how to handle fish with spikes and teeth?

"David H. Lipman" wrote in message
news:grbGf.10363$In4.3938@trnddc06...
From: "JeffinMississippi"

| On one note, if you are not going to keep the fish, try to handle it as
| little as possible.
|

I second that statement !

--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
http://www.ik-cs.com/got-a-virus.htm



I third it, but can also add a reason why. Every time you handle a fish you
disrupt it's slime coat. It might not seem like much but it serves a BIG
purpose for the fish. It really is something like boogers in your nose. hehe

The slime coat keeps many types of bacteria, parasites, and infection off
the fish and allow it to slough stuff off. Even a small bit of destroyed
slime coat can invite bacteria or fungus to start growing up under a scale
or small wound.
Most fish that live in relatively healthy waters won't be much affected by
some handling if at all. The slime coat can reform pretty quickly as well.
The fish to handle the least are those in farms and private stock ponds that
might not being living in ideal situations. Scaly fish like stripers, bass,
bluegills, can take a bit more handling than skinned fish like trout,
suckers, catfish. Likewise the scaly fish are a little tougher about water
conditions. The skinned fish are taking water/oxygen in through more of
their skin than their scaly cousins.

(Just a wee bit of useless info)
_______________________________
www.fly-fishing-flies.com
Flies from $5.60 per DOZEN and more!
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On small catfish (less then 14 inches) I use a fish flipper to dehook and
avoid touching them. Larger catfish I use a long noose fish dehooking tool
or a long handle stainless steel needle nose pliers. This also works on
sheephead and other fish down here in South Louisiana.

Sarge