OutdoorNebraska

8 | Fishing Info: 402-471-0641 Catch-and-Release for All Species • West Brady • East Hershey • Kea West • Jenny Newman Pond • Baright Lake • Heartland Shooting Center Pond All fish species are catch-and-release only at these bodies of water: IT IS UNLAWFUL TO ... • borrow or use the permit of another or lend your permit to another • leave dead fish or any part of one on the banks or in the water of any stream, lake or other body of water • fish on any private land without landowner permission • release into public waters of the state any fish that did not originate from that body of water, including the dumping of bait buckets. • seine sport fish of any size • leave fish in a trap for more than 24 hours • attempt to snag fish, except in designated seasons • use limb lines or set lines in any pond, lake or reservoir • catch fish by hand • buy or attempt to buy a permit while under license suspension or revocation in any state • keep an externally foul-hooked fish, except those legally snagged • leave a water body with lake water or river water present in a boat or a container • transport any fish or baitfish in water from any stream, river, pond or lake LENGTH LIMITS AND CLEANING OF FISH Where length and bag limits apply, fish may not be filleted until fishing is completed for the day and anglers are off the water. Fish subject to bag and possession limits but not length limits, may be processed before transport if the fillets are kept in one piece until cooked, so the bag and possession limits can be determined. Fish species subject to a length limit may not be possessed with more than the gills, viscera and scales removed while on the water, wading or engaged in fishing. Any fish in possession while on the water will be subject to length and bag limits that apply to that water body. Once off the water, the fish may be filleted for transportation and storage. Proper fish handling It's good for the fish ... and the angler Whether you intend to release a fish you catch or plan to legally keep it, the fish should be handled properly. Any fish you do not intend to keep should be returned to the water immediately with as little stress to the fish as possible. That means minimal handling of the fish. Their coat of slime is what protects them from diseases and parasites, but it also potentially makes grasping and holding them difficult. The more a fish is handled, the more its coat is compromised. The best way to release a fish without damage is to remove the hook and release the fish while standing in the water. For boat anglers, net the fish, if possible, and remove the hook while the net and fish are in the water. Here are some other fish-handling tips: • When handling a fish, keep it in the water as much as possible. • Use needle-nose pliers or forceps to remove hooks. If you plan to release your fish, use the pliers to bend down the barb on the point of the hook, making hook removal easier. • When using a landing net, use one with a basket made of fish-friendly material that minimizes stress on fish. • When holding a fish for a photo, the preferred method is to hold larger fish horizontally, supporting them from below. • When fishing, avoid playing the fish to exhaustion. • Avoid touching a fish's eyes or putting fingers in a fish's gill flaps. • Knowing the sharp parts of a fish is the first step in avoiding them. Catfish and bullheads have sharp, barbed spines located on each pectoral fin and the dorsal fin. Carp have spines in the anal and dorsal fins. And white bass, striped bass, wiper, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, bluegill, sunfish, and crappie have spines in their fins. A young angler holds a channel catfish, avoiding the spines on the fish's pectoral and dorsal fins.

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