North Platte Walleyes Unlimited
Catch and release
Minnesota DNR poster
It's an old adage -- limiting your catch is better than catching your limit.
But, it's really true.
You can protect our walleye fisheries by releasing big walleyes after you catch them. Just snap a photo or two and gently put them in the water, then watch them swim away. Keep a meal or two of the smaller, eating-size walleyes and release the rest.
Think about it. It takes about 10 years for a walleye to grow to 10 pounds in most waters. They've escaped the jaws of countless predators by that time. They've eluded the best efforts of many fishermen. They've helped provide eggs and sperm to boost walleye numbers.
Give 'em a break and release the bigger walleyes. Let somebody else have the fun of catching them, too.
Here are some tips from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources on how to properly release fish:
Set the hook quickly. This should set the hook in the fish's mouth, where it generally does little damage
Play fish quickly to reduce the fish's physical exhaustion
Use needle-nosed pliers, a hook remover or hook/barb cutting tool to remove imbedded hooks. If the hook is too deep, cut the line so at least an inch hangs out of the mouth
Use active fishing methods, which tend to result in mouth hook-ups rather than gut hooking. Artificial baits are often fished actively, live baits are often fished passively
Be prepared to take photos. Minimize the time out of water. This is especially important for fish pulled from deep water, which may have distended swim bladders
Revive a fish by cradling it under the belly and gently moving it forward in the water until it swims away - Do not place fish you plan to release on a stringer or in a live well
Wet your hands before touching a fish to prevent removal of their protective slime coat
Do not release a fish that can be legally kept if it is bleeding heavily, or can't right itself
Unhook and release the fish while it is still in the water, if possible, supporting its weight with both hands or with a net when removed from the water. Never lift them vertically from the water
Always release fish in the calm part of a stream
Never release a fish by tossing it back into the water
Switch to barbless hooks, pinch barbs down with pliers, or use circle hooks, which often lodge in the mouth rather than the gut or throat
Hold a fish firmly but gently. Don’t drop it! And don't hold a fish by the eyes
Fish in shallower water if you plan to practice catch and release.
Walleyes Unlimited of Montana
catch and release page
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