(Part 2, September 8-14, 1997)
“My Dad Can Beat Your Dad!”
Is it somehow morally wrong to kill a fish? Is it wrong to want to eat a fish you’ve caught? Or is lightening going to strike if you even think about keeping fish? Of course not. The whole C&R bit has developed into an “I’m better than you are because I release all the fish I catch.” Or, “I’m so superior to you slob bait or spin fishers because I release my fish.” “You are not really a fly fisher if you don’t release your fish.” Or “All fly anglers are better than all other fishers because . . .yada, yada, yada.” Horse pucky! Let’s get real here. Most fly fishers started as either bait or spin fishers. We caught and kept fish, and ate them. Every time we could. Fly fishers evolve - they are not created. The exception to that (and there always is one, isn’t there?) is the whole yuppie group who saw “the movie.” Yes, The River Runs Through It, which is now in rerun on the ‘telly.’ Those people thought it looked graceful, might be interesting and cool, went out and bought a ton on expensive stuff. A great share of that yuppie group have stashed their fly gear in some closet and are now pursuing the newest craze, gourmet coffee and cigars. Those who stuck with it are hooked for life.
Part 3, “Fish For Dinner?”
Part 1, “Kill Your Limit?”
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Originally published c. 2003 on Fly Anglers Online by Deanna Lee Birkholm.