More Evolved Ways to Handle Fish

Fish Handling 101

I think good “fish handling” practices begin well before you actually touch a fish.

We should all agree that when it comes to catch-and-release fishing, especially for trout, the less time between “capture” and letting the fish go, the better.

All the science points that way.

I’ve never seen a study suggest that the more time you spend manipulating and ogling a caught fish, the better its odds of survival.

With that in mind, there are a few things to consider as part of Fish Handling 101.

Fish barbless hooks. Smash your barbs down. Barbed hooks take longer to remove, and they cause more damage to the fish, period.

Use as heavy a leader and tippet as you think you can get away with. Landing a trout relatively quickly on 4X tippet is a heck of a lot better for the fish than playing it for a long time on 7X. Studies are showing us that how long you fight a trout is a major deal when it comes to fish survival, especially in water temperatures above 60 degrees. That’s why many anglers are questioning the ethos of chasing line-class world records.

Use a net, with a rubber mesh basket. I know, some people insist on using their bare hands (wet, of course) to land a fish. But about four percent of anglers can actually do that well, without throwing the fish on the bank, smashing it against their bodies, dropping it in the boat, etc. A good net with a large basket becomes a cage through which water flows, and you can go about your business of removing hooks, taking a photo, whatever.

Have your fish removal tools ready. Your hemostats or Ketchum Release Tool shouldn’t be something you search for after you’ve landed a fish. Plan ahead.

So much about fishing is about anticipating what happens next. That shouldn’t only concern the things leading up to hooking the fish.

After you land the fish, you can worry about those other fish handling things, like keeping your hands wet, minimizing air time exposure and such. 

But let’s also get real. People want photos of fish. I’m also not going to stop taking photos of fish. But I’m just not going to take five minutes to stage dopey photos with the rod and reel balanced delicately on my shoulder (logo out!), so I can fawn over the fish, gazing down lovingly at the creature I just beat the tar out of, before I post it on social media.

Endeavor to make fish releases more like pit stops than photo ops–this way, catch-and-release works better, and you’re doing your part to sustain a fishery.

How you think about and execute your angling approach is as important as handling the fish themselves. – Kirk Deeter

More Evolved Ways to Handle Fish

Increased fishing pressure creates impact. Hooking every fish in the run with your Euro-nymph rig creates impact. Harboring a “don’t tell me what to do, I’ll stick as many fish as I want” ethos creates impact. Understand that these resources are limited and shared. Leave a few untouched pools for the next angler. Take a break on the river bank. Sip a beer. Birdwatch. Read a book. Daydream. But let’s collectively find a way to evolve beyond the “I’d Rather Be Rippin’ Lips” bumper sticker…

Read the entire article on Substack.

Product Buzz

A Short List of Todd Tanner’s Favorite Trout Rods: “There’s nothing quite like bringing a dozen incredibly skilled and extremely opinionated fly fishing experts together and giving them carte blanche to share their thoughts.” Spencer Durrant considers the age-old question: Are Expensive Fly Rods Worth The Money? “By and large, the high-end rods of today are incredible. I run out of adjectives to describe them.” YETI Panga Backpack 28: A Long Haul Review. “The YETI Panga 28 is a premium waterproof pack designed for harsh, wet environments. It’s not built for casual commutes–it’s built for situations where keeping your gear dry is essential.” The Best Wading Boots, Tested and Reviewed. “There’s more that goes into choosing wading boots than just finding the right size. You have to consider weight, materials, traction, sole type, and lacing.” Your Go-To Western Fly Rod: The 9-Foot 5-Weight. “Many people say a 9-foot 5-weight is the ideal western trout rod and I can’t disagree; it serves equally well for bass, yellow perch bluegill and crappie. I consider it to be the most versatile stick a fledgling western flyfisher could own…” The Best Fly Reels of 2025. “While it’s true that they play no role in casting (as conventional reels do), the best fly reels serve a number of other important purposes. This is especially true when you step outside the trout stream and start chasing bigger fish. In these and most other modern fly-fishing scenarios, a durable reel with a dependable drag can make all the difference.”

