I've had a bit of a float around youtube this evening. Started with drop shotting, moved around, as you do, ended up watching videos of decent perch being caught in various European countries.
What struck me was the way, in each case, that the fish was held. None of this U.K. dodging the spines and gill covers business. A small fish was simply held with the thumb in its mouth, a finger underneath. Larger fish were held in the same way but with the other hand supporting the weight of the fish, underneath it.
These were all catch and release videos and I'm quite sure the fish came to no harm. A related species, the freshwater bass, are always held this way, over in the states.
Why not in the U.K.? Do you think holding perch and similar fish in this way could cause them harm?
What struck me was the way, in each case, that the fish was held. None of this U.K. dodging the spines and gill covers business. A small fish was simply held with the thumb in its mouth, a finger underneath. Larger fish were held in the same way but with the other hand supporting the weight of the fish, underneath it.
These were all catch and release videos and I'm quite sure the fish came to no harm. A related species, the freshwater bass, are always held this way, over in the states.
Why not in the U.K.? Do you think holding perch and similar fish in this way could cause them harm?