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mojohans
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Ethics and Courtesy Article
#62511 - 06/19/03 01:51 PM

I came across this news article in our local paper today. I thought it had relevance to all types of fishing as many people on this board talk about the lack of courtesy in "combat" fishing situations.

This area of Montana is not as populated as the west coast, but there are still certain attitudes that can be transmitted to our fellow fisherperson's if we are not careful. I feel for you guys and gals that have to deal with the crowds all the time. It is getting tougher to find solitude anywhere.

Hope you find something of value in it.

John

http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=2&display=rednews/2003/06/19/build/outdoors/44-krumm.inc

June 19, 2003

Last modified June 19, 2003 - 12:31 am

Krumm: Ethics, courtesy lacking in today's fly anglers
Bob Krumm
WYOMING OUTDOORS

With each passing year, the courtesy that anglers display to one another seems to deteriorate. It seems that more and more anglers are "me-first" with less concern for the Golden Rule.

Maybe the me-first attitude is a carryover from road rage. Perhaps it is acquired from the daily stress of surviving in a hostile world, Or maybe it is part of the bluff and bluster that comes from having too much testosterone and not enough reasoning power.

Last December, a friend and his 12-year-old son were fishing with me on the Bighorn River. We had fought the wind and chill and, after about an hour of floating, had finally found a spot to fish. We had just gotten out of the boat and untangled our lines when two 30-something male fly fishers came walking up the bank toward us.

I said "Howdy, how are you doing?"

They replied, "Howdy" and continued walking past us and to the spot we wanted to fish. I hollered, "Hey, we are going to fish there."

One fellow retorted, "So are we."

I was dumbfounded that the guys lacked the common courtesy to give the spot to anglers that were already standing adjacent to the water. Although I was upset, I wasn't willing to fight for that particular spot. I said, "Thanks for your courtesy," and we boarded the boat to try and find another spot.

It used to be that fly fishers not only practiced a fine, artful way of fishing, but they had manners and honored other anglers. I had assumed that fly fishers were a cut above average and adhered to a code of ethics that included courtesy. But more and more I find that those who have taken up fly fishing in the past 10 years or so didn't learn about courtesy or ethics when they learned the principles of fly casting. It seems that ethics have sadly been lost, too.

Each year, more anglers learn about catch-and-release fishing, but they seem to think that as long as they return the fish to the water, all is well. I have seen anglers walking all over spawning redds and deliberately fishing for spawning trout.

If I mentioned to the angler(s) that he was fishing a spawning redd he would reply, "So?" Then the next words uttered usually were, "I'm practicing catch and release."

Of course, catch and release implies that the angler will release the fish unharmed and able to fight another day. For many of the new breed, the phrase means yank the hook out, throw the fish back into the water and cast for another trout to see how big of a score they can run up.

There appears to be no concern for the resource and the welfare of the trout, but rather just a score. If the fly fisher kills a trout by his rough handling of the fish, he never knows it because he is in too big of a hurry to catch another. If the fly fisher wades over the redds and crushes hundreds of eggs, he will never know it. However, if the trout population drops so he can't have a 50-fish day, he will blame the "hook and cook" anglers or the fisheries biologist for mismanagement.

When I am fishing the Bighorn River, I often go on the lower stretches of the river where there are no special regulations. There are jet boats in those reaches of the river and bait fishermen.

Most of the time I find the jet boaters much more courteous than those anglers that row a drift boat. The jet boaters will not run over my fishing water -- they will go to the far side of the river. Bait fishermen usually kill their limit of fish and call it a day. They take their catch home and eat it or give it to a deserving person or family. Most of all, bait fishermen don't run up a score.

It's time that the fly fishing clubs, fly fishing classes and fly fishing magazines start to preach manners and ethics. It's high time that fly fishers recapture that moral high ground that once made them courteous and ethical. Maybe it will never happen, but fly fishers have got to try.

Bob Krumm is the Wyoming outdoor correspondent for The Billings Gazette. He can be contacted at rkrumm@fiberpipe.net.

Copyright © The Billings Gazette, a division of Lee Enterprises.

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Steelheader69
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Re: Ethics and Courtesy Article new

[Re: mojohans]
#62535 - 06/19/03 07:51 PM

Great article. I am far from a flyfishing enthusist, but do love to flyfish. I've been lectured many times that the way I'm fishing (when I have gear in hand) is unethical. I too have seen many people (fly and gear) stepping on spawning beds trying to get those mangled, old fish (usually salmon).

It's sad when things like that happen. Why I try to avoid hot spots like that. I'd rather work a bit harder to catch fish then go for easy money but fight the crowds.

Thanks for the article, it's a great example for everyone to read.

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buxndux
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Re: Ethics and Courtesy Article new

[Re: Steelheader69]
#62548 - 06/19/03 09:21 PM

Ethics is something that is tought to you. If people don't teach their offspring to be kind people, how can we expect them to be kind fishermen and women? I am not just talking fly-fishing. Every version of fishing has its fair share of idiots that were not raised properly. You can not make a good omelet out of rotten eggs. So goes it with fishermen, you can't make good fisherman out of rotten people. So I say lets stop the trend of arrogance and start teaching our kids to be kind and cortious.

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Re: Ethics and Courtesy Article new

[Re: buxndux]
#62563 - 06/20/03 04:54 AM

Good article - I didn't realize combat fishing was now taking place in Montana, and, LOL, involving flyfishermen. What's the world coming to?

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firedog
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Re: Ethics and Courtesy Article new

[Re: Quillback]
#62583 - 06/20/03 12:37 PM

Great article. Just a product of the way the world is becoming. It is sad to see. Coutesy has gone away in a lot of ways, fishing is just one.

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Black_Ghost
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Re: Ethics and Courtesy Article new

[Re: firedog]
#62606 - 06/21/03 05:46 AM

Good article, thanks. Hard to believe there is combat fly fishing in Montana, when I do not have to deal with that in the great lakes region except for certain locations at peak run time which I avoid.

Most of our fly fishing guides have good ethics hear but there are a few young ones which do not. Hopefully that will change as this new generation of fly fishers becomes educated in proper ethics.

I am on my 44th year of fly fishing and learned from the old timer serious fly fishers on NYs famed Beaverkill holy waters, no kill, etc.

Hal

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mojohans
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Re: Ethics and Courtesy Article new

[Re: Black_Ghost]
#62647 - 06/22/03 03:58 PM

Yes, I am somewhat surprised by the attitudes of fishermen around here. A friend told me that he has had the same experience on that river... It is hard to think this is a combat area...seems like there is miles of water for everyone but some need to have it all.

Bux- you are correct that we need to teach ethics to our children. We can also help with those new to salmon/steelhead fishing so that they don't get the same attitudes they may find in close quarter fishing areas.

Quill- I think the people that spend mega-bucks on fly fishing think they bought rights to the rivers too.

Black- It does seem that the younger generations are not getting the 'education' that we had. Seems like fly fishers were the ones that stressed ethics and courtesy. Hopefully we can be part of the education process to continue good practices.

I appreciate many members on this board and the high ethical standards they possess. Keep preaching it!

John

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Black_Ghost
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Re: Ethics and Courtesy Article new

[Re: mojohans]
#62842 - 06/24/03 09:33 AM

John,

I hope so, sometimes the gear fisherman out here are more ethical than some of the fly fisherman.

Sad thing is there are no entry requirements for fisherman to obtain a license. At least for hunting you have to take a safety course in all states, for boating there is usually a test required in each state,etc...

Hal

--------------------
"The ability to delude yourself may be an important survival tool."

Jane Wagner

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