Putting a fish back is only half the job. Putting it back so it actually survives is the part that matters, and it’s something we coach on every single trip. A wild trout is a renewable joy only if we handle it like one.

A few habits that make the difference

• Pinch your barbs. A barbless hook comes out fast and clean, which means less handling and less harm.
• Wet your hands before you touch a fish; dry hands strip the slime coat that protects it.
• Keep the fish in the water as much as you can. If you want a photo, get it framed before you lift, then lift for just a second or two.
• Use a rubber landing net and skip the gill grab entirely.
• Revive a tired fish facing into the current until it kicks away on its own.

None of this is hard, and after a trip or two it becomes second nature. We’ve watched generations of the same fish get caught, released, and grow because anglers treated them with care.

It’s the whole reason there are still fish here to chase. Come fish with people who take it seriously; see our guides and their trips.