How do you do CPR for AOTY?

How are you getting a fish to hold still and pose for its AOTY portrait if you intend to release it?

If I ever catch one, that is.

Great question! It takes some time and patience. I took a decent smallmouth dorsal spike to one of my fingers last year trying to hold it on the measuring device that ended up being painful for a month after. If you're like me you're anxious to get the fish back in the water and breathing, so it can be stressful. But a few breaths for yourself and going through the motions with intent can end up being less stressful overall to the fish and you.

If you can, leave the hook in the fish's mouth as insurance. Sometimes I hold the fish's mouth (a bass, for example), sometimes I "palm" the fish. It can be really hard for large fish that you want to release (not that I would know  ).

Take a look through the AOTY leaderboard pictures of fish and you'll see lots of examples and tactics. Like most things the best way to learn is to do it - start measuring even your small fish, plan out where your camera/phone is going to be, how you're going to get to it, what hand is going to do what, and how you're going to review the pictures before release to ensure you got the shots you need.

Good luck!

I alwas thought it was breath, compress,compress,compress, then repeat CPR least that's what they use to teach. 

Two words



Fish.  Lips.

I alwas thought it was breath, compress,compress,compress, then repeat CPR least that's what they use to teach. 

     Close.  Eight compressions, then a breath...

I alwas thought it was breath, compress,compress,compress, then repeat CPR least that's what they use to teach. 

     Close.  Eight compressions, then a breath...

Guess it's time for a refresher course as you get older you forget the important shiza, aren't you glad I didn't have to save you.

Thanks, Cap'n.  I can't look through the AOTY photos without being reminded that I'm in dead last place.  A tear runs down my cheek every time.

I thought folks were just holding them in position, but you're right, when I wipe the tears from my eyes and look more closely, some are live fish.

Appreciate it.

Fish.  Lips.

Okay???

[Guess it's time for a refresher course as you get older you forget the important shiza, aren't you glad I didn't have to save you.

Have more faith in yourself.  I'd rather wash ashore next to you than next to me.  You'd save me - or cobble together something that would've pulled me through.  And you'd paint it!

I don't remember which one we're not supposed to do for the new CPR.  Compressions?  Or breaths?  Nope, I don't want to wash ashore next to me. 

How are you getting a fish to hold still and pose for its AOTY portrait if you intend to release it?

If I ever catch one, that is.

What you do is get the fish on the board with lip grips.  Then yell at the top of you lungs....

STOP MOVING YOU GOD DAMN FISH!!!

It works in theory, and is more for you than the fish. 
Your mileage will vary. 

How are you getting a fish to hold still and pose for its AOTY portrait if you intend to release it?

If I ever catch one, that is.

Using both hands to control a CPR fish has many advantages.  Better photos, more accurate measurements, less time out of the water, decreased chance of it flopping around and causing injury.....to name a few.

I use a hero 3+ mounted on a monopod with RAM base.  The camera is set to take an image every .5 seconds.  At 12mp it has plenty of resolution for easy scoring.   

Use a net.  It allows you to set up for a quality shot while allowing the fish to chill out.

Here's the procedure I use.

1.  Net and remove hook, leaving fish in the net.
2.  Turn on gopro and move it into position.  It's pre set to photo mode.
3.  Position measuring device.
4.  Start the gopro taking shots.
5.  Use both hands to remove fish from net and position on the board.
6.  Thank the fish and let him go.

A few tips.  Shoot some practice photos at home.  When you're out on the water knowing the camera is the correct distance from the fish will give you confidence.

Sharpie the numbers and lines!

I'll try screaming at the fish, but it didn't work last year when a stupid little trout jabbed the hook into my thumb while I was unhooking it.  Screaming seemed to get him even more excited.

... Seriously it's often quite literally blind luck.  In bright sunlight the viewfinder is impossible to see when holding the camera over the fish.  Megapixels are cheap so I put the camera on continuous and hold the shutter for a few seconds, then sort all the frames out at home for frames where fish is still, is in focus and is in the frame.