|
A few days ago I received an email all about a hot new event. A flyfishing
tournament being held in Montana. The tournament is called, "Montana Ollie's
Grand Slam (tm)". The premise is that folks will be willing to pay $1950.00, not
including airfare to "catch and release a native Montana Rainbow, Brown,
Brook, and a Yellowstone Cutthroat (GRAND SLAM)." The News Release
goes on, "There will be 2-person teams, floating with a local guide, on some of
the best rivers this country has to offer. The object is to catch the largest fish
per species. This tournament will be a non-profit event, with any profits going to
Trout Unlimited."
I've got real problems with this so-called non-profit event. First of all, I am
absolutely appalled that Trout Unlimited would sanction such an event. TU of
all the organizations in the fly fishing world should be saying something to the
effect of , "We appreciate your continued interest in Trout Unlimited, but the
event you are promoting is not something TU either finds appropriate or proper
within our conservation efforts. Numbers of fish caught, and the concept that
catching the biggest fish are not and should not be the focus of our programs.
We do not wish to have our organization associated with such a venture."
Maybe this Grand Slam event is something that really floats your boat. If
so contact me, and after a lecture on why you should not be involved, I'll give
you the email address for it. But I reserve the right to disagree with the idea.
Fly fishing is not about number or size of the fish caught. Add to that one,
big fish, caught on light gear fought to near death and then released is an
outrage. Do we assume that everyone who catches and then releases a fish
knows what they are doing? Not on your life!
A letter to the editor in the current issue of FFF's magazine,
Flyfisher from Pat Rash in Branson, Mo., reads, "I just got my current issue of
Flyfisher, and read with great interest the article by Charles Fox. I have to
assume that in the 1940s everyone who handled fish and practiced C&R was a
responsible angler. The sad fact is, that in this day and time we do not have
the luxury of having that many well-educated folks on our waters."
"Let me quantify that statement by giving a little background. I own and
operate a fly shop/guide service on a tail water fishery which I also fish daily.
Just last year we were finally able to eliminate bait fishing in the first three
miles of this tail water. There was also a slot length limit put into place. This
means more fish caught and released may be alive but in what condition. I
have observed more (trout) than I care to count, with their mouths all but
ripped off, marks on them where theyhave been incorrectly handled, i.e. slime
gone. Or played on light line to exhaustion then not revived."
"I would like to think that everyone who fly fishes knows the proper
method of releasing (there has been plenty of material written addressing this
matter). I guess my question is this: Is there a solution?"
My "solution" is not just to renew the emphasis on proper release of fish -
but to discourage in every way we can, the idea that how many fish you catch,
or on how small a rod, how light a leader, or the size of those fish, some how
makes you a better fisherman or person! Horse Pucky! Fly fishing is an
individual avocation, a frame of mind, a challenge, a solice for the weary mind
and soul. It is a place where we each judge our success or failures on the basis
of our own personal experience. The rewards are being there.
The many journeys each of us take in our fly fishing careers are exactly
that - Journeys. It is not a "destination". Fly fishing tournaments of any kind are
a disservice to the sport, and encourage stinking dead fish - and stinking thinking
on the part of those fisherman involved.
No Thank You. Not Interested! ~ LadyFisher
If you would like to comment on this or any other article please feel free to
post your views on the FAOL Bulletin Board!
|
