Fishing tips for catch-and-release in Wisconsin season starting May 7

2022-05-29 00:04:34 By : Mr. Charles Ma

For most of recorded history humans fished only for sustenance.

The idea of letting a fish go was inconsistent with the reason for catching it.

But over the last century as food supplies became reliable and abundant, and as the number of anglers increased significantly and put more pressure on fisheries resources, "catch-and-release" has become common on a voluntary basis on most U.S. waters and enforced as a mandatory rule on others.

The change was highlighted in 1936 when the late American fishing writer and innovator Lee Wulff said “game fish are too valuable to be caught only once.”

And a major development followed in 1971 when Ray Scott, founder of the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.), introduced a campaign called "Don't Kill Your Catch." The next year bass fishing tournaments began to implement the practice in professional events.

By the late 20th century catch-and-release was firmly embedded in the ethics of modern sport fishing, especially but not limited to those pursuing bass, muskellunge and trout.

As the 2022 Wisconsin general fishing season opens May 7, most anglers won't think twice about releasing all or most of the fish they land.

But to achieve its goal – survival of the released fish so it can grow, potentially reproduce and be caught again – it's not enough to simply return the fish to the water.

Care must be taken to limit injury to the fish and keep it as healthy as possible. Otherwise anglers might as well keep fish, where legal, as part of their daily bag limit.

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Mortality rates are shockingly high of poorly-handled fish. A study by Queen's University in Ontario found only 28% of rainbow trout survived after being caught and exposed to air for 60 seconds, compared to 63% out of water for 30 seconds and 88% to those not removed from the water.

The hardiness of fish species varies but the best practices of care apply to all.

An educational program run by a non-profit organization called Keep Fish Wet offers science-based best practices to catch, handle and release fish.

Science shows that even small changes in how an angler catches, handles and releases a fish can have positive outcomes once that fish swims away, according to the group.

The Keep Fish Wet tenets are: minimize air exposure; eliminate contact with dry surfaces; and reduce handling time.

Preparation is also key, including having gear ready to quickly land and handle a fish. This includes a net, forceps or needle-nosed pliers and a camera if a photo is desired. 

It's not the proper time to search for such items when a fish is being held out of water.

Keep Fish Wet offers the following recommendations for the highest odds of a fish surviving after release:

For more information on catch-and-release fishing, visit keepfishwet.org or dnr.wi.gov and search "responsible catch and release."