Posted by Jim E (24.116.99.140) on January 08, 2004 at 15:02:59:
The Ketchum Release
This little tool, for it’s size, sure has a big love/hate relationship with anglers. It’s either won the award for most wasteful item or the most useful award, depending on whom you talk to. Years ago when they first came out, I thought that it was a good idea but the price scared me away. So, I had the bright idea of making my own. It didn’t work. My contraption was close enough to the real deal (other than my extractor tube could have been a little bit smaller) but what I was missing was the very important instructions on how to properly “use” the tool. The instructions must account for at least half of the high cost of this tool (they are that important to follow). They are simple enough to understand and put to proper use but trying to use the tool any other way will end in failure. This must be where those that dislike the release have missed the boat. THEY DIDN’T FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS.
The benefits of the release are that you never have to touch the fish, nor use a net. I generally use mine to remove smaller flies. (Ones that I used to always end up ruining by using forceps to extract the fly.) They are also easy to operate with cold hands too. I now always carry the smaller two of three sizes available. The “standard” size will accommodate the most often used size of flies and then the “midge” size works better for #18-20 and smaller sizes. For larger streamers and such, well those I can just grab and pop lose by hand, again, without touching the fish.
I’m pretty sure that Beaver’s Bend Fly shop stocks both the standard and midge sizes of the release. If you’re interested in a good way keep the tool at the ready on your vest click (at least I think so) on the link below.
Thanks for reading,
Jim Enns <*;))))))))><