I personally love to take pictures of fish. A mounted deer head can appear as a trophy, or a feather in ones cap as it were. The other way to look at it is that it is to commemorate a beautiful animal. It's all in the motive man, and to each his own. With that said, I was just watching a fly fishing show. The cheeky fellow grabbed the fish and the fish sprung out of his hands on to the bank and the wrestling ensued. Once the fish was wrangled, it was promptly held up for the camera, smile, snap, snap. My man then stuck the fish in the water and holdiing it from the top with thumb and forefinger holding the gill plates shut. I love the next part. This is when he swooshed the fish back and forth for a period of time prior to release in the swift water. There is alot that can be said here about the proper way to handle fish. Which is I believe the main issue.
Personally, I have never carried a net, even though I own some really nice ones. Never Grab The Fish, Cradle it. Be gentle, roll it upside down, unhook it, roll it right side up, never lifting it's head from the water. Really big fish or fish you want to get personal with, beach slowly, not rushed. When you were young did you ever try to catch a wild kitten. Move slow no fast movements to spook the fish, guide the fish to a position where you can kneel on both knees between the fish an the main river. You can then get to know the fish a little better. At this point a measurement, pic. If I need or want a grip and grin, I will rest the fish for some time. If the gills are still flapping away after an arduous fight, Don't lift it's head out of the water. Who wants to run a sprint then stick their head underwater. This isn't rocket science. After the pictures or whatever. I will stand and gently cradle the fish toward slightly deeper water then release. Most times the fish will lie there for a period of time. It's amazing how sedate they may become if handled very gingerly and their head never leaves the water. After the fish realizes its free to go it almost always brings a chuckle to myself or whomever is with me as the fish blasts out into the current. This is 90 percent of the time. On the rare occasion a fish just will not cooperate and their are times where I wish I had a net. I'm only giving my thoughts on this. I in no way am saying they are the only way to do things. However, if it can help one person be a better FISH WHISPERER then it's all worth it. Seriously, I do think rubbing the belly may help to calm the fish. Does anyone know or have done any hand fishing as a kid? Way off topic, sorry.