Originally Posted by
dockboy
Nice fish and good trip. Sorry to hear about the golden, sometimes it happens. Too bad he was a bigger fish, but sometimes it just goes that way. Just for your knowledge, try and cut the line as close to the hook as possible. If you use a smaller hook and debarb it, it pays off. Try barbless when you want to release fish. If you can't get it out or you can't see the hook, put the fish back in the water and let it revive itself a bit. Then get it back up and cut it as close as possible. Put the fish back gently and move him back and forth in the water for a few seconds. This gets the water moving through the gills and revives the fish quicker. Let him swim out on his own. The hook will rust out or be digested within a month. The fish can usually still eat with a hook in their tongue or mouth. Another thing with releasing fish is to never touch the gill structure. The gills are fragile and will rupture if touched to hard or exposed too long. Thats why you should never put your finger in a fish gill if you want to release them. I've heard the goldens tasted excellent, but I never keep'em. Accidents happen dude. Like I said, cutting the line close and just getting them back in the water will help, this applies to just about any kind of fishing btw. In any case, great trip and I hope you guys had a lot of fun. I'm going up myself here Friday, I'll get pics and post if possible.