A word to the wise about Berkley power worms which are scented products. All Trout caught with scented products must be immediately released. Scented products are considered bait under the regulations. One of your friends sacalaitman says he caught his first keeper in the TTZ. He says he did this using power worms, he is admitting to all who read this article that he broke the law. Also putting any fish on a stringer, even if you release it later, is a no no if it was caught on bait or scented products like power worms. Read the regulations again closely.

Jimbo

Most anglers are trying to do the right thing, but it is complicated when you are talking about the exceptions to state wide regulations.

There are 4 places you need to look to understand the regulations for Rainbow Trout in the state of Texas. First the general regulations (not in the Guadalupe TTZ) on page 41. Then you look to the exceptions and on p42 you will see Guadalupe River. From there you are supposed to look in 2 more places. There is the Trout 1 reg on p45, but also you will notice the "#" after Guadalupe River and at the bottom of p42 you will see "# See pg38 for boundaries under pole and line".
Looking on page 38 under Pole and Line, the third notation:

"Game and nongame fish maybe taken by pole and line, except that in the Guadalupe River in Comal County from the second bridge crossing on River Road upstream to the easternmost bridge crossing on FM 306, rainbow and brown trout may not be retained when taken by any method except artificial lures. In this area only, artificial lures cannot contain or have attached either whole or portions, living or dead, of organisms such as fish, crayfish, insects, (grubs, larve or adults) or worms, any other animal or vegetable material, OR SYNTHETIC SCENTED MATERIALS. This does not prohibit the use of artificial lures that contain componets of hair or feathers. It is an offense to possess rainbow and brown trout while fishing with any other device in that part of the Guadalupe River defined in this paragraph."

This has actually changed from the last time I read these regulations no longer mentioning that "Any trout caught using any other method other than artificial lures must be immediately returned to the water." I am not sure when that changed.
I wish TPWD would but up signs on 306 and River Road so anybody driving in the area would be put on notice what the rules are without having to figure them out in the fish and game regulations. And technically all anglers and hunters are responsible for knowing all fish and game regulations before the enguage in fishing or hunting. Anyway it is confusing and that is why so many anglers really don't know the full regulations in the Trophy Trout Zone and we have so much inadvertant poaching. The bait and scented products regulations are in place because TPWD actually wanted no bait fishing for Trout in the TTZ, but local river owners raised a big fuss saying their kids could no longer fish for Perch, Bass, and Catfish with bait and accidentally catch a trout without being in violation of the law. And unfortunately this created a loophole that technically allows baitfishing for Trout if they are released. And many of the locals take advantage of this loophole to purposely fish for trout with bait or scented products, created much more delayed mortality than would be caused if those fish were caught using lures.
I hope that clears things up, let your members know.

As far as taking pictures holding your Trophies, may I recommend always using a net. The best ones have a molded rubber basket versus nylon or string. Removed your lure from the Trout preferably with the fish still in the water in the net. Then have the person with the camera get it ready. Now you are ready to take your picture. Have the angler first grab the fish's tail just ahead of the tailfin and then reach under it's throat with the other hand supporting it's head, throat, and the first part of it's belly. Most of your guys are doing a fairly good job of that. There is one photo with the angler pressing his fingers in on the gills, and others that hold the fish vertically from it's jaw, this is bad technique and can increase the chance of delayed mortality.
Now nothing is perfect. Sometimes no matter what you do, the trout could be hooked in it's gills, or suffer some other injury from which it can not recover. Even catch and release can be a blood sport. It's all part of learning curve, what the regs are and what is best for the fish and the fishery to allow that each fish is caught and enjoyed by as many anglers as possible.

Jimbo