He is not really targeting nice fish just trying to catch every fish he can. He should switch to gulp minnows or marabou jigs they are a lot easier on smaller fish when you hook them compared to a rapala with 6 hooks. Plus you’ll catch just as many fish.
He should at least pinch the barbs and learn to grab the fish and get the hook out rather than shake it off with pliers. I don’t understand it.
I get the impression that maybe he is trying to release the fish without handling them. Like handling them is the worst and only thing that is going to harm them. Maybe this is a case of not enough knowledge or information about catch and release. A little more could go a long way.
Or then again he might just not care and doesn’t want to get his hands cold and dirty!
Either way hard to watch…
Yeah, really…looks like he is scared to hold a trout? Like letting it flop around on the ice and rocks for several minutes isn’t going to do far more damage then just grabbing the dang thing! Bizarre…
-Rich
This was as Charles Barkley would say “turrible”. Really hope none of us who care about fishing run into this guy or anyone like him. Just can’t understand how someone can feel good about posting videos like that.
Don’t get me wrong here y’all. This will sound like I’m defending this dude. I’m not but part of me thinks that maybe he doesn’t know how to handle trout if he is doing catch and release. I didn’t grow up trout fishing and honestly thought they were just as hardy as the sunfish, bass, crappie, and catfish I had caught for so many years. My reasons for thinking this is the fact that he is using a baitcaster rig with what looks like a medium or possibly medium heavy action rod. Probably a heavy pound test line. You notice that he horses them suckers in like they are babies. The tackle doesn’t match the species in my never to be humble opinion.
Like I mentioned before, I thought trout were just as tough as other species. I had caught a handful of browns on the Provo with a good buddy (I was using spinning gear and he was fly fishing) and he kindly educated me on how to do a more trout-friendly release when he saw me try to release one that went belly up. It was a legal fish to keep and went into my basket to take home. He asked if I wanted to keep a limit and I told him I hadn’t planned on it. Then he showed me things like keeping my hands wet, trying to keep the fish in the water as much as possible, not lipping it, etc. We are really good friends and as passionate as he is about fly fishing, he was really kind to me.
Having said all this, it may be a case of this dude just not being aware of what he is doing. It is kinda funny that he goes to great lengths to stay out of the water and not touch a fish.
I always remove those treble hooks from my Rapalas and install single Siwash hooks. You may miss a strike now and then, but it makes them a lot easier to remove from the fish.
I am waiting for him to disable the comments, 
I agree with Wag. I’ve been fishing for years and years, and just in the last 24 months or so of being on this site, I’ve learned 10x more than I have in the previous 28 years. Education is key, and this guy probably just doesn’t know. Some of the comments left for him were pretty harsh. I feel bad for the guy who just enjoys his sport and thought others might enjoy his videos.
Either that or he’s a complete deleted.
I was thinking ignorance as well, but seriously…the fish is bleeding. Dragging a fish across rocks, mud, sand? He is an adult.
Might be ignorance, or could be doesn’t care, there are many more where these came from.
I agree. …NET.
Endless Outdoors is an amateur at mis-handling fish. If he wants to compete with the experts, he’s got to place the fish on the grass next to his rod, dig the camera out of his pack, and take a picture. Then he needs to put a one-handed death grip on the fish, hold it arms length, and take a picture (especially if its a really big fish). Or if he really wants to up his game, hold the fish up dangling from the lure in its mouth, and, you guessed it, take a picture. Just check out the trip reports for more details, and pictures!
the sad thing is he is not the only one that handles fish like that especially trout, hes just dumb enough to make a vid out of it.
its sad that poeple have no education on the way to handle fish especially on one of the best flyfishing sections in utah.[frown][frown][frown]
Hope he learns from this and does better next time
I learn a lot from this site, and how to handle a fish is one of them. I honestly didn’t know that you should get your hands wet before handling a fish and my avatar shows my daughter handling a nice brown she caught with cotton gloves. (That fish did join us for lunch though) I don’t know if I’d be so harsh on this kid and his vids because there are many folks who honestly don’t know how to handle fish “the right way”.
1+ ease up a little
Common sense really has to come into play. Not rocket science. Would you grab a child by the hair to cross a road?
But, I don’t really see the difference in handling warm water or cold. Sure you can lift bass by their lip, but supporting their belly is much better as it is with any fish.
Can you imagine trying to drag a lying dog or even a cat across gravel?
Common sense. But, I will also say, what’s done is done, can’t change that, but you can change the future.
Also, maybe make your suggestions to him a little more diplomatically. You can definitely catch more flies with sugar.
Endless Outdoors is an amateur at mis-handling fish. If he wants to compete with the experts, he’s got to place the fish on the grass next to his rod, dig the camera out of his pack, and take a picture. Then he needs to put a one-handed death grip on the fish, hold it arms length, and take a picture (especially if its a really big fish). Or if he really wants to up his game, hold the fish up dangling from the lure in its mouth, and, you guessed it, take a picture. Just check out the trip reports for more details, and pictures!
So, every fish that I’ve ever taken a picture of is essentially going to die and I’m a worthless bass turd. Got it.
Or… they’re fine because I take care of them, even if I lay them in the grass for a photo or hold them at arms length for a quick snap shot.
Troutbum - I have no idea if the fish you are handling live or die. The studies that I have read indicate that about 5% to 10% of released fish die even when good handling practises are used. Holding a large fish in one hand or setting it down in the rocks and grass would certainly increase the fish mortality rate. There are plenty poor handling practices routinely photographed and shown proudly here on BFT.
My response wasn’t directed to you or anyone else in particular. But rather the BFT community as a whole, who seem to forgive these kind of things with their own, and are willing to jump all over a stranger. I prefer consistency in my lynch mobs.
Maybe it would be different if we actually saw how the fish was placed in the grass or on the rocks, sure I am guilty of placing my fish on the rocks by my rod when I want a picture and I am fishing by myself, but I have a net, use it, keep fish in the water until I am ready, place the fish and take a picture, put fish in water and have him swim off.
Might those fish die even with careful handling? sure they might, but I try my best to handle them as gently as I can and release them as quickly and gently as possible, could I do it better? sure, not take a picture but sometimes I want a pic.
Now if people on this forum posted a video of them dragging a flopping fish over the ice, into the mud, onto the rocks, bleeding from the gills and dropping it back through the ice to swim off and die, I doubt anyone would let it slide.
Exactly. This and most other fishing forums are not free from criticism.
Post a video of downright horrible fish handling and you’ll get raked over the coals. Sometimes that’s needed, sometimes it’s overkill.
None of us are flawless, but we can at least show some respect. Just the same, there’s no need to repent or say 3 Hail Mary’s after each catch either. I just say thanks and move on to the next.
Holding a fish for a photo isn’t a big deal, so long as you know how to hold a fish and keep it calm. When they freak out (Strawberry cutts are notorious for the hand/net fight), their chances of a shore tap go up exponentially.
Let’s not forget that fish are made of meat though. It doesn’t matter how you hold a fish with no future.
This guy was pretty rough with his catches and releasing them, therefore he becomes a topic of discussion. Apparently, this thread has already served an educational purpose, so it’s for the better.
How’s this one?
How’s this one?
GET THE ROPE!