Catch and release fishing

Catch and release works and is one of our most important strategies to successfully catching larger fish. In Alberta, the Bull trout populations were in a critical state on our Eastern slopes fisheries and in the last 5 years, we've seen a vast improvement in numbers of fish and size. This is the direct result of the Alberta government's catch & release regulations for our native Bull trout. I love catching large fish and with lake aeration, new government regulations to enhance fisheries and the help of catch & release fishermen/women, we can all enjoy landing bigger and stronger fish in the future.

Common sense rules to catch and release fishing.

• Do not play a fish longer than is required to muscle it in.
• If you handle the fish for a picture, make sure your hands are wet.
• If you are placing the fish on your boat for measurement, ensure your tube is wet.
• Never leave a fish out of the water longer than you can hold your own breath.
• Do not throw your fish back in the water, carefully place the fish horizontally in the water until the fish begins to swim on it's own.
• When the fish does begin to swim on it's own, release the tail. Some believe, to revive a fish quicker, you can gently rock the fish from back to front forcing water through it's gills, while others believe this method can harm a fish (this is a personal call you must make yourself).