Can I safely release a lake trout caught from deep water?

Usually yes — and this is a genuine anatomical gift. Lake trout are physostomous: the swim bladder connects to the esophagus by a duct, so a laker hauled up from 25 m (80 ft) can burp expanding gas out through its mouth instead of ballooning the way a physoclistous fish like a walleye does. The honest caveats: the fish must actually vent, so bring it up steadily rather than winching it; deep summer fish crossing into warm surface water take thermal stress on top of pressure change; and some fish fail to vent fully and float. Never puncture ("fizz") a lake trout — help a floater upright, move water over its gills, and let it burp and sound.

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