The Idaho Department of Fish & Video Game (IDFG) carried out a research study in 2015 on the effects of catch-and-release on trout death. While the research study was released last summertime, it’s begun making the rounds once again on social networks, so it deserves giving your attention.
The research study particularly took a look at catch-and-release death for trout in warm water conditions. What the research study discovered was that death for trout captured and launched in water 73 F or warmer was 69% greater than when water temperature levels were listed below 66 F.
What’s especially intriguing, nevertheless, is that biologists then used their findings to fish populations throughout an offered river system utilizing an approach that counted angler encounter rates with a portion of that river’s trout population. Because case, just about 2.8% of the trout population passed away due to being captured and launched in water warmer than 73 F.
It’s unbelievable to have real-world outcomes around our science-based finest practices for catch-and-release fishing. You can check out the whole research study here.