Fish slime...

[Baltim0re28]

Don't know The validity of this tip,but read it a long time ago and figured I would share. Sometimes u may catch that fish that just seems extra slimy. Fish "slime" is an alert secretion to alarm other fish,if u catch a fish, try to release it "down current" from wherever it was caught for it may spook other fish around it and turn off the bite.

[coldfront]

Don't know The validity of this tip,but read it a long time ago and figured I would share. Sometimes u may catch that fish that just seems extra slimy. Fish "slime" is an alert secretion to alarm other fish,if u catch a fish, try to release it "down current" from wherever it was caught for it may spook other fish around it and turn off the bite.

not necessarily true...

that slime is actually mucous...it's a protective coating to basically keep infection away from the fish.

there is some evidence that some species may excrete a chemical/hormone when stressed that alerts the other members of the school that something is amiss...but this has only been documented in a very few species...

anecdotally, smallmouth anglers feel that this occurs with their fish...LMB, spots don't seem to happen as much...if at all...

[Mike Cork]

I have to chime in on this one. Here in LA. we get a lot of surface school activity and they are always largemouth. Hooking and releasing seems to have no effect on the surface fish. If you find them on a brush pile it seems that you can catch a couple then you will have to let it rest to catch a couple more?

Have studied the material available on slim coats and all say that it's a protection mechanism and should not be disturbed. But have read about the enzyme as well and how it's effects are difficult to prove. I do know anglers that will put fish in the livewell until the bite is over?

Thanks for the discussion provoking tip

[Baltim0re28]

No problem Mike, it's always made me wonder myself if it is true or not but I have tried to abide by it just incase it is true. I don't wanna potentially scare the fish away that I'm already having a hard enough time trying to catch,lol.

[Bassinkorea]

Great post and great discussion, thanks for sharing with us Baltim0re28 

[Baltim0re28]

Great post and great discussion, thanks for sharing with us Baltim0re28 

Thanks.

[brobutch]

I have noticed one thing about slime on a catfish. If I put some in my livewell, the bass don't seem to live very long if I don't clean it out real good. Needless to say, I don't put them in the livewell anymore. I don't know if it's just me or that happens to others too.