Releasing fish?

[DonInDenver]

Obviously, the best way is with a barbless hook, foreceps, and never removing it from the water. Failing that, I've always been taught to wet your hand (so you don't scrape off the protective slime with a dry hand), cradle the fish as gently as possible (being careful not to squeeze it) and then remove the hook as quickly as possible. I have also read that with salmonoids such as trout, that holding a large fish vertically, head up or tail up, can result in permanent damage to internal organs that can be torn away by gravity. I'm not 100% certain that is correct, but it makes logical sense given the delicate nature of some of those tissues. I've never heard or read anything similar about bass.

So, to make a long story a little shorter, I try not to stick my thumb in amongst a trout's teeth and I don't hold one up by the jaw (or tail) and dangle it if I'm going to release it. Those are my opinions and reasons.
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