Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Knnn]

I always bonk the fish first, enough to render it unconscious or dead (usually the latter).  Then I cut through both gills, place the fish back in the water so the blood does not congeal as fast and I also massage the heart to actively pump the blood from the body until little or no blood is forced from the gill cuts.

I shudder every time I see someone do the gill rip without first killing or rendering the fish unconscious.  Even worst is the gill rip and then chuck the fish on the bank to let it bleed out, which can often take a long time, causing the fish unnecessary pain and suffering (IMHO).  Yes, I know we are causing fish pain and suffering catching them, but there are many techniques that can be adopted to minimize this as far as possible.

[TimL]

Stun it by hitting it on the head a few times with a fish bonker or small stone then cut a gill or 2 to bleed it out. I usually place the fish head first (upside down) in a bucket with some water to let it bleed out completely. This process takes up to several minutes depending on the size of the fish. 

[BCfisherman97]

Try turning the fish upside down, placing the head in the water. Slowly run your fingers down its back/spine and shake the fish by holding the tale with the other hand. You'll be surprised how much more blood will come out from there.

[JBB]

If you don't want to carry a cooler to the river, try something " old school ".  Use a damp burlap sack ( if you can find one ) to store the fish while you're on the river. Evaporation of the water causes cooling and the fish stay cool . I carry the fish to the truck where they are transferred to a cooler containing a plastic bottle of ice. I also follow the bonk and
bleed method.

[fishmonk]

For me: 1 Bonk (with a wooden bonker) >> Cut the gills out >> Bleed out in running water >> Transfer to a cooler with ice bags lining the bottom, tastes fresh and great everytime.... 

[MetalAndFeathers]

I use a potato sack as it does not rip as easily and can be used multiple times, might smell a bit off

[Sandman]

I rarely plan on killing my catch, but if I do catch a hatch coho and decide to kill it, I bonk then bleed.  As for carrying, it ends up in my stripping basket until I get home. 

[243Pete]

Bonk, cut gills at the lowest part of the gill plate, place it in water and even give it a bit of a slow swim action to help with the pumping of blood.

[hrenya]

last year couple of guys who I fished with showed me a trick , they took a stick kinda sharp on one side , poke through the gill (fish is kinda on a side) and nail it to the shore with fish in water , they left it for a few minutes , and after cut the gill and cleaned it , I used that few times and no blood left in fish after this . all of above was done after bonking fish (tap it)

[NiceFish]

I rip the gills and bleed the fish and shortly after clean it and place it in a burlap (coffee bean) sack.