Fly-fishing News

Check out our new Flylab Substack and the cool content over there. If you choose to support us, many heartfelt thanks–storytelling this awesome doesn’t grow on trees. Catchflo to Cease Operations. Catchflo, fly fishing’s first and only “fishy” casual footwear DTC brand, is shutting down. The Mission Issue 52 is out: Wayne Haselau, Samburuland Yellowfish, Touchy Feely in Mongolia, Mooi Guerilla Browns, Booze, Beats and more. Plus African guide David Taylor: “Soft spoken yet armed with a 12-weight for big fish.” Common Fly Fishing Mistakes (And How to Fix Them). “Even the best anglers make mistakes. Whether you’re new to the game, a bit rusty after a long winter, or just need a refresher, these are the slip-ups that cost fish…” Joe Cermele on the Quick Strike Podcast: Is Euro Nymphing Right for You? “This highly effective and polarizing fly technique can be a confidence booster or crutch depending on how you approach it.” Greg Thomas on No Hackles: “Harrop is a connoisseur of classic flies and fishes a variety of no-hackle patterns on the Henry’s Fork and other waters. And he believes them to be key to success on heavily pressured waters.” A memoir of James Warren from Montana’s Chloe Nostrant. “James was a Renaissance man and a romantic. Not in a Valentine’s Day type of way. In the way he made his life so beautiful and loved it. He fished, hunted, ate fine meals, surrounded himself with great art, read more books than anyone I have ever met and kept great company.”

Recent Press

“Great stuff on Substack. You guys are killing the content game." – James, Flylab Fan

On Fast Rods Cover Casting Flaws: “I think this is a terrible take. Fast action rods gave [sic] many uses and a beginner caster couldn't tell the difference between a 2x4 and a helios. I think all rods have their time and place and it takes the same amount of skill to cast any rod wether [sic] its [sic] a 2wt classic trout or a 12wt helios.”  – Jack, Tepid Flylab Fan

Jack, respectfully, most beginners can easily tell the difference between glass, medium-action and "fast-action" (Helios-type) fly rods, given the correct instruction. Also, the skill involved in throwing a 2-weight 15 feet into some mountain pocket water, and the separate skill of throwing a saltwater 11-weight 100 feet (into the wind) for cruising tarpon–are so fundamentally different, they might as well be different sports.

“Personally, I think fast-action rods ‘amplify’ casting errors. Fast-action rods are precision instruments and respond to errors in casting plane, timing and loading unloading while hauling and shooting the line. This is why so many shops recommend overloading the rod to get it to bend more and soften the effects of bast casting form...” – Capt Kenjo, Flylab Fan

On The Tao of Two-foot Trout: “Good stuff. I particularly liked the section on your father’s rod (as mine passed a few years ago as well) and the ‘glass half full’ guys lapping the competition.” – Jason, Substack Subscriber

We’re always looking for Flylab feedback–send any comments, thoughts, suggestions, and we’d love to hear from you.

A Flawed Casting Stroke

If a fly rod taxes our strength and quickness, our fundamentals tend to quickly erode. Typically, our stroke gets too long as we try to impart the necessary work. Sometimes our wrist bends too much. Often, it’s a combination of both of these. The bottom line is a stroke which is too long will often fail, with all its attendant problems. This is an extremely common problem for saltwater anglers, as they struggle to make their rods load. But freshwater fishermen experience the same thing–even with fly lines as light as five-weights–if their rods are overly stiff. It’s especially noticeable after a full day’s fishing.

Read the entire article.

Partner Spotlight

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“Going Green”: Green Drakes in Central Oregon. “The Metolius is a beautiful spring-fed river, crystal clear and has some of the most prolific hatches that fly anglers dream of.”