Hot weather fishing: Best practices for catch-and-release

Firstly, fishing is more successful during the mornings and evenings, which is also beneficial for the fish because cooler temperatures reduce stress when they are out of water.

When river fishing, look for deeper, cooler spots. Releasing fish in such areas improves their chances of survival.

“Basically, be aware of where you are fishing and where you are releasing fish,” Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Sportfish Coordinator Trina Hedrick said.

“Try to pick a spot where you can release your fish into better quality water to increase their survival rates during this extremely hot weather.”

If reservoir fishing, anglers should note that fish caught in deep water may experience barotrauma, or pressure damage, when brought up too quickly from the cooler depths and then exposed to hot temperatures.

During hot weather, harvesting the fish within your daily limit may be preferable to releasing it, as barotrauma can pose recovery challenges for fish. Explore further details about barotrauma and its impact on different fish species on the DWR website.

Another crucial tip for fishing in hot temperatures is to use properly sized equipment to minimize stress on fish, especially if you intend to catch and release them.

“It is fun to fish with lighter equipment, but it takes longer to land the fish and that just adds to the stress,” Hedrick said. “Once you land a fish, try to do everything you can to keep the fish in the water, minimize handling time and get the fish released as quickly as possible.”

“That’s why we recommend having a rubber mesh net and keeping the fish in the water when you remove the hook. It is probably best to avoid removing the fish from the water to take pictures when the weather is hot, if you want to release it.”

In addition to this, using single hooks on lures with the barbs bent down will allow for an easier release. Minimizing the time spent “fighting” or reeling the fish in, as tired and stressed fish have higher death rates.

Also try to minimize handling of fish, as it can cause the loss of the slime coat and scales, which can result in infection to the fish. To prevent this, always wet your hands before touching the fish.

Minimize the amount of time the fish is exposed to the air, especially when the weather is hot. If you are using a net, you can often keep the fish in the water while removing the hook.

If the fish is deeply hooked, don’t pull on the line. Instead, cut the line as close as possible to where it is hooked and leave the hook.