Stomach pumps, more harm than good?

November 5th, 2007 · No Comments

I’ve seen quite a few posts on some of the other fly fishing boards recently asking if stomach pumps are useful. Yes, you certainly can tell what a trout has been feeding on by using one. But, I have two problems with using them. The first is obvious, you must catch a trout to use one! The second is that in my experience they damage the fish if not used properly. Really, trout are stressed enough after you catch one. Using a stomach pump will dramatically increase the chance of killing the fish.

My suggestion would be to get in the water and overturn some rocks or use a screen and determine what’s in the water before you cast a line. This will give you a good idea of what to use.