[secondcurve]

Originally Posted by Mink Islander

Part of the answer for your kids is that aside from the additional stress on the fish you cause by pulling it out of the water, you are also exposing its gills to sub freezing temps. It takes no time at all to sear the gills (freeze them) on a cold day and while the fish may swim away, it will surely die soon thereafter when it's gills no longer function. It is really not difficult to tell whether you have a salmon, a rainbow or a laker by looking at the fish in the hole before you bring it out and I'd work on teaching the kids how to do that. If it's a salmon, cut the line and let it go. I'd also tell the kids that the stocked salmon are a precious resource and we all benefit from doing all we can to protect it in the winter months. That's why all the rules exist and that they are truly for our collective benefit.

A very good explanation!