Dragonfly Throat Pump

This is the Dragonfly stomach pump for Trout. The pump is used to extract and examine the contents of the fish's stomach. This helps discover what trout are feeding on allowing you to accurately match the food source. This study of the trout's food source dramatically improves catch rates. The pump is made of a rubber bulb and a small diameter plastic tapered straw which is easy to operate.

TO USE: It's best to net any fish that you are going to sample. Keep the fish in the water and allow it to calm down before gently turning the fish onto it's back. Turning a fish in this manner will make it easier to handle as it appears to settle the fish down. Cradle the fish in your hand in a horizontal position. Fill the pump with water, then pinch the bulb to empty it allowing only the tube to contain water. With the bulb collapsed slide the tube gently into the fish's mouth until you feel it come up against the top of the fish's esophagus. This will create a vacuum and when you release the pressure on the bulb it will draw up the contents around the mouth of the tube and the tube will now contain the last of what the fish has been eating. Revive and release the fish and squeeze the contents of the pump into your palm or a vial to examine what the fish has been eating. Small fish should not be sampled. If you do not succeed in completing this procedure after two attempts, release the fish.