| Agate Bay Lodge Ontario fishing for alleye, Lake Trout, Northern Pike, Speckled (Brook) Trout, Whitefish, Perch, Burbot, Sturgeon, Herring, Lake Trout, Walleye, Northern, Specks, Ontario hunting for Grouse, Moose, Bear, Waterfowl |
| Catch and release is a very important part of conservation. At Agate Bay Lodge we stress that importance to all guests. Let's look at some important things to consider before you get to the catch part of catch and release. First off, we'll talk about the equipment side before you head out on the water. You will need to have a quality net. While any type of net will work to land a fish, it is important to have a net that is coated to prevent hooks from tangling and piercing the net. I'm sure many of you have experienced a situation where you net a fish, and while it is thrashing about the hooks get caught in the net, and tangled around the fish. You then spend an agonizingly long time untangling the hooks, and unhooking the fish. The coated net will prevent a lot of this problem. Don't undersize the net either, we will talk about it more later, but think of that net as a boat side live well. The next piece of equipment needed is a quality set of hook or bolt cutters. Knipex makes a high quality set of bolt cutters that will cut through the toughest hooks using one hand. There are other types on the market as well. The standard cutters on your needle nose pliers are not equipped to cut quickly, and they are difficult to position in the mouth of a fish. Don't skimp on this tool. A camera. If you are going to regularly catch and release fish, it is nice to preserve that memory. The digital cameras on the market today do a great job catching that memory. Plus there is no film to develop. If you have a regular film type camera, that will work also. An added tip. When taking pictures, always use your flash. It will help fill in areas that might end up being dark, plus when taking pictures like that, you can never have too much light. Ok, that covers the basic equipment list. Let's talk about hooks. Ontario still allows barbed hooks in most areas (check the regulations for the particular area you are fishing), but many areas are starting to change in Canada. Manitoba for example, is now barbless. By pinching down the barbs, it allows you to remove the hooks much easier than barbed. I think everyone would agree with that. But will a barbed hook hold a fish better than a barbless? Directly, I would say yes. But that does not mean you will lose fish on a barbless hook. The key thing to remember with a barbless hook is to keep the line tight. If you allow slack in the line, the fish can shake the hook (it will even happen with a barbed hook). If you keep the line tight, you should land the fish. Other comments on hooks. If you decide to go barbless, don't increase the size of the hook. Some people under the guise of conservation change to a barbless hook, but increase the size of the hook to the point that it is spearing the fish. In some of those cases causing more damage to the fish, than a barb would have in the first place. Another solution to the barb/barbless discussion... You can do both. On most artificial lures, you have multiple sets of hooks. Leave the barb on the front of the lure, and pinch down the barb on the back. That way you have some added security with the barb in the front of the hook, and easy removal of the barbless hook if the fish engulfs the lure. Pete Maina mentions this in his article about catch and release in the Spring 2004 issue of Esox Angler Magazine, of which he gives me credit for the idea. Check it out; it's a great magazine to read about musky, pike, and walleye. We have now covered equipment and hooks. It's almost time to hit the water. But before you fire up the motor, let's talk about what you will do once the fish is on. You've made the cast, and a fish or you dreams has slammed the lure. You set the hook. As your heart pounds you reel this beauty in and your buddy nets it. What next? Leave the fish in the water, while still inside the net (remember the boat side live well comment above, now you are using it). You know how your heart is pounding with excitement, as you high five your buddy. Well that fish has a pounding heart as well, and by keeping it in the water, you allow it to breathe. Get your wits about you (don't take too long), and unhook the fish while in the net. Cut hooks if you need to, but remove all the hooks possible while minimally taking the head of the fish out of the water. It's a great fish, your best ever, and you want a picture. That is great, get the camera, make sure your buddy knows how to use, turn it on (flash too), and have everything ready before you take the fish out of the water. Snap off a couple quick shots, put the fish back in the water if you need to. Any delay out of the water is not a good one for the fish. If you are going to get a replica made, make sure you get a decent close-up of the fish. That way the taxidermist can make an accurate replica. Plus if you are having a replica made, you'll need a quick measure of length and girth at the widest point (I hope you put the fish back in the water for this). You are now ready to release the fish. With the fish in the water, lower the net from the fish. Hold its tail, the fish will let you know its ready to go. If the fish seems stressed, all is not lost. Use a side-to-side motion to help revive it. The old method of back and forth is not as readily accepted as side to side. As the fish gains strength, it will swim away from you. One quick addition, when you are holding the fish, don't hold it vertically (up and down), hold it horizontally supporting the belly. On large fish, holding them vertically, you can damage its internal organs. Also, if the water you are fishing is warm, all this will have to happen even quicker. Many of the fish that thrive in Ontario (especially the larger fish), prefer cool/cold water. Let them get back to their preferred environment as quick as possible. Congratulations, you have just caught the fish of a lifetime, and have the satisfaction of releasing it to be caught another day. More importantly that fish will help propagate the species during spawning season, helping keep the fishery strong. Your memories are secure in the pictures you took, the replica you'll have made, and the thoughts of returning to battle that bigger fish another day. This will give you the basics of catch and release. You are now ready to hit the water. Good luck, and great fishing! |
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| Family owned and operated by Greg & Tammy Bolinski |
| Catch and Release |
| Agate Bay Lodge Walleye, Lake Trout, Northern Pike, Speckled (Brook) Trout, Whitefish, Perch, Burbot, Sturgeon, Herring, Lake Trout, Walleye, Northern, Specks, Grouse, Moose, Bear, Waterfowl |