Releasing fish properly

The golden rules

What applies to any fish you want to put back alive.

for all species

Carp and grass carp

Heavy, powerful fish: the big risk is dropping them and them hitting the bank.

unhooking mat required at many lakes

Pike

Sharp teeth and a fragile jaw: hold it under the chin, never by the gills or the eyes.

glove + long pliers

Wels catfish

The largest fish in our waters: big specimens should stay in the water as much as possible.

thick glove

Trout and grayling

Sensitive salmonids from cold water: every second in the air and every extra degree counts.

ideally without taking it out of the water

Zander and perch brought up from deep water

Fish brought up quickly from deeper than ~10 m can have an inflated swim bladder (barotrauma).

mind the depth

When it's mandatory -- and when it's forbidden

The legal rules for natural waters; on a private lake the lake's rules apply.

legal · natural waters