wrote in message
oups.com...
Please realize I know nothing about fishing but my daughter wants to go
again. Since all the reds we caught were undersized and removing the
barbed hook seemed sorta traumatic for them, should I bend the barb
down? Will this greatly reduce the number she can actually land?


It'll reduce ripping of the soft tissue, if near the lips. And obviously, if
it digs into harder places like a bony mouth, it'll be easier to remove. Any
measures you can take to get the fish back in the water faster will help -
it's the time out of the water, and rough handling that cause the most
problems. Next would be disturbance of the slime coat. Keep a large towel
ready. Get it nice & wet, and cradle the fish in it while dealing with
hooks. Try not to squeeze the fish too hard. Imagine a giant hand crushing
you between your hips and your rib cage, and you'll get the idea. You
wouldn't have much left, in terms of stomach, spleen, etc.