A new video by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources aims to educate anglers about how to properly handle large fish during catch-and-release.

Being properly equipped and understanding how to handle a large fish is critical to ensuring the fish’s survival after release. The video covers the proper equipment for large fish, minimizing the time the fish is out of the water, protecting the fish’s slime coating, holding the large fish horizontally and supporting the fish’s body, and how to release the fish.   

The flathead catfish fishing season begins Friday, April 1. Additionally, seasons are around the corner for other large fish like lake sturgeon, muskellunge, northern pike, steelhead and others.

The video can be found on the DNR fishing page.