No, I don?t engage in ?fishing? without a hook.

I like Jack Ellis? writing and in this case, based on my personal experience, his speculations are possible, even likely. But, I can?t get past this (with all due respect to Mr. Betts) laughable ?pointless fly fishing? as a solution to not educating bass.

If Ellis? theory is right, I want my bass to be educated. Big, uneducated fish just become wall decorations on someone?s wall. What?s the point in playing (I can?t come to calling this pointless thing ?fishing?) with the same fish year after year, just to set the fish up for an appointment with the taxidermist?

If we just want to play with fish instead of catching them, why not just use heavy weed guards? That way, we at least can call it fishing and for every fish we ?accidentally? bring to hand, we can whisper to the bass, ?bet you?ll never make THAT mistake again!? Then, we release it?so it can grow to be a big, educated, uncatchable bass that will reproduce for years to come.

Just MHO.


[This message has been edited by BassYakker (edited 03 April 2006).]