Nothing beats floating around on a pristine lake in the Boreal Forrest for relaxation and stress relief. And what about stress-relief for the other participants in our cherished wilderness experience? Yep, the fish, so let’s consider reducing stress for the guys on the end of our lines.
Here is some information about this as stated in an Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources publication:
“While catch-and-release is physiologically stressful, stress and therefore mortality can be minimized by following some general catch-and-release guidelines. Gear should be appropriate for the species being angled, allowing for quick retrieval. The use of barbless hooks and circle hooks should be considered to reduce the amount of time required to release fish. Air exposure should be minimized and fish should be released quickly.” (https://dr6j45jk9xcmk.cloudfront.net/documents/2571/228125.pdf)
The fish’s recovery depends greatly on the time out of water and proper handling: no flopping in the boat, no squeezing, etc. With even the best care taken, released fish will take 2-4 hours to recover normal cardiovascular function! So we need to get them back in their habitat as quickly as possible. Bruises and loss of protective slime also negatively affect the fish and increase mortality of the released fish. Additionally, remember that fish are used to having their bodies, especially internal organs, supported entirely and evenly by water.
This video shows my favorite way to release a fish. It is the definitive way to minimize stress on the fish. So consider this technique and only net/measure fish you intend to eat or photograph.