The fish will die of internal bleeding even if you do not see visible ripping. ( the damage happens where the underside of the fish comes to a point between the gills just back of the lower jaw) This tears very easily under the weight of a mature fish.
One last thing for all avid river goers....... watch where you wade. You are likley tromping on freshly seeded gravel. Millions of eggs will get destroyed if you are not careful.
Well thats about it for now.
Hootey keep those things in mind and we would of course love to see some good quality pictures in the future.
Hope this helps and reminds all of us who toss gear on the flow.
HL
...and not harm the fish[^]
]
