How do I get over my fear of touching live fish?

[B2-Bomber]

I think the only, and subtle difference in steve's perspective is that as evolved beings fishing is not for survival even if the fish is consumed, it isn't necessary to survive due to other available food sources.

on a pure survival standpoint, the cost, and effort spent on going out on fishing, could easily net (pun intended) a human being more food if spent on acquiring food in other ways

I do agree, humane killing practices should always be used. but I think since steve is already all up in his head about his perspective, he should avoid looking at it from a survival standpoint because his human brain (which is capable of reasoning/logic) would see the point I listed above, and render any perspective changes based on "survival" moot. and therefore not helping him

 

[sixstringsteve]

Thanks UT410. I really like that site and I like the idea of killing them as humanely as possible.

I don't feel bad killing a fish if I'm going to eat it, but for catch and release I'd like to do as little damage as possible. I have no problem with others hunting or eating animals, I eat them all the time. I think I have been too disconnected from the actual animal and the meat I get from it, and I'd like to get in touch with it. Plus I think every dad should take their son fishing someday, and I'd like to get over the fear rather than avoid it my entire life.

 

[sixstringsteve]

I think I just need to own the fish and be the boss of it. A glove will help get me started. Let this thread be a lesson for all you dads out there: make your son remove the fish himself. I've probably caught 50 fish in my life, but I've always had someone there to remove it for me.

 

[B2-Bomber]

I think I have been too disconnected from the actual animal and the meat I get from it

this is how I feel about killing mammals. I was a motorsports guy (spent my entire childhood 3 days a week in the pits at the racetrack), we didn't hunt. I just don't "get into" killing mammals. and I even have a hard time with killing small game like rabbits up close.

 

[glockman]

I hate fish, touching them, eating them or trying to catch them. Maybe we should hang out and I could influence you to just not fish I do like shooting carp with a bow. They are like flesh trash bags.


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[sixstringsteve]

I have no problem with other people hunting, but I know it'd be tough for me if I didn't need the meat.

I think this year I'll go hunting to see if I can actually pull the trigger when the time comes. I've never killed a large animal on purpose. I'd like to be able to know that I can do it if I ever need to.

 

[Spork]

When I was a kid I fished a ton, I probably did more fishing in a week than I do now in 2 years. Getting the hook out has some technique to it, you don't want to be hanging the fish from the hook, lifting them way up in the air, etc. Keep them low and supported, if they are low and supported they are less likely to thrash around, I usually grab the hook with some small pliers, if the fish thrashes I keep the hook going in the direction I want it to go (out of mouth) and sometimes will even let go of the fish (not the hook).

I use a pair of pliers like this: http://www.harborfreight.com/4-3-4-quarter-inch-long-nose-pliers-40697.html they have a spring to open.

 

[Caleb]

I hate fish, touching them, eating them or trying to catch them. Maybe we should hang out and I could influence you to just not fish I do like shooting carp with a bow. They are like flesh trash bags.


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Describes me to a "T". I have no patience to fish. The only time I've had fun fishing is once down at Powell, we were catching huge cat fish as quick as we could cast out and reel in. It was crazy. Other than that, I can't stand fish or fishing.

This thread reminds me of my nephew a few years ago We were up by Jackson Hole:

[youtube]41zTOYsIDTY[/youtube]

 

[sawtooth4x4]

I LOL'd.

 

[clfrnacwby]

any techniques that make removing a fish from the hook easier?

Needle-nosed pliers, definitely. As for grabbing them so you can get the hook out, I've always tried to get a good grasp on them in the water, or better yet, in a fishing net, in the water. Most people try to grab them after they pull them out of the water and while dangling in the air -- ever heard of "feel like a fish out of water" when talking about an uncomfortable situation? They don't like it, and spaz out - makes it almost impossible to get a good grip with slicing your hand on their fins, your own fishing line, etc.

