Jackfish
09-15-2004, 05:29 PM
Flathead pictures...
I have noticed that almost all flathead pictures have angler holding the fish in a vertical hang. I've seen alot of these photo on this site, & my understanding is that most of these fish are released to grow bigger & uglier & hopefully be caught again.
I have alot of background catching pike & only been fishing cats for a few years. With pike (& muskie) I know that the larger fish should not be held this way. This type of hold placed alot of stress on the fish - the larger the fish the more damage caused - could dislocate a jaw, cause stretching of various tissue, cause damage to the spine, allow organs to compress from gravity, etc... and is considered a serious threat to catch & release fishing, enough so that some magazines will discourage printing pictures of fish held this way. There is an article in the current issue of Esox Angler titled "handling techniques and survival of released muskellunge" that details the effects of improper handling.
Is this a concern for flatheads? I have been taken the majority of my cat pictures using a horizontal bend, attempting to support he weight of the fish. Admittedly, this type of picture does not do the cats much justice, they do look much cooler in the vertical hang. I want to have a nice picture, but the whole point of catch & release is pointless if the fish dies after the fact from the stresses of being caught.
On the other hand, I have never had ANY trouble releasing a cat, even on the occasions when I have used a vertical hang. I've never released a cat to see it surface later belly up, or not be willing to swim off. Larger pike or muskie usually seem hard to release, even when handled with kid gloves, (cradles, wet hands, no trebles, etc...)
Anyone have input?
I have noticed that almost all flathead pictures have angler holding the fish in a vertical hang. I've seen alot of these photo on this site, & my understanding is that most of these fish are released to grow bigger & uglier & hopefully be caught again.
I have alot of background catching pike & only been fishing cats for a few years. With pike (& muskie) I know that the larger fish should not be held this way. This type of hold placed alot of stress on the fish - the larger the fish the more damage caused - could dislocate a jaw, cause stretching of various tissue, cause damage to the spine, allow organs to compress from gravity, etc... and is considered a serious threat to catch & release fishing, enough so that some magazines will discourage printing pictures of fish held this way. There is an article in the current issue of Esox Angler titled "handling techniques and survival of released muskellunge" that details the effects of improper handling.
Is this a concern for flatheads? I have been taken the majority of my cat pictures using a horizontal bend, attempting to support he weight of the fish. Admittedly, this type of picture does not do the cats much justice, they do look much cooler in the vertical hang. I want to have a nice picture, but the whole point of catch & release is pointless if the fish dies after the fact from the stresses of being caught.
On the other hand, I have never had ANY trouble releasing a cat, even on the occasions when I have used a vertical hang. I've never released a cat to see it surface later belly up, or not be willing to swim off. Larger pike or muskie usually seem hard to release, even when handled with kid gloves, (cradles, wet hands, no trebles, etc...)
Anyone have input?