Be Ready for the Trout, Not Just the Take!

There’s a familiar ritual to arriving at a fishery. Rod assembled, reel attached, line threaded, fly box opened and a quick scan of the water to see if anything’s rising. Then it’s straight into the fishing, because we’ve all got places to be and trout to catch!

But hold your horses. Before that first cast, there’s one question worth asking yourself. Are you properly equipped for what happens if you actually catch something?

It might sound daft. After all, you’ve come fishing to catch fish. But you’d be surprised how many anglers prepare meticulously for the take and give barely a passing thought to what happens next.

And that, my friends, is where things can get a little fishy.

The Catch Is Only Half the Story

Trout fishing comes in many flavours. At plenty of still water fisheries, you can take your catch home for the table, subject to the fishery’s rules. There’s nothing wrong with that when it’s permitted. A freshly caught trout can make a splendid supper.

But whether your trout is destined for the frying pan or a return to the river, it deserves to be dealt with properly.

On rivers and at many catch-and-release fisheries, returning the fish safely is an essential part of the sport. That means having the right tackle, suitable equipment and the knowledge to use it. Because catching a trout is one thing. Landing it without unnecessary stress, removing the hook safely and giving it the best possible chance of recovery is quite another.

And no, holding it up by the gills while your mate searches for his phone doesn’t count as best practice!

Pack for the Whole Performance

Let’s start with the tackle. Your rod, line and leader

should be appropriate for the fish you’re targeting and the conditions you’re fishing in.

There’s a time and a place for delicate tackle. Presenting a tiny dry fly to a wary wild brown trout can be a wonderful challenge. But using tackle so light that you cannot bring a decent fish under control in a reasonable time is not necessarily sporting. A prolonged fight can leave a trout exhausted, particularly in warmer water.

The objective is to land the fish efficiently, not to turn every capture into a three-act drama.

Next, consider your landing net. If you practise catch and release, a suitable net with fine, fish-friendly rubber mesh is an excellent investment. It helps you bring the fish under control while keeping handling to a minimum. Make sure the handle is long enough for the riverbank, boat or lake margin you’re fishing.

Then there are the little things that suddenly become very important. A pair of forceps or suitable hook-removal tools should be readily accessible, not buried beneath three fly boxes, a sandwich and last season’s waterproofs.

You should know how to use them, too. If you’re new to trout fishing, learn the basics from an experienced angler before you find yourself trying to perform emergency dentistry on a lively rainbow.

Keep the Fish in Its Element

For catch-and-release anglers, the golden rule is simple: keep the fish in the water as much as possible.

Wet your hands before touching a trout. Its protective slime coating helps guard against infection, and dry hands or rough surfaces can damage it.

Where possible, unhook the fish while it remains in the net and in the water. Barbless hooks make this easier, and they’re well worth considering wherever the fishery rules allow. If a hook is deeply embedded and removing it would cause further injury, cutting the leader close to the hook may be the kinder option.

And please, keep the photography brief. We all enjoy a picture of a handsome trout, but the fish doesn’t need a full studio session, three costume changes and a photographer shouting, “Just one more!”

If you want a photograph, have your camera ready beforehand. Support the fish properly, keep it close to the water and return it promptly. In a river, allow it to recover facing into a gentle current, supporting it until it swims away strongly under its own steam.

That’s the moment worth remembering: not how long you held it, but how well you returned it.

Know Your Limits

There’s absolutely no shame in admitting that you’re unsure how to handle a fish. We all start somewhere, and even experienced anglers encounter situations that test them.

Ask an experienced member of the fishery staff or another knowledgeable angler for help. Better still, learn the correct techniques before you need them.

A little preparation can prevent a great deal of unnecessary stress, for both fish and fisherman.

So, before your next outing, check your tackle, inspect your net, find your forceps and make sure you understand the rules of the water you’re fishing.

Because a successful day's fishing isn't measured solely by the number of trout you catch.

It's also measured by how responsibly you deal with them.

As I always say, it pays to be prepared. After all, you can’t expect the trout to do all the work!