For every species, the most important thing that I've found is the use of circle hooks. Some people are good enough fishermen that the fish never swallow the hook. For the rest of us, I find that most of the fish caught with a circle hook are caught in the lip rather than having swallowed the hook. The use of circle hooks has decreased our catch and release mortality to almost zero. This is especially true with bluegills, yellow perch, catfish, rock bass, crappie etc.
