Ideally, if you aren't planning to keep the fish, it's best to try to keep them in the water and unhook the fly with fingers or forceps. To learn more about catch and release, see the note below from Trout magazine:

http://online.qmags.com/TU0913S#pg3&mode2

No thumbing -- small, sharp teeth and jaws not meant for supporting the weight of the fish. Rubberized nets help. If the fish is small or no net, just slide your hand under the fish and lift. Turning them over on their back limits their tendency to fight. Whatever you do, don't squeeze them -- their internal organs are easily bruised.

This is a great topic to revisit in light of Carey's last fishing report saying that a lot of the brooder fish are getting skin diseases.

I would be right there with you snapping photos of those big girls if it weren't so crowded. I drove by the evening hole on Saturday around noon when I got there (quick trip) and couldn't believe how many people were there!! The generators were not running, so I went to Zone 2. Fish after fish after fish on soft hackles & tiny streamers. The best part? NO combat fishing!

As Carey noted, there were lots of 14" to 18" fish, but the best part? I had it ALL to myself!

Moved later to the swimming & bumper boat area... Same scenario... LOTS of fish & NO PEOPLE!! I love to fish Broken Bow. I love to catch big fish. I'm not into combat fishing.

Lower Mountain Fork River Foundation put over 500 fish over 3 pounds in the river recently. That's the reason you're seeing so many photos of people with monster trout. Big, eager fish that have been fed pellets all their lives. They WILL eat anything.

The more they're caught, the more they're handled and photographed... The more of them are going to become stressed & die from skin diseases.

I'm not bashing anyone. As I said... I would be right there with you if it were not so crowded. Just be mindful of stressing the fish.

You might also stop by Three Rivers Fly Shop & thank Jesse & Linda King or go to the Lower Mountain Fork River Foundation website & thank them for putting over 500 fish over three pounds in the river. I've seen a lot of smiling faces because of those fish lately.

The Lower Mountain River Foundation is holding their One Fly / Mystery Fly tournament on February 22nd. Support this fine organization. They ARE the reason you have such a fine trout fishery at Broken Bow.

Oh, and be mindful of handling the fish too much. They do die from those yucky skin diseases.

JR