Proper handling of fish to be released

[Tarponjim]

Chuck: I used a cradle exclusively when I was guiding for pike in Canada. 40-50-inchers were no problem to scoop up. Loved 'em. The catch is that big pike don't do squat when you get 'em to the boat. They just lay there, and you scoop 'em up in the cradle. I did try using it up there on big lake trout (20-35 pound variety), and they didn't work as well as a net, though they did work. Mine was made of nylon mesh. Be sure to get one with one end "blocked off." Otherwise, they just slide right through the thing! If you cradle 'em head first, the head gets to the end of the cradle, the fish stops, and you lift up and tilt the cradle slightly "head down." One thing though, they're nearly impossible to use if you're fishing alone. You need both hands to use one.
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