Hawg Troughs- Keeping fish still?

Any tips out there for keeping fish still (without a wood shampoo) while snapping a pic on the Hawg Trough?  I just recently picked up my Trough, and to me it seems awfully risky to just lay that fish in there and snap a pic.  Looking through the AOTY pics there are some great shots, but laying out a fat ling or SMB just makes me nervous.

Thanks,
Ben

There is a current discussion on this exact topic at NWKA:

http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,7518.0.html

Hypnosis works pretty well...   

Hypnosis works pretty well...   

Can you show us how it's done? 

 Maybe a clear plastic bag/tube. long enough and just wide enough. Different sizes. just roll em up. like a narrow seal a meal bag. slide the trough in head first, then fish then just clutch the edge of the bag till it tights up on the fish. Holds both together.

I take two pictures. One with my hand holding the fish. And then I very slowly let go, get my hand out of the way, and take the second picture. That way if the fish jumps out and I lose it at least I've got the first shot.

Thanks for the link Crash, seems to be a pretty common problem.  Love the range of ideas here.  A new one just came to mind:  ever take a blue-belly lizard, flip them over and rub there belly?  Puts them right out.  Might have to try that next time out! 

Thanks for the link Crash, seems to be a pretty common problem.  Love the range of ideas here.  A new one just came to mind:  ever take a blue-belly lizard, flip them over and rub there belly?  Puts them right out.  Might have to try that next time out! 

Haha those guys love a good belly rub.

Sometimes try to keep the fish in shade when on the trough, seems to help a bit.

Patience unless you got a big catfish then you are just going to have to go ashore and take the pic. I do. Those things never seem to settle down.

How about giving them a lip piercing via lightweight stringer, then laying 'em flat.  Probably not the best idea on a fish to be released I know.  Maybe something like one of the kelp clips, just clip on the lower lip, a little bit of an insurance policy?

that's why it's so fun.......you never know when they will just jump off the trough and back into the drink.  
amazingly, they seem to relax when trough'd, but the quicker the clicker the better.

affix a few long pieces of velcro to the back of your hawg trough and use them to strap down your fish like seat belts   

For a fish that is intended to be released, a wet hand on a wet trough is likely the best way to not inflict any serious damage to the slime coat or scales. Some fish just lie there and make it easy, and of course some seem to have old man strength.  Either way I usually try to make it very snappy. 

Of course it doesn't always work out...

Here's your alternative to wood...

"the floppin stops here!"

Just ask Clayman, he seems to not have a problem.