This can be very dangerous for the fish, so it must be done with extreme caution. The reasons for pumping the stomach of a fish is so that the fisherman can determine what the fish has been feeding on most recently. The proper use of a throat pump is not difficult, but must be done correctly. Seen here is a common type of pump, and the following is a step by step procedure to ensure that you do not harm the fish.
- First thing to do is to insert the tube of the pump into the water and squeeze the bulb end, this will empty out the air in the bulb. Then you release the bulb while keeping the tube in the water, this will cause the water to be sucked into the bulb.
- Now you can slowly insert the tube into the mouth of the fish. This is the delicate part, you must be careful and not force the tube down the throat. Carefully insert the tube and slowly slide it down the throat about 2 inches at the most.
- At this point you can slowly squeeze the bulb to push the water down the throat and into the stomach of the fish. This will cause the water to mix with the stomach contents.
- Next you slowly pull the tube out of the fish while slowly letting the bulb go, this will cause the water mixture inside the fish to be sucked back into the bulb of the pump.
- Once the pump is clear of the fish, carefully release it. now you can take the pump and empty the contents into a glass vile or jar.
- Inspect the contents of the stomach inside of the vile. Look for any movement in the contents. This will indicate what the fish was feeding on last, and give you an idea of what to tie on.
This as i have said is a delicate procedure, so please be careful. Try not to pump the stomach of any fish under 14″ as this can cause damage due to the size of the fishes throat.
In my opinion a person should not squeeze water into a fishes stomach. I believe that a angler should allow the pump to fill with water and then squeeze the water all out before putting the pump into the throat.The water on the pump should only be meant to pre lube the tube and ball so that the stomach contents do not stick inside the pump and most importantly for easier throat entry to lessen the risk to the fish that you are pumping.
My thoughts,
Regards,
Wayne Loren.
NEVER use that thing !!!!! It is a absolute fishkiller, it must forbidden to sell that stuff. Only idiote’s use pumps !
There are many other way’s to find out what a fish is feeding for.
The Throat pump has been proven by many top fishers and biologists to be safe if used properly.
If the people that are responsible for the health of our fish stocks here in BC Canada,use them, then I think that they know what they are doing.
The post I wrote, was written a few years back and is actually incorrect.
NEVER PUMP WATER INTO A FISH!!!
Empty the tube before inserting it into the fish, squeeze the bulb and then insert, after that, you just slowly take it out and it will suck out the last few meals the fish has had.
Like I said above, if people like Brian Chan, Phil Rowley and the likes use then, I would have to say they are safe when used correctly.
Brian Chan is a Biologist here in BC, Canada, and is a very respected flyfisher and is in charge of the fish stocking program here, so I think he has a bit more knowledge that you or I on this subject.
Rick Passek