Safely Catch and Release When Ice Fishing

Water is the Best Medicine in the Cold

When it is very cold outside you have to get the fish back to the water immediately because the eyes and slime freezes. Fish eyes freeze very easily. Pike need their slime as it is their protective coating from infection and disease so do not remove it from the hole. Leave the fish in the hole and remove the hook, take a quick picture and if you want a replica take a quick measurement of the length and girth.

Nowadays there is no need to kill a fish, the replicas are better then the original fish. When taking the picture support the Pike horizontally with your hands. When releasing the fish gently release her back through the hole holding her tail slightly, don’t just throw her back. When she revives she will swim away on her own. Never move your fish back and forth through the water because its like drowning them.

Submitted by Kurt Stein of Big Strike Outfitters