Catch and Release is the Future of Fishing

There is little doubt that catch and release of any species is the future of fishing. They used to say that 90 percent of the fish were caught by 10 percent of the fishermen, and that catch-and-keep practices could not “fish out” a lake. But in this day of better- educated and better-equipped anglers, this is no longer the case.  If we want to catch more and bigger fish (and who doesn’t?), we must share those we catch with other anglers by ensuring their safe release.

I’ve been fortunate to visit some of the greatest fishing destinations throughout the Upper Midwest and Canada and the trend is clearly toward more restrictive harvest regulations. Amazingly, fish species often respond positively within a few short years. For example, tighter size and bag limits on walleyes and northern pike on giant Lake of the Woods on the Ontario/Minnesota border resulted in an almost-immediate improvement in the respective fisheries.

If a reduction of angler harvest on water of this magnitude can quickly be evident, what about smaller waters, say the 1,000-acre lake you used to visit with your Grandpa? Well, it can work tremendously there, too. In my home state of Wisconsin, catch-and-release seasons on largemouth and smallmouth bass while the fish are spawning has resulted in world class fisheries on tiny waters. The truth is, catch and release works everywhere.
We should strive to make sure the fish we release survive, which is why I use Frabill nets. When I first switched to Frabill more than a decade ago, I immediately noticed a difference in my fish photos — fish netted in a Frabill had fewer split fins or other net marks. It didn’t take me long to be a believer.
I carry PowerCatch Series nets for muskies, a Pro-Formance rubber-mesh net for walleyes, and a fish-friendly Conservation series net for bass. Net bags feature knotless netting and flat bottoms, and the Conservation Series’ Micro Mesh can be especially easy on fish.
How do I know this stuff works? I’ve caught the same smallmouth bass and walleye twice on the same day several times, and I’ve caught the same musky twice in as little as 15 days. If these fish resumed their normal habits that quickly, I know their brief visit in my Frabill had little, or any effect on them. And that’s exactly what we want to achieve.