This is probably more for northerns and muskies, but might work for other species.
Last weekend I watched on TV a guy hold a 36-37″ northern (or musky) up by the gill plate, with out any other support, not sure but doesn’t that put a lot of stress on the fish??
Or is there a general size range that this works for?
Al
I don’t think it is harmful unless you have a handfull of gills in there too. Just be careful and make sure your fingers are where they’re supposed to be!
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I don’t think it is harmful unless you have a handfull of gills in there too. Just be careful and make sure your fingers are where they’re supposed to be!
Yes! I watched a show where the guys whole hand was up behind the fishs gill plate, as he blabbing about what ever the guide repeatedly say” keep your hands out of the gill, dont grab the gill, grab the gill plate.” Guy just kept on thrashing around in there.Pretty week!
The spine and muscular structure of a big esox is not made to support it’s total weight by dangling the fish by it’s head vertically with only one hand in the gill plate.
The most common way to lift a muskie is by its gill plate, but caution is needed because the gills themselves are capable of cutting through the flesh of your hand. To do a gill hold, hold the fish securely by the back with one hand and then open the gill plate with the other and pull it out and away from the gills. Hold the plate open with constant pressure and slide your fingers inside and lift. Make a fist. Do not let your fingers slide into the gills, and make sure to maintain pressure on the gill plate to prevent your fingers from being injured if the fish attempts to thrash. Place your other hand under the belly of the fish and hold it horizontally, as holding a fish vertically can cause damage to its muscles and spine. Handling big fish, like anything, is something that needs to be learned. Now, good luck in getting that big fish! 
I always liken it to holding a person up in the air by their ears.
All the big fish biologist I’ve talked with suggest supporting larger fish with two hands. I don’t think there’s any documented proof the vertical gill hold is harmful, but common sense would indicate a horizontal hold would be better for their spine ect.
A gill plate hold is still better than an eye hold or releasing in Crisco Bay. 
Great example!
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The spine and muscular structure of a big esox is not made to support it’s total weight by dangling the fish by it’s head vertically with only one hand in the gill plate.
The most common way to lift a muskie is by its gill plate, but caution is needed because the gills themselves are capable of cutting through the flesh of your hand. To do a gill hold, hold the fish securely by the back with one hand and then open the gill plate with the other and pull it out and away from the gills. Hold the plate open with constant pressure and slide your fingers inside and lift. Make a fist. Do not let your fingers slide into the gills, and make sure to maintain pressure on the gill plate to prevent your fingers from being injured if the fish attempts to thrash. Place your other hand under the belly of the fish and hold it horizontally, as holding a fish vertically can cause damage to its muscles and spine. Handling big fish, like anything, is something that needs to be learned. Now, good luck in getting that big fish!
Kinda what I always thought, but it was a pro who was holding it and I thought maybe it was ok for certain sizes.
Thanks, I’ll continue to hold underneath, better safe than sorry.
Al
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Kinda what I always thought, but it was a pro who was holding it and I thought maybe it was ok for certain sizes.
Thanks, I’ll continue to hold underneath, better safe than sorry.
Al
That’s the way I look at it. Do everything we can for a safe and successful release.
Great pictures and I’d like to point put that your hand is by the anal opening (vent would be the proper name). No joke here. That is the best place or even the tail on some species. Supporting the fish there avoids putting pressure on any of the vital organs. You could inadvertently bruise an organ or worse, cause internal bleeding. It is not likely, but when holding a fish you intend to release, you might as well take every precaution.
Even when people support a fish with their other hand, they should be mindful of the fishes spine. You could bend a fish like a U if the second hand was too far back on the fish. I saw that happen on a show this weekend. I was pretty ticked because this guy was holding a pike like that and it looked like the fish might snap in half.
I think on the larger fish such as Northern, Muskie, Sturgeon and some overly fat Walleye it’s best to hold them supported by two hands. I do think there are techniques that are better than others though. For example check out these two methods… which one looks better on the fish to you? I wouldn’t say horizontal is always best.
I agree 100%…you will tear the soft connective tissue of a large fish that holds the jaw frame by holding it solely by the gill raker.
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