Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks wants to remind anglers that as reservoir water temperatures increase, mortality associated with catch and release also increases.
A study published in 2011 in The North American Journal of Fisheries Management found that walleye catch and release mortality rate rose from 0-1.8% with water temps below 68° F to nearly 16% when water temps were above 68° F.
Walleye that are played for extended periods of time, handled extensively in the boat, and/or stored in a live well will see an increase in mortality if the fish is later released.
Techniques to minimize catch and release mortality include:
fight and land the fish as quickly as possible
keep it in the water
remove the hook as gently as possible
have a camera or phone ready for pictures
don’t place the fish in a live well if you plan on releasing it
Additionally, anglers are encouraged to harvest fish that are deeply hooked or bleeding, as those fish will likely not survive.
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