Reducing Stress, Shortening Air Exposure, and Improving Every Release

Catch and release only works when the fish swims away strong. That outcome depends far more on the moments after the hookset than most anglers realize. Unhooking is one of the highest stress points for a fish. It is also one of the easiest places for anglers to improve fish safety by using a proper hook removal tool.

A good removal tool shortens handling time, keeps the fish in the water, protects the slime coat, and prevents unnecessary pressure on the jaw and body. Rising builds tools specifically for these tasks, because clean unhooking is one of the most meaningful steps in modern conservation minded angling.

1. Less Handling Means Less Stress

The most dangerous moment for a fish is not the fight. It is the handling that follows. Hands, gloves, and dry surfaces all remove slime and create pressure points.

A proper hook removal tool allows you to:

• Leave the fish in the water
• Minimize hand contact with fish
• Control the hook instead of the fish

This reduces thrashing, reduces stress, and reduces time spent restrained. When the fish stays submerged and supported by the net, the entire process becomes calmer and safer.

2. Faster Hook Removal Reduces Air Exposure

Air exposure is one of the biggest predictors of post release mortality. Fish begin losing gill function almost immediately when lifted into the air. The longer the unhooking process takes, the more oxygen debt the fish accumulates.

A good removal tool lets you:

• Access the hook quickly
• Rotate and back it out cleanly
• Keep the fish upright and in the net the entire time

This allows the fish to breathe and stabilize while you work. Faster unhooking protects gill function and significantly improves recovery.

3. Cleaner Exits Reduce Tissue Damage

Barbed hooks, especially on small flies, can tear tissue when removed by hand or with poor tools. Damage to the jaw and mouth may not kill the fish outright, but it slows feeding and increases vulnerability.

A proper tool provides:

• Precise control
• Smoother angles of exit
• Less torque on the fish’s jaw

This protects delicate tissue and helps fish return to normal behavior faster.

Tools like Bob’s Tactical De-Barb excel here because they give controlled leverage without ripping or twisting the hook path.

4. Better Control Means Less Thrashing

Fish thrash when they feel restrained or unsupported. Thrashing increases:

• Slime loss
• Scale abrasion
• Risk of dropping the fish
• Stress hormone levels

A removal tool allows you to keep the fish stable in the net and work at a steady pace. The net controls the fish. The tool controls the hook. Your hands never squeeze or reposition the fish, which keeps the fish calmer and reduces injury.

5. Tools Prevent Accidental Injury to Anglers

Unhooking a fish with fingers near the fly is an easy way to bury a hook in yourself or your fishing partner. Barbed hooks dramatically increase the difficulty of removing a hook from human skin.

Hook removal tools reduce:

• Hand contact
• Accidental slips
• Emergency situations

This is especially important with large fish, toothy fish, heavy streamers, and new anglers.

Rising tools designed for safe, controlled hook removal:

• Work 6 Pliers
Strong, versatile, ideal for large trout or streamer work.

• Ultralight Pliers
Precision control for smaller flies and lighter carry.

• Bob’s Tactical De-Barb
This is the go-to tool for clean hook removal

6. Proper Tools Support Better Revival and Post Release Survival

A fish that is unhooked quickly while submerged has a far higher chance of regaining equilibrium and swimming away with force. This matters for avoiding predators and reducing delayed mortality.

Key advantages of using a removal tool:

• Less time out of water
• Less internal stress
• Less oxygen debt
• Faster return to normal movement

When paired with a rubber net and careful handling, a tool becomes a critical component of true catch and release.

Final Thought

A proper hook removal tool is not a luxury. It is a conservation tool. It protects the fish, protects the angler, and improves the outcome of every release. Whether you are fishing small dries, heavy streamers, or light tippet in technical water, the right tool turns a stressful moment into a clean, controlled one.

Cleaner releases lead to healthier fish. Healthy fish lead to better fisheries. And that is why Rising builds tools that work as well on the water as the nets they pair with.