Net key part of catch-and-release fishing

Whether you like it or not, catch-and-release fishing is becoming more commonplace.

In some cases, fish must be released in order to comply with regulations; in others anglers voluntarily release some, if not most, of the fish they catch so they and other anglers have a chance to catch that fish again — hopefully when it's larger.

Of course, catch-and-release is not going to benefit any angler or the fish itself if it doesn't survive. It seems to me it is downright negligent and disrespectful both to the fish and the resource to not be properly prepared to handle fish in the best way possible.

There was a time when I would have told you the last thing you should do with a fish that might be released is put it in a landing net. Back in the day, landing nets typically were made of nylon or similar materials that were very abrasive to the fins and slime coating of fish. Many excellent landing nets are available now, however, and every angler should have a modern, quality landing net — they make great Christmas gifts, by the way.

With a landing net, anglers can quickly control a fish and the fish can be left in the water while hooks are removed and a camera is readied if you want a photo of your catch. By using a quality landing net, the landing, handling and release of a fish can be accomplished as quickly as possible, with the fish spending the least amount of time out of the water as possible.

It's the fastest, safest way to handle fish for both the fish and angler.

It has to be the right type of landing net, however, and I am a huge fan of the rubber-mesh landing nets: The rubber mesh is easy on the fish, causes relatively little damage to fins and slime coats, and removing hooks from rubber mesh nets is relatively easy.

Many landing nets on the market are made specifically for catch-and-release fishing. These nets typically are oversized, may have flat bottoms that allow fish to lie horizontally and usually have a mesh that is coated with rubber or similar material to make it less abrasive.

One final comment about using a landing net: Do not chase the fish with the net. Wait until the fish is ready to be netted, then place the net in the water and lead the fish into it headfirst. If a fish is not controlled and guided into the net, hooks can get tangled in the net before the fish is completely in it.