It is not enough to release a steelhead trout.

"It must be done the right way or the fish can be stressed, injured and even die after its release," said George Vosmik of Rocky River, a fly fishing instructor and member of many local fly and trout fishing clubs. "As avid fly fishermen and steelheaders, we want to take that message to all of the anglers on the local rivers and streams."

To educate stream anglers, the Northern Ohio Trout Club Consortium (NOTCC) is posting signs along the Rocky, Chagrin and Grand rivers and Conneaut Creek to take the message of proper catch and release to local fishermen. The member clubs of the NOTCC are the Ohio Central Basin Steelheaders, The Trout Club of the Museum of Natural History, Emerald Necklace chapter of trout Unlimited, North Coast Fly Fishers and Western Reserve Fly Anglers.

The signs were produced in conjunction with the Lake Metroparks, but are too small to list the important points of catch-and-release fishing. The NOTCC tips on releasing trout include:

Use barbless hooks. Avoid using treble hooks, which can cause unnecessary damage.

Use tackle strong enough to bring a fish quickly to hand, avoiding overtiring the fish. Use a steady, deliberate retrieval to reduce the stress a hooked fish experiences when exhausted from an overly slow retriever.

Keep the fish in water and let it breathe. Taking a fish from water after playing it is like asking an angler to run half of a marathon and then hold his breath for five minutes.

Plan your release strategy. Decide whether to keep the fish prior to going fishing, or at least before removing the fish from the water. When possible, remove the hook without touching the fish.

Keep hands moistened. It prevents removal of a fish's natural protective mucous layer and reduces the chance of infection.

Keep handling to a minimum and be gentle. Try not to handle the gills or soft underbelly. Gently prevent the fish from battering itself on hard surfaces.

Use knotless mesh landing nets to avoid damage to eyes, gills, fins and body.

If you want to take a photograph, weigh or tape the fish, do it gently and quickly and get the fish back in the water. Take home a picture instead of a dead fish.

Measure the fish against your rod or carry a soft measuring tape if you want to estimate its weight.

Hold the fish carefully facing the current; support it from beneath until it recovers enough for a safe release. When the fish tries to swim off, it is probably ready to go.