Handling Trout

[Slowboat]

New to the forum and sure this has probably been asked many times but. I have been kayaking for 6 or 7 years or so and have recently started fishing from it on occasion. Have limited fishing knowledge or experience. I am familiar with how to handle or lip a largemouth bass but this morning I caught the first trout I have caught in many years and was not real sure how to handle it in a manner geared towards a healthy release. He or she was too fat to grip without squeezing and it just didn't seem to be the way. I probably did it all wrong but I also wanted a picture so I laid him across my kayak while still hooked and he/she moved a bit too much so I suspended him/her above the water for the picture and then put him back in and managed to remove the hook. He was a bit tired but did eventually realize he was free and took off in a hurry.
Anyhow what is the normal way to handle the trout. This one by the way was approximately 16 inches, fat and a rainbow. Thanks for any info
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[wiperhunter2]

Welcome to the site SB. Here is a link to our Kayak board, in case you have not found it already: [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/forum/gforum.cgi?forum=172"]http://www.bigfishtackle.com/forum/gforum.cgi?forum=172[/url]
As far as your question about how to handle a trout goes, I sure there are many ways that will be easy on the fish but here is my method. I usually use a rubber net, especially if you plan on taking a pic. If you are just going to release it with no pic try an keep it in the water when taking the hook out, much easier on the fish. Hope that helps.
WH2
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