The Fly Fisher's Ethic

There was a time in each of our fly fishing journeys that we were green anglers, uninitiated, uneducated, and stumbling down the riverbank. Whether the introduction to fly fishing was a recent event as you accompanied a friend to a local river or at the side of your mother as was my experience more than 30 years ago, in spite of our eagerness to learn and participate, our casts were clumsy and our attempt to land fish heavy-handed. As time went on, our passion for the sport of fly fishing has increased, fly rod and landing net have become virtual extensions of our arms, and the experience of landing our first fish remains now as a warm glow in our minds.

Today, the sport of fly fishing is growing at an unprecedented rate. Facebook and Instagram are papered in photos of grinning faces hovering over exhausted trout beached on the riverbank. The response of veteran anglers is often a mix of horror and reprimand that leaves the new angler hanging their head in confusion and wondering "Wasn't this a fish to be celebrated?!" and "Is this not a community where we can share our success and adventures?". Fueled by this passion to preserve and protect trout and waters we share, I would implore the seasoned angler to approach the fresh initiates of the fly with the same patience that our grandfathers did so many years back as he untangled our flies from yet another streamside willow. Instead of reprimand, let us together use these opportunities to educate and instruct the next generation of anglers on the Angler's Ethic so that they too can learn to responsibly and sustainable participate in the sport of fly fishing.

Wet Fish = Happy Fish
A fish out of water is a fish that is dying. This statement might seem self-evident, but it is often one that is forgotten in the excitement of bringing a struggling trout into your net. Now, most of us would agree that weare not Michael Phelps when it comes to swimming. I would consider holding my breath for 30 seconds underwater as an accomplishment, and after that, I'm ready to come up for a breath of air. Trout are no different in that regard. Pulling fish up onto the stream bank and allowing them to flop among the grass and rocks is going to exponentially increase the chances of that fish floating up downstream and dying.

In order to preserve the fish and allow it to grow and thrive in the river, try to keep the fish in the water and submerged in your landing net while removing the hook. None of us like holding a smile for a minute while we are waiting for a photographer to get their act together and take the shot. Imagine having to hold your breath for several minutes and then smile for a photo! If you are going to take a photo of a fish, keep them in the water before you quickly bring them to hand for the shot.

We Love Fish Slime
The slime coat covering the fish is their armor against bacteria, infection, and fungus. When pulled up onto the grass, allowed to flop among the rocks, or roughly handled, this slime coat is scraped away. Therefore, it is essential that anglers always wet their hands before handling fish in order to preserve the slime coat and the health of the fish.

Too Hot to Handle
Trout are what are known as "Cold Water Fish". While bass, catfish, panfish, and carp can thrive in tepid or even hot water, trout thrive in water temperatures between 55-65 degrees Fahrenheit. As water temperatures begin to creep towards 67-68 degrees Fahrenheit, trout become lethargic as they struggle to function, breathe, and feed in the warming water. Sustained water temperatures above 70 degrees Fahrenheit is more than most trout species can stand, and if they cannot find a cooler refuge within the river, they will begin to die. Trout hooked and fought in warmer waters have a much greater chance of dying. The ethical angler should avoid fishing waters where temperatures are touching the red zone of 67-68 degrees Fahrenheit. There is plenty of water to fish, and simply by moving up in elevation or fishing a deeper, more forested reach, you should be able to find water temperatures and conditions that will not endanger the fish or fishery.

Leave When You're Ready
Like running a marathon, battling an angler on a fly is one of the most exhausting experiences of a trout's life. While the victorious fly fisher is quickly ready to drop the fish back in the river and do it all again, the fish needs and deserves a minute to catch its breath. Being unfamiliar with the concept of "catch and release", trout view this battle as a life and death struggle against the angler, and expend every last ounce of energy as they fight to escape. Before releasing the trout back into the rush of the river, it is essential to let them revive, catch their breath, and leave under their own strength. This is done by holding the fish gently around the tail and working it slowly forwards and backwards through the water. This motion pushes water through the mouth of the trout and over its gills, allowing it to regain its equilibrium and vigor. When the trout is recovered, it will kick its way out of your hand and swim away. The time needed to resuscitate the trout will take more time in warmer water or after a long fight to land the fish, so be patient, and the fish will leave when it is ready.

No Future Without Catch & Release
I'm not looking to start a debate with this statement or even trying to take some sort of moral high ground. Without a catch & release philosophy, there will be no trout, and no fishery for us to share and enjoy. Whether you fish with flies, lures, or worms, our rivers and lakes would never be able to survive if everyone was to "take their limit" or mount the trophies that they catch on their walls. We are participants and conservators of a wild and living world of trout. Take your photos, remove stringers full of memories, and if trophies must be mounted, let it be on your facebook wall.

This is the Fly Fisher's Ethic. By embracing this ethic and training up others, the sport of fly fishing and the fish upon which our pastime depends can grow and thrive. Like those given a great and undeserved gift, we do not own the water or the sport. We are conservators, the holders of a legacy that can only be preserved through patience, responsible use, education, and sharing this love with others.