Catch and Release question

If I pull a Mackinaw (or any fish) up from 200', they get that inflated belly effect or "barotrauma".  Anyway, if I feel like releasing the fish (too small or something) can the fish recover?  Is there anything I can do to help the fish, or is it just going to die?

I'm having a feeling they'll die, in which case I'll obviously not throw them back at all, but I would like to know if there is an alternative.

It's what's called barotrauma. You can use a decender or some sort, the Shelton's fish decender comes to mind, but as to how effective they are I can't say. http://www.sheltonproducts.com/SFD.html

Z

Depending on how intense the barotrauma is, descending the fish often does little to save the fish, but a lot to ease your guilt.  Out of sight, out of mind and all that.  I'll see if I can dig up that research paper with the actual numbers.

Brian

I read something about pushing a flexible plastic tube down their throat until you hear the air come out can help. 

I don't want to send something out of sight to die, unless there is something in the lake that will at least get a good meal out of it.

I got this idea from pelagicpaddler while out fishing for rockfish. I've used it a couple of times with success so far, but this is in around 90 to 100 ft. of water. At one end, I have a large snap swivel where you can attach however much weight is needed depending on the size of the fish(usually around 12 oz. works for most rockfish I've caught). In the middle, there's a 9/0 barbless octo hook snelled with a nail knot upside down so the point is pointing down. At the other end, simply a swivel or a snap swivel. All tied together with tuna chord or maybe 150 lb. mono.
Pin the fish in it's upper lip and send it down. Once you think you're down far enough, quickly give it a good yank and the hook should pull free of the fish. 

I read something about pushing a flexible plastic tube down their throat until you hear the air come out can help. 

I don't want to send something out of sight to die, unless there is something in the lake that will at least get a good meal out of it.

That would probably be akin to venting - pushing a tub into the fish until you hear air coming out would mean you had punctured the stomach and well as the swim bladder.  Which would still kill the fish.

If you're fishing with a large jighead you can often take your leader and give it a few wraps around the bend of the hook.  Done properly you should end up with the jig's weight at the bottom and the jig's hook vertical with the pointy end pointing downward (much like yaknitup's system above).  From there you follow his same procedure.

The nice thing about the Sheldon release it that you can keep it inline with your current fishing rig and you can release a fish and then keep the lure down ready for your next bite.

Brian.

Lee, if you're worried about the macs in Chelan, I wouldn't even bother (being worried, that is.)

The macs are a non-native introduced species. They are very abundant and I doubt you can put a serious dent in their population. WDFW would love to see them gone, (thus no limit) since they scarf down the native cutthroat.

I read something about pushing a flexible plastic tube down their throat until you hear the air come out can help.  

I don't want to send something out of sight to die, unless there is something in the lake that will at least get a good meal out of it.

That would probably be akin to venting - pushing a tub into the fish until you hear air coming out would mean you had punctured the stomach and well as the swim bladder.  Which would still kill the fish.

Yeah, the swim bladder is not the stomach, although it is often the stomach that gets pushed out during barotrauma.  Popping the stomach and air bladder at the same time is a nice way to insure the fish gets down deep before it dies.. from the punctured stomach.  Sometimes properly trained fish biologists will use a hypodermic needle to deflate the air bladder, with the injection point usually slightly behind the pectoral fin.  Ideally this only punctures the air bladder but it is still not the best way to deal with a fish suffering barotrauma.

As for macs in Chelan.. what Pisco Sicko just said.

Good point guys.  No minimum size, no daily limit. 

-If nothing else, they'll make good fertilizer!

I like yaknitup/pelagic's idea if I find myself in a situation to release something that should be.

I use a heavy leadhead jig, take the barb off, and snell a line to the shank backwards.

Note that sometimes you need a heavy lead.  I had a 1 pound jig up in AK and I couldn't get a yelloweye to sink back down.  I added another pound and it still wouldn't go.  Ate the sucker for dinner.

-Allen