How to calm a fish down for hook removal or to take a photo

[Spoonminnow]

I had slime on my fingers from a previous fish I unhooked and the next fish kept slipping out of my hand onto the floor. So I figured 'why not grab the fish with a washcloth?' Calmed it right down! Here's the shot after I removed the hook and left it lying on the cloth for a photo:



...same for the next fish caught near the same spot casting a different lure:


I guess fish don't tolerate hard surfaces and flop all over the place. The fuzzy texture must soothe them and they stop fighting.

[Mstr Dan]

I will try that!

[Doninva]

If your going to let them go, hold them by the bottom lip. When holding them in a towel or your hand, your are removing the slime. Not good for the fish. Don

[Spoonminnow]

Most thumbs are too large to insert into a sunnies mouth. Guess I could wet the cloth.

[BuckeyeCrappie]

Certainly interesting. Might give it a try

[CrappiePappy]

Most thumbs are too large to insert into a sunnies mouth. Guess I could wet the cloth.

Definitely wet the cloth !!

If they're larger fish, you can let them rest on their belly in your hand. And I've even heard of holding them upside down to calm them. Or you could (if possible) keep them in the water while removing the hook. In any case, cloth or hand should be wet when handling fish you're gonna release.

[ultraslab]

I use to do that when night fishing dock lights and catching hybrids while trying to remove treble hooks . It may not be good for the fish but they definitely don't flop like crazy. Scott

[Spoonminnow]

If your going to let them go, hold them by the bottom lip. When holding them in a towel or your hand, your are removing the slime. Not good for the fish. Don

1. Fish flopping in a plastic net while held in the air is more likely to damage the slime coat and skin. How many of you use a rubber or coated nylon net to net fish? For large fish, I use a black-rubber net - always.

2. Few anglers want to be bothered bending way over the side of the boat or dock while trying to remove one or two sets of treble hooks from a very slippery fish still in the water. Plus, the longer a fish is thrashing around in a net, treble hooks can get tangled in it, keeping the fish out of the water far longer with the fish lying on its side while the mess is resolved.
Therefore I don't, I can't (back problems), I won't!

3. Plus, lipping a fish with dry fingers - not possible for fish with small mouths - still removes the slime coat from the lower jaws while it flops around during the time it takes to find your pliers to wrench hooks free. (I doubt anyone fish's using rubber gloves.)

Tip: For fish with small mouths, i.e. all panfish and trout, I have a set second set of thin, long-nose pliars with a blunt keeper hook on the end specifically designed to be inserted deep to hold the fish still. You should also. Crushing a fish's lip and the skin under it with regular pliers doesn't seem like a good idea. They can also be used with pickerel for a better grip to avoid their razor sharp teeth.

4. How many of us use barbless hooks or cut the line when single hooks are in deep? I don't. I want to make sure that fish stays on the hook - especially large fish! I've always wondered if a hook left in does any long term damage.

5. How many of us use light monofilament line (main or leader) and ultra-light action rods? The more time it takes to fight a fish and wear it down, the more slime lost from the stress. My rods are light to medium action and line used is a zero-stretch, no-abrasion braid. Most fights last less than 1/2 - 1 minute.

How many of you have caught fish that have been caught before - most likely man-handled using the above no no's? It's kind of a slimmy scab that protects from infection. I have caught many, many previously caught fish of all sizes and there was no skin damage or infection noted on any of them except where predator fish grabbed them and they broke free. In that case the scars were still present and the fish slimmy as ever.

I did read an article that stated that fish regenerate slime coats when scales and skin were removed after being attacked. One thing I will compare is how much slime is removed with and without wetting the terry cloth used - with its soft, plush loops of thread. Seems to me the more space between loops, the less contact. Plus the more sedate the fish, the less contact and time out of the water.
Note: I never hold fish using a smooth cloth.

[Spoonminnow]

I forgot to mention:

6. Being off balance over the side of a jon boat, possibly taking in water while unhooking a fish, is not my idea of fun! The higher the deck of a fiberglass boat, the more off balance while on one's knees in order to keep the fish in the water.
Who do you know who takes chances and does either?

Sincere as the above suggestions to safeguard fish slime are, as long as every one of the ones I mentioned aren't praticed or even considered, it comes down to - do as I say, not as I do.

[Ketchn]

I typically calm the situation down with some sandlewood incense and light frilly girl music in the back ground with subdued lightning ....
glad I just got to know about the easy method , sure was complicated before , just saying ...