Tackle Trade World - October 2023

FEATURE
SwimWell
RETURNING YOUR
FISH SAFELY SO
THEY CAN AGAIN
‘SWIMWELL’
SwimWell is a “first of its kind”water-based formula enhanced with
essential electrolytes and nutrients to quickly rejuvenate oxygen-depleted
fish, relieve stress and protect their vital slime coat. What’s it all about?
Seth Zaharako, a life-long angler
(pictured here as a young
fisherman) and a proud father
of two, was living a dream come
true. The place he called home was next to
world-renowned trout fisheries of the west.
Finding himself in these magical places,
with friends or in solitude, and connecting
with these wild fish, gave him a deep sense
of gratitude.
However, gratitude was met with
dissonance when thinking about the
current state of fishing – billions of fish are
caught and released globally for recreation.
Rivers across the world are facing
closures due to diminished water levels and
elevated water temperatures, compounded
by increased angling pressure on fisheries
and private access waters.
Then, at the end of a day on the South
Platte in Colorado, he had an ‘aha’ moment.
The one thing all anglers share is physically
connecting with fish prior to release. We
get to feel the excitement, joy, and deep
connection to nature, yet we just release
them, tired and stressed.
“Surely,” he thought, “there’s a better
way to support fish before we send them
back on their journey, one that helps fish
recover.”
That was nearly two years ago and the
beginning of SwimWell, Advanced Fish
44 www.tackletradeworld.com
Recovery Spray.
SAFETY AS
STANDARD
Seth connected with
a friend, who happens
to be a scientist, and
with their team they
researched, developed
and tested many different formulas until
they found the one that works.
“Innovation is core to the philosophy of
SwimWell – we keep pushing the envelope
as it relates to efficacy, safety and stability.
We have very high standards and take zero
short cuts,” Seth explained.
The first-of-its kind, proprietary and
patent-pending oxygenated, waterbased
formula enhanced with essential
electrolytes and nutrients, was specifically
designed to quickly rejuvenate oxygendepleted
fish, relieve stress, and protect
their vital slime coat.
And science backs it up. Recent studies
on trout performed at a university in Spain,
have shown fish exposed to a stressinducing
event, mimicking the challenges
of catch and release, displayed positive
improvements immediately after being
sprayed with SwimWell.
On the reflex side, sprayed fish exhibited
a rapid return to regulated breathing,
surpassing those observed in the control
group.
SwimWell-sprayed fish were also able
to maintain the normal size of red blood
cells, which otherwise swell in response to
hypoxic stress.
EASY TO USE
Ideal for catch and release anglers’ and
guides’ everyday use, SwimWell comes in
a convenient 360-degree continuous spray
can, so it can be applied at any angle. For
maximum benefit, spray the entire fish,
while integrating with science-based best
practices for fish handling.
They’re not new to fishing but they are
new to the industry.
Seth added: “It’s been such a long, and
at times lonely road but the friendships
we’ve made within the community and
the responses we’ve received from anglers
and guides using it, all in the spirit of fish
well-being and making our sport more
sustainable, makes it all worth it.”
As for giving back, the company is
a member of ‘1% for the Planet’ and
is actively partnering with non-profit
organisations that align with SwimWell’s
values. It’s exciting times for sure.
SWIMWELL
www. swimwellfish.com