There is more to catch and release than simply returning a fish to the water. In Wisconsin, anglers will release more than 2,000,000 trout, but more than 400,000 will die after release. Some released fish will die from hooking injuries no matter how carefully they are handled, but with proper care nearly all trout hooked in the jaw or mouth and two out of three deeply hooked fish should survive.

Please help ensure the survival of released fish by using the following techniques:

• Use barbless hooks.
• Play and land fish quickly. Struggling for too long causes a build-up of lactic acids in the fish, which can be fatal.
• Keep the fish in the water as much as possible. If possible, remove the hook without removing the fish from the water.
• Snip deeply embedded hooks and allow them to dissolve. Cut the line if the fish is hooked in the throat or stomach. Fish are much more likely to survive if deeply embedded hooks are left in place and allowed to dissolve.
• If the hook is in the jaw or lip, hold the fish gently at the base of the head just behind the gill covers and remove the hook with needlenose pliers. Be very careful not to squeeze the fish.
• Don't drop the fish in the boat or allow it to thrash around on the shore. Fish bruise easily, and damage to internal organs can be fatal.
• Never lift fish by the eye sockets or gills. Use both hands to support the fish's weight evenly.
• Wet your hands before lifting the fish. If it is necessary to set the fish down, place it on a smooth, wet surface.
• An unconscious fish can be revived by holding it upright in the water and gently moving it back and forth. Don't release the fish until you are sure it can swim away on its own. Make sure to release the fish slowly into calm water.
• A fish that can be legally kept should not be released if it is bleeding heavily. Remember that you can't intentionally fish for any species during its closed season.

How to Estimate a Fish's Weight without a Scale

Scales can damage a fish, and weighing can prolong the amount of time a fish spends out of water. Use a ruler to measure your catch, and then use the following formulas to estimate weight:

• Walleye: length x length x length divided by 2,700
• Pike: length x length x length divided by 3,500
• Sunfish: length x length x length divided by 1,200
• Bass: length x length x girth (the distance around the body) divided by 1,200
• Trout: length x girth x girth divided by 800

Formulas obtained from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Sources: "Wisconsin: A Great State to Fish!" by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. "Consider Proper Release" by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.  Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Web site.