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now that I caught a fish? Keep it or let it go? Once you have caught your fish, you have a decision to make. You can either keep the fish and eat it, or release it. Releasing a fish allows it to survive to be caught again another day by another angler, or maybe even yourself. With a little luck, the fish will grow larger, and it also may have a chance to reproduce. Fish are good to eat, and there is nothing wrong with keeping a fish to eat if the law allows. Fish tastes its best when fresh, so don't try to fill your freezer. Keep the amount of fish you will need for one meal, and eat it right away. Letting it go: It does not do any good to release a fish if it's going to die. That can happen if you don't handle them properly. It is important to handle a fish quickly and correctly to be sure it will live to thrill another angler some day in the future. Follow these steps when you release a fish: 1. Land the fish as quickly as possible 2. Do not remove the fish from water if possible 3. Wet your hands before touching the fish 4. Hold the fish level in the water, and move it gently back and forth to move water across its gills 5. If fishing in a river, release the fish into an area of slower water 6. If the fish is hooked deeply, cut the line and do not attempt to remove the hook Keeping it: If you wish to keep your fish to eat, you have a responsibility to the fish to kill it quickly, and take care of it well. You can kill a fish by hitting it on top of it's head with a rock or stick. Then keep the fish as cold as possible to keep it fresh. A cooler full of ice is one of the best ways to preserve the flavor of your catch. Fillet or clean your fish as soon as possible, but be sure to follow the fishing regulations about when, where and how you may clean your fish. Cooking it: There are a lot of different ways to prepare fish after they have been cleaned or filleted. Most fish in Montana taste so good, especially when fresh, that you do not need fancy recipes to cook them. You can fry them quickly or broil them, and all that is needed is a little seasoning. Or wrap them in foil, add a dab of butter and some salt and pepper, and cook them in your campfire. No matter how you cook them, fish are a great meal. |
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Walleyes Unlimited of Montana Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks |