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>have access to a private pond stocked with bluegill, channel cat, and LMB
>strictly catch and release
>want to target the bigger catfish so try a sinker at the end of the line with a hook like pic rel about a foot up from the sinker and cast it out to where I think is the deepest part
>I specifically use the hook because I was thinking it's like a circle hook and therefore should only hook in the mouth because of where the hook points
>get a catfish pretty quickly
>it swallowed the hook
>spend a couple minutes with the pliers and finally get the hook out
>about an hour later see the fish is dead, floating near me
Any tips for catch and release only fishing to prevent needlessly killing fish that can't be kept?
