OK here’s my 2 cents on Lindy rigging. First off, so we’re all on the same page the traditional lindy rigging techniques use a slip sinker above a barrel swivel with varying lengths of mono and a hook. Drag it slow or troll it until you feel some tension. Open your bail, feed the fish and cross his his eyes. No Doubt very productive. Many people also consider the same methods above used with a spinner/blade rig also to be “Lindy rigging.” I am referring to example A with Slip sinker, Barrel swivel and hook. Although Spinner rigs also apply to some extent.
I am a bit concerned about the hooking mortality of this set up. Been going on for a long long long time I know. I personally opt to fish waleyes with a jig set up when at all possible for a number of reasons. One being that it is very effective, and two being that very very seldom am I looking at my jig buried down into a big walleyes stomache. Yes it is super that some cut the line, and plenty will rip the hook out and kill the fish. A few days ago I caught 2 different big walleyes with hooks stuck deep inside them line sticking out. Maybe they will live and maybe not tough to say unless you are down there swimming with them. In my proffesional opinion I think a fish caught, fought and released being gut hooked will likely not have the same chance of survival as a fished caught with other methods.
So with that being said If you are going to employ the lindy rigging method where you feed the line out to the fish to ensure a good hook up please do not rip the guts out of the fish. If you do find that they are continually swallowing the hook they are definately hitting aggressive enough for other methods to be employed. As we are entering into an era of furthered pressure, and better fisherman we also need to be more conservation minded. Yes let the parameters of the law guide you with limits, and slots, but also kep in mind releasing fish at the boat to die doesn’t do any good.
Take the time to do it right. If your pulling fish out of deep water take them up slow, so they don’t blow there air bladder on the olympic trip the boat. when taking pics hurry the freak up. Maybe you should try hold your breath at the same time the fish enters the boat. This would be a good idea actually. When you turn blue, and can’t hold your breath then the fish needs to be released into the water. When releasing the fish no need to see how far you can throw it. Nobody will be all that impressed with your arm, but rather gently place the big fish back into the water gently holding it upright by the tail. Let the fish swim out of your grasp.
I eat fish, and keep fish for customer daily. I have nothing against keeping fish. I just want to make sure that when catching fish to be released that we’re keeping the future well being of the fish and fishery in mind. 