Winter weather has descended upon the Midwest and North, and if you’re planning to go ice fishing and want to release the fish you catch, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is offering two tips to help decrease stress and increase fish survival.

1. Minimize the air exposure time for the fish.

Just like hot temperatures and warm water can have impacts on certain fish species, freezing weather can also be tough on fish.

Anglers have to remember that even though they are ice fishing, the fish they are catching are living in water that is not frozen — which means that the water temperature that the fish are experiencing is often warmer than the temperatures they are exposed to coming out of the water.

“If an angler is fishing on a particularly cold day, pulling a fish up through a hole and exposing them to freezing conditions can be stressful to a fish,” said DWR Sportfish Coordinator Randy Oplinger. “The water that remains on sensitive areas — such as the gills or eyes — can begin to freeze and this can cause damage to a fish. So, it is best to minimize exposure time and to release the fish as quickly as possible after catching it.”

Minimize the time a fish is out of the water to ensure a successful release.

One way to eliminate the air exposure time is to make sure you have quick access to all the tools you will need to easily and quickly release the fish.

“A unique aspect of ice fishing is that anglers tend to dress in layers to keep warm, which is definitely recommended,” Oplinger said. “However, they often bury key equipment, such as pliers and cameras, under those layers. Another key aspect of ice fishing is that anglers often fish with two holes that are somewhat separated from each other. This makes it easy to forget key equipment for releasing the fish when you head to another hole in response to a strike. What you don't want to do is increase air exposure time for the fish because you are scrambling to find equipment. Anglers should carry the equipment that they need to release their fish in an easily accessible location.”

One idea for doing that is to keep your pliers on a lanyard around your neck to make them easy to find and access. Another idea is to keep all your equipment in a bucket or sled so that it’s easy to find and doesn’t get buried in the snow on top of the ice.

Have dedicated pockets in your winter parka to carry all the tools you need to quickly unhook fish. For toothy species such as northern pike (above), be sure to have a jaw spreader in addition to a long-nosed pliers. A tape measure is fast and convenient for quickly getting a measurement before releasing a fish.

2. Eliminate contact with dry surfaces.

Wearing gloves while ice fishing is typically recommended to protect an angler’s hands from freezing conditions. Those gloves, however, are often made of absorptive fabric. Fish have a protective slime coat on their skin, and wearing gloves while handling the fish can remove the slime coat.

“That can leave fish more susceptible to various skin issues, such as fungal diseases,” Oplinger said. “I know that it is tough to take gloves off while ice fishing because it’s cold, but handling fish with your bare hands is best. Once the fish have been safely released, then you can put your gloves back on.”

Don’t touch a fish you plan to release with gloves or dry hands that will remove the fish’s slime layer; wet hands are best. Tip: Carry a small towel to quickly dry your wet hands before putting gloves back on.