Catch Kill and Release

**Jawzz** · 03-16-2007, 02:06 PM

This is a new posted subject I am branching off of Torrey’s (Nymphmeister) topic of “What do you guys think are the biggest problems facing us trout fishermen nowadays?”
My answer to this question is WE ARE. I will break this down to say that the people I am speaking about are NOT composed of any members of this site as it is obvious that everyone involved with this site including the creator, Aaron are the core of what true quality fly fishermen and sportsman are!

Now ask anyone who knows me and they will tell you I am an even keeled, quiet, laid back guy, but when I see Catch Kill and Release, I’m ready to go Postal! Well, here I go and thanks for reading:

Who I am referring to are the folks (they) with the attitude and that crowd other fisherman’s spots, lack etiquette, use foul language towards fellow fisherman, have sour looks on their faces when you are near and the ones who potentially will START fights under these circumstances. Now rest assured if someone starts a fight with me on the river over this type of crap, as probably with most of us, we are going to go at it, but the key word is START. We have all seen the above examples certainly on the Farmington River and in increasing cases on the Housatonic. And maybe this could just fall under the category of “over crowding.” So let me talk about the (same) posers that really burn me up on the river, the folks who have no idea and/or don’t care about what a special, privileged and fragile activity all fishing is. These are the folks who practice Catch, Kill and Release.

Coming here from Colorado where the trout you catch are wild and living in a pristine, fragile environment of mountain streams, Catch and Release is of utmost importance to help keep the trout species and quality fishing going. And with the growing trout problems that arise like whirling disease, it is MORE important. And yes it is important here in the East, but an argument could be made that since the fish are stocked (and I am talking specifically about the Housatonic and the like now)………who cares. My answer to that is they should care, because it is safe to say that if they overplay a fish on the Housy, it will happen on their trip out West.

I have seen so many examples of this on the water it makes me insane: OVERPLAYING FISH (Because tippet is too light for the bigger fish targeted or they just don’t know how to properly bring in a dink), NOT BEING PREPARED (Knowing how to properly remove hooks, netting properly, having tools close by to assist, etc.), PROPERLY RELEASING FISH (This is a big one. After overplaying a fish, or in some cases just having a good long fight with a quality fish, I have seen the release as a mere back hand over the shoulder with a splash back in the river). And for Christ’s sake, TAKING TOO GOD DAMN LONG TO TAKE A PICTURE (this is the one that nearly makes me faint on the spot, it’s the finishing touch after all of the above happens). And don’t get me started on a similar topic……..LITTERING up the rivers.

So who can be blamed for the increased popularity of fly fishing and in turn the increasing number of these type of fisherman? The movie A River Runs Through It? Fly shops and fishing product companies pushing the sport? It’s tough to say. Double Edged Sword, Catch 22. I guess in a way I could be responsible also since I am a guide and part of my job is teaching new people how to fly fish and get excited about fly fishing. But of course also part of my job is teaching new people the right and wrong way to go about it. What else can be done?

Just a side note: I do realize that some people are new to the sport who are striving to become quality sportsman like ourselves and they make mistakes………I have plenty of patience for that and these are the people who gladly listen to advice.

Anyway, it is my opinion that Catch Kill and Release and the type of fly fisherman that practices such is the biggest problem facing us fly fisherman. Though this problem happens on all rivers, maybe I am just putting too much Colorado wild trout type value on the stocked trout of the Housatonic River and the like……………..
??? >

;D

**AaronJasper** · 03-16-2007, 02:17 PM

you are right... there are too many people willing to rip apart a fish to get a 2 dollar fly back. give the fish the fly and let it go!!! the hook will rust out and the fish will be fine. a trout is too valuable a resource to be mistreated. even though they are stocked they should be given respect. i catch so many trout that have missing and broken jaws. i went through a phase where i overplayed trout and used 9x tippet. i am sure that i killed some torut. however i have been educated and have learned that this kills the fish the same as taking them home does. overplaying fish is a big problem. many of the trout that we catch can easily be pulled in. most people play the fish for several minutes and totally exhaust the trout. also when taking pictures of the fish... i put the fish in the net and keep the fish in the water until i am ready for the picture. jawzz you are right more people need to be taught how to handle fish. i know that tu makes signs to pun on trees that are somewhat helpful and will help to acheive the goal of proper fish handling.