A good set of rubber gloves with help with grip. Keep them in the water until you get a good grip right around the gills and then use pliers to gently get the hook out. Before you know it, you'll be releasing a fish just as fast as you can change a ball joint...

 

[clfrnacwby]

How do you get a hook out if it swallowed it entirely? I also heard that the hooks these days are made of a material that the fish's saliva will dissolve over time. is this true?

http://www.myfwc.com/research/saltwater/fish/other/catch-release-fishing/

Start reading at ""Limit your kill; don't kill your limit!".

 

[phatfoto]

I'm with glockman and caleb. No patience for fishing. Hate touching the things, hate cleaning them even more. But love to eat fish. Go figure... Even living in Hawaii, I hated fishing. I DID however, drive my friend's fishing boat numerous times so he could concentrate on his outriggers and such. I had no trouble walking of his boat with 30-50 pounds of cut fish. I don't know that I'd so much call it fear or phobia as much as complete and utter distaste on my part. Yeah, I'll starve in the post apocolyptic world...

 

[kellerexpress]

The best tool I have found for removing hooks are medical hemostats. I work at a hospital and sometimes bring them home as leftovers from procedures. They are small and lock into the hook really well.

 

[airmanwilliams]

haha when living at home my younger brothers wouldn't touch the fish and freaked when I hit them on a rock. They would then pay me when we got home to gut the fish for them. When I was graduating high school on the Oregon coast we were required to complete 40 hrs of community service and all others were taken so I chose to work at one of the fish hatcheries. I was then put in charge of the traps we had for the returning salmon and had to beat them. In training me they gave me a mallet and I had to beat them but was timid about it until these old guys started screaming and cussing at me to hit them then I had to take the eggs and other stuff and stir them in a bucket. My gross out factor is way high after having to work there.

 

[Rock Taco]

For removing hooks I like these http://www.scheels.com/shop/Product...=34681&parent_category_rn=34681&storeId=10151

But mine have a slightly turned tip.

 

[DerekM]

I know exactly how you feel! except I'll take it a step further.. When we fish with worms my wife has to put the worm on the hook for me because I can't stand the feeling of shoving the hook all the way down the worm! I can gut a dead fish no problem. But baiting the hook and unhooking the fish - I'm not a fan. That's why my wife goes with me

 

[STAG]

Steve if it makes you feel any less out-of-the loop, the last fish I caught I think I was 12 or so, and I don't care to catch any more, partially because I don't like unhooking them.

I buy my fish pre-caught and 90% of the time, pre-cooked.

 

[N-Smooth]

Needle-nose pliers for this guy. I do my best to not handle them as it's bad for them anyways. If I'm releasing it, I do so with as little impact as possible. If I'm keeping it I will grab it.
I've seen a number of people who say they're "catch and release only" completely man-handle fish and they just go belly-up anyways. Irony

 

[RogueJeepr]

Some of you may hate me for this but... Sack-up you sissys !!!

Here's a tip ; cut the barb off to make it easier to unhook the fish and I usually stay away from the cheese hooks cause they swallow it sometimes but they do love cheese/powerbait . If ya feel the fish is dying cut the line and give it water CPR (put in water and push it back and forth to get some water thru its gills) then release it .

I never bring fish home (unless its a monster) cause of all the warnings of disease/mercury.
I just un-hook and take a pic then release .

Whats the saying ; Teach a man to fish and he eats for life. Catch a fish for a man and he eats for a day.

 

[rholbrook]

Steve, I will take you fishing. I fly fish frequently, few thing I enjoy more. I spend a lot of time in Montana fishing. All my kids fly fish with me.

I always crimp my barbs. It allows them to come out really easy. If the fish swallows the hook, simply leave it in there, it will be gone quickly on its own. The hooks will desentigrate quickly. I have caught a lot of fish with hooks in them. It doesn't hurt the kids walking around with hardware in their lips. Seriously, snip the line and release it. As far as handling the fish, make sure your hands are wet

Here is a picture of my daughter with a fish on