Many lakes, including Burntwood Lake, participate in catch and release fishing programs. While catching a fish is typically straightforward, the releasing part of fishing may be difficult for those who are new to the sport.
To practice successful catch and release, follow these steps:
When handling a fish, wet your hands or put on rubberized gloves so you help maintain the slime coat on the fish. The slime coat you tend to see helps protect the fish from infection and helps with swimming.- After preparing your hands, hold the fish horizontally whenever you can since that is the way fish naturally swim when in the water. Try not to drop the fish onto any hard surfaces.
- It’s important to keep your fingers away from the eyes and gills of the fish and avoid squeezing fish around the belly since that can damage their internal organs.
- To minimize handling, use a release tool such as de-hookers or recompression tools, if needed.
- Although you may want to take photos of your big catch, remember time is the essence! Release the fish as soon as you are able to and release the fish head first into the water so water is forced through the mouth and over the gills. This helps to resuscitate the fish. .
- Last but not least, know the current fishing regulations that apply to the state you are fishing in and accurately measure the fish in order to abide by the regulations. Here at Burntwood Lake Lodge, we practice a catch and release policy of all Northern Pike over 30”.
We want you to have a great experience on the water but we also encourage anglers to be responsible and knowledgeable. If we now have you feeling eager to fish, book a stay with us today by calling 1-877-358-2259.